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Specialty Crop News for Oct, 1996

• Dry Edible Bean Harvest at Standstill in Eastern U.S.
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 1/96 -- This year's dry edible bean harvest was brought to a virtual standstill in the eastern United States last week as the remnants of this year's hurricanes lashed the eastern seaboard.

• Saskatchewan Harvest Stalled by Wet and Cold
  REGINA -- Oct 1/96 -- This year's harvest made virtually no progress last week in Saskatchewan as wind, frost, rain and snow prevented growers from entering fields most of the week.

• Saskatchewan Harvest Stalled by Wet and Cold
  REGINA -- Oct 1/96 -- This year's harvest made virtually no progress last week in Saskatchewan as wind, frost, rain and snow prevented growers from entering fields most of the week.

• Dry Edible Bean Harvest at Standstill in Eastern U.S.
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 1/96 -- This year's dry edible bean harvest was brought to a virtual standstill in the eastern United States last week as the remnants of this year's hurricanes lashed the eastern seaboard.

• Mexican Drought Cycle Believed Broken
  MEXICO CITY -- Oct 3/96 -- Mexico's National Water Commission (CNA) believes abundant rainfall received between the end of June and middle of September is a sign the droiught cycle has ended and the country can look forward to four or five years of normal rainfall.

• Canadian Specialty Growers See Weather Rally
  EDMONTON -- Oct 3/96 -- Western Canadian specialty crop markets experienced something of a weather really at the grower level last week as light frosts and snow flurries added to the problems keeping growers from completing this year's harvest.

• U.K. Switches to Central Europe For Pet Food Ingredients
  LONDON -- Oct 4/96 -- You wouldn't know by the birdseed ingredient export statistics from Canada, the United States and Australia, but the United Kingdom's pet food industry is alive, well, and expanding at a modest pace.

• Indian Pulse Production Seen Slipping in 1996-97
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 4/96 -- STAT -- When there are serious problems in a key crop production area, there is often an increase in bullish news flowing into markets from other parts of the world. Last week was no exception.

• Edible Bean Markets Firm On Rising Demand, Slow Harvests
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 4/96 -- STAT -- Dry edible bean markets were generally firmer last week for both North and South American origin product.

• Canaryseed Market Supported by Harvest Delays
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 4/96 -- STAT -- Canada's canaryseed harvest remains stalled, while limited progress was reported with the U.S. millet harvest and a modest increase in grower selling.

• Demand Builds for North American Green Lentils
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 4/96 -- STAT -- International lentil markets were generally firmer during the week as demand for new crop merchandise built among Mediterranean buyers.

• Green Pea Market Pulled by Indian, Latin Demand
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 4/96 -- STAT -- International field pea markets recorded another mixed performance last week. Though over 80% of the Canada's field pea crop is harvested, some shortages appeared to develop in spot markets, especially for good quality green peas.

• USDA Seeks Input on Amending Seed Import Regulations
  WASHINGTON -- Oct 7/96 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes to allow U.S. companies that import seed for cleaning or processing to enter into compliance agreements with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. This proposal would also move APHIS' imported seed regulations to a different chapter in the Code of Federal Regulations and establish a seed analysis program with Canada.

• Manitoba Farmers Work to Harvest Last 20% of Crop
  CARMAN -- Oct 7/96 -- Manitoba's grain harvest was stalled most of the last week by wet weather conditions, but combines were back in the field in many parts of the province by Thursday as farmers work hard to bring in the last part of the crop.

• India -- Pulse Supply-Demand Projections

• Mexican Bean Purchases Soar Through August
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 7/96 -- Dry edible bean shipments from the United States to Mexico more than doubled through the first 10 months of the 1995-96 marketing year to 54,631 MT, according to the latest trade data from the U.S. Bureau of Census.

• Canada -- Specialty Crop Production Estimates

• Canada -- 1996 Crop Production Estimates

• Canadian Crop Estimates Benchmark Questioned
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 8/96 -- STAT -- The most interesting numbers contained in the latest crop production estimates from Statistics Canada was on page seven; where the government agency said nine times out of ten flaxseed production estimates drop after the September crop report.

• Canadian Lentil Supply-Demand Estimates

• Canadian Field Pea Supply-Demand Estimates

• Saskatchewan Finally Sees Harvest Weather
  REGINA -- Oct 8/96 -- Harvest weather conditions finally returned to Saskatchewan this week, ending three weeks which saw virtually no progress bringing this year's crops from the field into bins.

• United States -- Pea and Lentil Production Review

• U.S. Domestic Sales Advance on Year to Year Basis
  MOSCOW, ID -- Oct 9/96 -- Field peas and lentils sales to U.S. domestic food packagers and manufacturers by processors in Washington, Idaho and Oregon managed a 12.7% gain despite a year of fierce competition with Canadian suppliers.

• U.S. Green Pea Supply-Demand Estimates

• U.S. Lentil Supply-Demand Estimates

• USDA Buys 1,400 MT Pulses for Shipment as Food Aid
  KANSAS CITY -- Oct 9/96 -- The USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation office here announced the following purchases under Invitation No. 106, dated September 24, 1996 bought for shipment during the periods November 6 - 20 and November 21 - December 5, 1996.

• Canadian Specialty Crop Markets Mixed at Grower Level
  EDMONTON -- Oct 10/96 -- Seven to fourteen days of good harvest weather are needed to complete this fall's harvest according to growers and processors in those parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan where harvest progress is the slowest.

• USDA Dry Edible Bean Crop Drops 13%
  WASHINGTON -- Oct 11/96 -- USDA -- Production of dry edible beans in the United States is forecast at 1.2 million MT for 1996, down 13% from a year earlier and 7% below two years ago. Area for harvest is estimated at 1.71 million acres, down 10% from 1995 and 7% below 1994.

• Sunflower Crop Sinks 16% in United States
  WASHINGTON -- Oct 11/96 -- USDA -- Production of all sunflower is forecast at 3.37 billion pounds 16% below the 1995 production and 30% below production in 1994. Growers expect to harvest 2.69 million acres, down 20% from 1995. Expected yield, at 1,255 pounds, is up 5% from last year.

• U.S. Dry Edible Bean Estimates by Variety

• U.S. Bean Production Estimates By State

• Declining U.S. Dry Bean Output Expected by Markets
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 11/96 -- STAT -- The latest crop production estimates from the USDA point to just minor adjustments in the production outlook for individual dry edible bean varieties from previous estimates as the USDA's forecast of the crop sizeslipped 1.7% from its August projection to 1.22 million MT.

• Birdseed Markets Left Nervous by Crop Reports
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 11/96 -- STAT -- Production of a wide range of crops suffered from poor North American growing conditions. This is reflected in less optimism about yields and quality today than was the case in August.

• Edible Bean Markets Ease in United States
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 11/96 -- STAT -- Dry edible bean markets recorded a mixed performance on the week, with the U.S. spot market price index easing 5 points to end weekly trading at 851.

• Canaryseed Weakens, Millet and Sunseed Steady
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 11/96 -- STAT -- North American birdseed ingredient markets posted a mixed performance last week.

• Offgrade Laird Lentil Demand Highlight Market
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 11/96 -- STAT -- International lentil markets maintained their firm tone last week as solid demand for offgrade lentils narrowed discounts to No 1 grade product.

• Minor Pea Varieties Advance in Otherwise Slack Week
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 11/96 -- STAT -- Field pea markets ended last week's trading mostly unchanged, though minor varieties were exceptionally strong.

• Manitoba One Week From Harvest Completion
  CARMAN -- Oct 15/96 -- Most parts of Manitoba will wrap up harvest activity if they are able to get one week of clear weather, suggest comments from district staff with Manitoba Agriculture.

• Specialty Crop Harvest Enters Final Stages
  REGINA -- Oct 15/96 -- Saskatchewan's specialty crop harvest jumped forward last week, leaving less than 10% of the province's specialty left to bring in from fields and just 22% of all crops.

• Bearish Sentiment Just Under Market Surface
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 16/96 -- Bearish sentiment is poking through the weathered fabric of this season's North American harvest. With good progress recorded in western Canada the past ten days, markets have switched from focusing on what might to worryingabout what is available.

• Peruvian Pulse Imports Rise in 1996, Ease in 1997
  LIMA -- Oct 16/96 -- Peruvian pulse imports should remain strong throughout 1996, with U.S. exporters reaping the greatest benefit because of their country's interest in financing exports through GSM-102 credits and PL-480 food aid purchases.

• Chilean Pulse Production Seen Easing in 1997
  SANTAIGO -- Oct 16/96 -- Dry edible beans are expected to lead pulse production in Chile lower in the coming season, judging from comments from both the country's exporters and Chile's National Institute of Statistics.

• Egypt Targets Increased Pulse Production for 1996-97
  CAIRO -- Oct 16/96 -- Egypt is looking for a massive increase in pulse production for the 1996-97 season, according to government estimates.

• Seed Markets Affected by Harvest Conditions in Western
  EDMONTON -- Oct 18/96 -- Poor harvest conditions in the Peace River Region continue to affect the clover market, pulling markets upward as concerns build over the size of the harvest and shortages mount in spot shipping positions.

• Mixed Demand, Mixed Harvest Progress, Mixed Results
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 18/96 -- STAT -- International dry edible bean markets recorded another mixed performance as holidays in Canada and next week's food show in Paris, France competed for the attention of buyers and exporters.

• IImproved Demand Supports Laird, Pardina Markets
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 18/96 -- STAT -- North American markets recorded a mixed performance last week, reflecting the shifting moods of buyers.

• Canaryseed, Millet Pressured by Harvest Progress
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 18/96 -- STAT -- Birdseed ingredient buyers continued to benefit from suddenly bearish attitudes among Canadian sellers last week as canaryseed values managed another week of sharp price declines.

• International Field Pea Markets Generally Easier
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 18/96 -- STAT -- International field pea markets were generally easier on the week, with bearish attitudes sweeping through Australia.

• Australian Crop Production Estimates

• Australian Seeded Area Estimates

• Australian Chick Pea Supply-Demand Estimates

• Australian Lupin Supply-Demand Estimates

• Australian Field Pea Supply-Demand Estimates

• Leaping Australian Pulse Output Boosts Competition
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 22/96 -- STAT -- The latest crop production estimates from Australia signal competition will be keen in the coming months in Asia and the Indian subcontinent as the country's exporters seek buyers for this year's prospective 2.13 million MT pulse crop.

• Few Fields Left Unharvested in Saskatchewan
  REGINA -- Oct 22/96 -- More grain than usual is sitting in fields across Saskatchewan than is normal for this time of year, but the percentages of specialty crops still to be brought in from fields is not distressingly large.

• USDA Tenders For Small Quantity of Pulses for Food Aid
  KANSAS CITY -- Oct 22/96 -- The USDA's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) invites offers on 790 MT of pulses for shipment in export programs in December as follows:

• Pea and Lentil Tenders Total 700 MT
  KANSAS CITY -- STAT -- The quantity of peas and lentils covered by USDA PL-480 food aid tender this season now totals 24,620 MT, compared to 12,765 MT last year.

• USDA Seeks Offers on 90 MT Beans
  KANSAS CITY -- STAT -- The total quantity of dry edible beans covered by USDA PL-480 food aid tender this season now totals 14,470 MT, compared to 12,635 MT last year.

• Thunder Bay Shipments Open Stronger
  WINNIPEG -- Oct 23/96 -- Specialty crop shipments through the port of Thunder Bay got off to a stronger start this season than last, according to figures compiled by the Lake Shippers Clearance Association.

• Technical Problems Frustrate Canary, Mustard Shorts
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 25/96 -- STAT -- Canadian export clearances through the Port of Thunder Bay are off to a strong start. But there remain doubts whether the numbers will hold up through the fall shipping period amid perceptions sales of canary and mustard seed to Europe are down over last season.

• International Edible Bean Markets End Week Mixed
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 25/96 -- STAT -- Growers in the north eastern United States are getting close to finishing this year's harvest, a fact reflected in a general decline in dry edible bean values in that country last week.

• Canaryseed Strengthens WEhile Millet Falls
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 25/96 -- STAT -- North American birdseed ingredient markets managed a mixed performance during a week which saw limited end-user demand.

• Logisrical Problems Contribute Support to Laird Lentils
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 25/96 -- STAT -- International lentil markets ended the week mostly sideways in generally steady international demand.

• Competitive Pressures Build in Field Peas
  VANCOUVER -- Oct 25/96 -- STAT -- Competitive pressures continued building in world field pea markets last week as prices for Australian and U.S. origin product dropped in an effort to find levels which would compete with Canadian product.

• Canaryseed and Sunflower Trail Harvest of Other Crops
  REGINA -- Oct 29/96 -- This year's specialty crop harvest is nearly wrapped up in Saskatchewan, with only significant quantities of canaryseed and sunflower remaining to be brought in from fields.

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