CNS Canada – Western Canada’s mustard crops are in mostly good condition, one industry participant says, while new-crop prices for the commodity have moved lower.
“I would say throughout the growing area it really looks quite good, almost exceptional as an average,” said Walter Dyck, general manager, seed division at Olds Products.
He added that rain has supported crop development, but hail has hit about 10 per cent of acres.
“As we go into the latter part of July that is probably the main concern, or the main threat that could hurt the fields of mustard that are out there,” Dyck said.
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Dryness poised to threaten Saskatchewan crops
Crops in Saskatchewan are developing in opposite directions, the province’s latest crop report said. Growing conditions in the province vary, with some areas receiving enough rain while other locations are experiencing crop stress due to hot, dry conditions.
Over a 30-day period from mid-June to mid-July, there were only two days with no hail reported in Saskatchewan, the Canadian Crop Hail Association said in a report on Thursday.
Saskatchewan most of Canada’s mustard
There isn’t much available on the mustard spot market, Dyck said, but new-crop values have edged lower.
“It’s in response to more acres that were grown on the year, and the yield potential this year,” Dyck said.
Canada’s seeded mustard area is pegged at 525,000 acres, compared with 345,000 in 2015, Statistics Canada data shows. Yield data for 2016 isn’t yet available.
“There might be a little more of a bumper crop this year,” Dyck said.
New-crop mustard prices, including yellow, brown and oriental, across the Prairies range from 34 to 36 Canadian cents per pound.
