SWIFT CURRENT – Marlene Boersch isn’t buying what Agriculture Canada is selling. In its Outlook for Principal Field Crops, published in January, the department forecast a five per cent drop in durum wheat acres – going from 6.35 million seeded acres in 2024 to 6.05 million this year. Those estimates are too pessimistic, said Boersch, […] Read more
Tag Archives Marlene Boersch
Fewer fababeans planted this year as exports plummet
Canada exports to only two major destinations — the U.S. and Egypt — and shipments to both markets have plummeted
SASKATOON — Canada’s fababean acres were well off their peak this year. Growers planted 81,100 acres of the pulse crop, falling well short of the 121,000 acres sown in 2021, according to Statistics Canada. Related stories: “One major change that has taken place is that Alberta has overtaken Saskatchewan as the province with the highest […] Read more
Small crop traders worry about Statistics Canada data
Analysts blame consistent problems with production and export numbers on insufficient resources at the federal agency
Numbers matter in the special crops world — a lot. That was clear at the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Conference, in which longstanding unhappiness with Statistics Canada’s data on a number of crops kept bubbling to the surface. “I’ve never agreed with StatsCan carry-over numbers on the small crops,” said Kevin Dick, president of […] Read more
Competition grows tougher for pulse exporters
International buyers turned to new suppliers during recent drought years, and it will be difficult to get the business back
Buyers from around the world were in Winnipeg last week for the Canadian Pulse and Special Crops Trade Convention. However, the sobering news for Canadian farmers, marketers and processors was that those buyers don’t always have to rely on Canada these days. “For a number of crops, like durum, like flax, Canadian isn’t the … […] Read more
Producers await India’s decision on pea import duty
Prices are expected to remain stable if an exemption is extended this fall but drop if the government re-instates the duty
SASKATOON — The yellow pea market hinges on a looming policy decision in India, says an industry official. If India extends its exemption on pea import duties past the current Oct. 31, 2024, expiry date, it will spark another round of demand from that country, Rav Kapoor, chief executive officer of ETG Commodities Inc., said […] Read more
Lower canola exports to increase ending stocks
Agriculture Canada boosts ending stocks estimate, but analysts say it must go higher due to the ‘abysmal’ state of exports
SASKATOON — Agriculture Canada has increased its estimate for 2024-25 canola ending stocks, but analysts think it didn’t go far enough. Carryout was bumped to 2.5 million tonnes in the May outlook, up from 1.65 million tonnes in April. Related stories: That is due in a large part to an increase in carry-in, which is […] Read more
China’s Belt & Road initiative hits speed bump
SASKATOON — China’s Belt & Road Initiative is falling short of expectations, according to a new report. The country embarked on the initiative in 2013, vowing to revitalize the ancient Silk Road and enhance trade with Europe, Asia and Africa. Related stories: At the time, Canadian grain analysts flagged the BRI as a big threat […] Read more
Canola competition stiffens; demand rises
SASKATOON — There are differing reports about what to expect from Canada’s top canola competitor this year. Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) is forecasting 8.27 million acres of the oilseed, a four per cent drop from last year. Related stories: However, it is dry in Western Australia, and if it remains that way over the […] Read more
Competition grows in durum market
Canada's share of purchases in the European Union has plunged to 19 percent in 2023-24 from 72 percent last year
SASKATOON — Canada has yet another fierce competitor to contend with in its former top market for durum. Reports surfaced earlier this year about the sharp rise in Turkish and Russian durum exports to the European Union. Those exports have severely restricted Canadian sales to Italy and other European Union countries. However, a third player […] Read more
Analysts predict larger canola carryout
SASKATOON — Analysts think Canada’s 2023-24 canola carryout will be way bigger than the government is forecasting. Exports have been sluggish this year, trailing last year’s pace by 18 percent. Marlene Boersch, managing partner of Mercantile Consulting Venture, has dropped her export number to 7.5 million tonnes, well below last year’s 7.95 million. She has […] Read more
