If the reports out of Russia on plans to increase durum production materialize, demand and pricing in the next year will be affected, said Leif Carlson, director of market intelligence and trade policy with Cereals Canada. However, he noted news out of Russia isn’t always reliable.  |  File photo

Global durum competition is heating up

Russia could drastically increase durum production this year, but could be shut out of the European Union market

SASKATOON — Canada could face stiff competition in durum markets in 2024-25 as Russia ramps up production. Rossella Polito, an Italian durum farmer who posts as @spiga_dorata on the X social media platform, said the Russian Grain Union reports that farmers will plant 2.47 million acres of durum this year, double the size of last […] Read more

Agriculture Canada is forecasting 28.38 million tonnes of non-durum wheat production in 2023, a 5.5 percent increase over last year, and 5.82 million tonnes of durum, a 6.9 percent bump.  |  File photo

New report to track wheat progress

Cereals Canada says Growing Season Progress Report will help buyers with seeding, crop condition and harvest updates

“The Growing Season Progress Report is a terrific way for those who are interested in the western Canadian wheat crop to quickly get all their information in one place,” Leif Carlson, Cereals Canada's director of market intelligence and trade policy, said in a recent news release.


A man checks large noodles in an industrial pasta-making facility.

Italy hungry for Canadian durum

Leif Carlson, director of market intelligence and trade policy with Cereals Canada, said the world’s biggest pasta exporter chews through a lot of the grain every year. Italy’s durum production dropped last year, while Canada had a big rebound in production, so it was the perfect match.