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Specialty Crop News for July, 1997

• India's Monsoon Activity Improves Through Mid-June
  NEW DELHI -- Jul 2/97 -- Significant improvement in India's monsoon activity through the middle of June brought rainfall in over half the country's crop districts to normal or better, according to the latest weather update from the U.S. agricultural attache here.

• Ukraine Pea Crop Could Reach 1.5 Million MT
  KIEV -- Jul 2/97 -- Areas sown to field peas in the Ukraine this spring ended up around 700,000 hectares or 1.74 million acres, with production expected to range between 1.4-1.5 million MT.

• Stable Sunflower Oil Market Emerging in India
  NEW DELHI -- Jul 2/97 -- A stable import demand for sunflower oil of at least 50,000 MT per year appears to be developing in India as a result of shifting consumer preferences and dropping sunflower seed production levels.

• Canadian Canaryseed Supply-Demand Estimates

• Canadian Lentil Supply-Demand Estimates

• Canadian Field Pea Supply-Demand Estimates

• Canadian Mustard Seed Supply-Demand Estimates

• Weather Patterns Could See Bullish Outcome for Pulses
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 2/97 -- STAT -- Rising speculation the Pacific Region is facing another El Nino weather event has led to confusing conclusions as to the impact such a problem would have on international pulse markets.

• Powdery Mildew in Field Peas
  REGINA -- Jul 3/97 -- Field pea growers need to check for powdery mildew infestations early in order to prevent this disease from gaining a foot hold in fields, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's Ray McVicar and Michael Celetti.

• Aphids in Canaryseed
  REGINA -- Jul 3/97 -- Canaryseed fields are attractive hosts for aphids, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's Ray McVicar and Lloyd Harris, meaning growers need to check for infestations during the early heading stage.

• Anthracnose in Lentils
  REGINA -- Jul 3/97 -- Anthracnose has gained notoriety as one of the most damaging lentil diseases in Saskatchewan, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's Michael Celetti.

• Confectionary Sunflower Standard Established for Canada
  WINNIPEG -- Separate confectionary and oil sunflower classes have been established for Canada's sunflower seed industry, according to the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC).

• Bear Market in Grains, Oilseeds Affects Pulses
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 4/97 -- STAT -- National holidays effectively closed North American markets most of the week, leaving specialty crop markets with little to do but watch the bear market affecting most traditional grains and oilseeds.

• Argentine Bean Harvest Complete -- No Problems
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 4/97 -- STAT -- Dry edible bean markets were pressured lower on the week by the virtual completion of Argentina's harvest under trouble free conditions.

• Birdseed Ingredient Markets Weaker to Sideways
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 4/97 -- STAT -- North American birdseed ingredient markets were weaker to sideways in light export and domestic trade.

• Holidays Steal Life from International Lentil Markets
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 4/97 -- STAT -- National holidays in Canada and the United States stole the life from international lentil markets.

• Feed Peas Plunge on Weakening Soymeal Market
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 4/97 -- STAT -- International field pea markets continued to weaken against light demand and generally bearish international agricultural commodity markets.

• Australian Chick Pea Supply-Demand Estimates

• Australian Lupin Supply-Demand Estimates

• Australian Field Pea Supply-Demand Estimates

• Specialty and Forage Seed Markets Quiet in Alberta
  EDMONTON -- Jul 9/97 -- Forage seed and specialty crop markets are encountering a seasonal slowdown in inter-dealer and grower pricing acitivity, notes Alberta Agriculture in its weekly review of agricultural markets in that province.

• Manitoba Looks at Mixed Crop Expectations
  CARMAN -- Jul 8/97 -- Mixed growing conditions are resulting in a wide range of crop yield expectations across Manitoba, judging from the latest crop development report from Manitoba Agriculture.

• Pulse Crops Start Podding in Saskatchewan
  REGINA -- Jul 8/97 -- Crop development in Saskatchewan is a week ahead of average, with 37% of the pulse crops grown in the province at or past flowering and almost 1% podding.

• Thunder Bay Pea Exports Approach 1995-96 Levels
  WINNIPEG -- Jul 9/97 -- Heavy field peas shipments through the port of Thunder Bay in May helped pull this season's export total to within striking distance of last season's results.

• Field Pea Production Summary -- Selected Countries

• United States -- Field Pea and Lentil Production Summary

• USDA Buys 6,540 MT Pulses for Food Aid
  KANSAS CITY -- Jul 10/97 -- The Commodity Credit Corporation Office bought the full quantity of pulses requested on the latest USDA PL-480 food aid invitation 077.

• Austrian Agriculture Greatly Favors a Common Currency
  VIENNA -- Jul 10/97 -- Austrian Agriculture is deeply interested in a common European currency. The Agriculture Minister has expressed strong support for the Euro, in line with the views of other leaders in this sector of the economy.

• European Commodity Basis Support May be Phased Out
  LONDON -- Jul 10/97 -- Proposals to replace commodity based support schemes for agriculture within the European Community with a formula which does not pit the interests of one commodity group against another are taking shape in Europe.

• World Looking at Record Field Pea Crop in 1997
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 12/97 -- STAT -- International field pea production is on track to smash through the 1993 record, based on the latest seeded area and yield estimates from four of the world's key trading regions.

• Argentine Exporters Become More Aggressive
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 12/97 -- STAT -- North American dry edible bean markets continued dropping into new crop trading levels as evidenced in another 15 point decline in the U.S. dry edible bean price index to 721.

• Canaryseed Firm, Popcorn Weakening
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 12/97 -- STAT -- Canadian canaryseed markets moved upward in their recent trading range, reflecting a slight improvement in sales activity relative to the amount of merchandise offered by growers.

• Seasonal Trade Slowdown Pulls Lentil Values
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 12/97 -- STAT -- Limited trading interest left international lentil markets mostly lower.

• North American Pea Price Adjustments Continue
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 12/97 -- STAT -- International field pea markets recorded a mixed performance during a week which featured limited consumer buying demand.

• Saskatchewan Harvest Start on Track to Match 1994
  REGINA -- Jul 18/97 -- STAT -- Good growing conditions continues to accelerate crop development in Saskatchewan, with the earliest seeded fields quickly approaching the time when harvest activity will begin.

• Turkish Sunflower Production Could Top 650,000 MT
  ANKARA -- Jul 18/97 -- Turkey's 1997-98 sunseed crop is off to a good start, with seeded area up 5% and production in line to beat 650,00 MT if weather conditions remain cooperative.

• Australia Evades India's Slightly Bullish Crop News
  BOMBAY -- Jul 18/97 -- Below normal rainfall in India's pulse growing regions is not proving to be the bullish event field and chick pea exporters were looking for in the face of rising world production levels.

• Pea Demand Will be Hurt by Dutch Hog Reduction
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 18/97 -- North American feed pea markets are struggling to uncover bullish news as prices remain under pressure in both domestic and international markets.

• Sales Pace Slows for French Peas
  PARIS -- Jul 18/97 -- French field pea shipments started to slow in April, but total shipments remain ahead of those recorded during the same period last year.

• California Beans Fight for Higher Values
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 18/97 -- STAT -- North American dry edible bean markets showed signs of levelling off after recording several weeks of easing values.

• Birdseeds Steady Against Light Demand
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 18/97 -- STAT -- Birdseed ingredient markets were mostly flat against light export and North American domestic demand.

• Light Interest Leaves Lentils Unchanged
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 18/97 -- STAT -- Light international trading interest left lentil markets mostly unchanged last week.

• India Suspends Free Exports of Mustard Seed
  BOMBAY -- Jul 22/97 -- Recent moves by the Indian government to suspend free exports of mustard seed and other oilseeds has dismayed the country's grain exporters.

• Saskatchewan Worries About Heat and Lack of Rain Fall
  REGINA -- Jul 22/97 -- Hot weather and lack of rainfall is causing concern over potential yields in several crop districts in Saskatchewan, according to the province's latest crop development report.

• Manitoba Reports Good Crop Conditions
  CARMAN -- Jul 22/97 -- While Saskatchewan worries about the impact warn, dry conditions will have on yields there; Manitoba crop reporters believe similar conditions in their province are benefitting crops at this time.

• USDA Tenders for 4,660 MT Green Peas and Beans
  KANSAS CITY -- Jul 22/97 -- U.S. whole green peas dominated the latest USDA PL-480 food aid tender invitation announced by the Commodity Credit Corporation office here.

• Pea and Lentil Tenders Total 4,180 MT
  KANSAS CITY -- STAT -- Green pea and lentil demand for shipment as food aid during the opening month of the 1997-98 season is down by half from last year's levels.

• USDA Seeks Offers on 480 MT Beans
  KANSAS CITY -- STAT -- The total quantity of dry edible beans covered by USDA PL-480 food aid tender started the 1996-97 season off with just 480 MT of demand, compared to 4,650 MT last year.

• USDA Tenders for 4,660 MT Pulses
  KANSAS CITY -- STAT -- The 1997-98 USDA PL-480 food aid purchase season started with a whimper compared to last season's bang, with the opening tender for the marketing year falling 8,320 MT short of last year's.

• New Rail Link With Mexico Proposed
  MEXICO CITY -- Jul 24/97 -- Local officials of Ciudad Acuna, Coahuila are collaborating with the state-owned Mexican National Railway (FNM) and U.S.-based Pacific Transport to study the feasibility of building an international rail bridge at that border city.

• Honduras Tenders for 3,000 MT Small Red Beans
  GUATEMALA -- Jul 24/97 -- The Government of Honduras recently tendered for 3,000 MT of small red beans and 8,000 MT of white corn and for August shipment.

• Growers Sell Half Beans and Sunflower Crops By New Years
  WASHINGTON -- Jul 24/97 -- Most dry edible beans and sunflower seed harvested in the United States is sold by growers shortly after harvest, judging from the latest marketing and average price data published by the USDA.

• Sunflower Marketing Tendencies Do Not Hurt Price
  WASHINGTON -- Jul 24/97 -- Prices received by growers were not adverselya affected by their tendency to sell over 60% of each year's crop by the end of December, according to data released by the USDA this week.

• Average Dry Edible Bean Returns Highest in Fall
  WASHINGTON -- Jul 24/97 -- Dry edible bean growers in the United States received their highest average returns from marketing beans during the peak delivery months, according to recent average monthly marketing data from the USDA.

• Firming Canaryseed Values Could Reduce Export Potential
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 24/97 -- STAT -- North American weather conditions are at the root of last week's firming tendency observed in several specialty crop markets. Though the season started with excellent moisture reserves in numerous growing areas, a recent string of hot and sunny days has given market bulls additional ammunition.

• U.S. Green Pea Supply-Demand Estimates

• U.S. Lentil Supply-Demand Estimates

• Seasonally Slow Demand Leaves Beans Mostly Unchanged
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 25/97 -- STAT -- International dry edible bean markets enjoyed mostly seasonal demand levels during the week.

• Canaryseed Ends Week Sharply Higher
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 25/97 -- STAT -- North American birdseed ingredient markets ended weekly trading on a mixed note.

• North American Lentil Sales to Algeria Reported
  VANCOUVER -- Jul 25/97 -- STAT -- Demand conditions for North American lentils remained mixed, though reports of physical trading increased against demand from Algeria.

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