One word describes the market for canaryseed this fall.
Static.
Growers this year planted fewer acres than in 1998, but yields are good and total supplies are expected to be up over last year. “Generally speaking, we’ve got a big crop there,” said Francois Catellier, executive director of the Canadian Special Crops Association.
Most of Canada’s canaryseed is grown in Saskatchewan. Last year, growers in the province planted 450,000 acres.
This year the number dropped to 360,000 acres, said Ray McVicar, a Saskatchewan Agriculture specialist for special crops.
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Despite the cut in acreage, overall production in Canada is expected to be down only 15 percent this year.
One analyst predicted that total supplies will climb to 325,000 tonnes this fall, a 17,000-tonne increase over last fall. Carryover stocks have added to that supply.
As the dominant player in the canaryseed market, Canada sets the pace in prices, which have been around 10.5 cents per pound.
Wait for price rise
Growers are likely to bin most of this year’s crop while awaiting higher prices. A price increase may not happen until early next year, depending on how soon users clear existing inventories.
Canaryseed, which is used mainly as bird food, is marketed around the globe. Demand remains fairly constant, although it can vary according to the supply of competing bird feeds such as millet.
“The biggest market for it is in the big cities where you have apartment dwelling people who don’t have room for a dog but do have room for a bird,” McVicar said.
Saskatchewan researchers are exploring other uses for canaryseed, hoping to eventually expand markets for the crop. One possibility is to use it as a substitute for sesame seed.
