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2026-09-15 18:02:08
[Canada's Rains Delay Harvest, Damaging Crop Quality] ⑴ Canadian farmers are struggling to continue the harvest as timely rainfall has occurred at an inopportune time. Canada is the world's largest exporter of canola and a major wheat producer. ⑵ Growing concerns are that what could have been the best harvest ever for most farmers in western Canada is being compromised in quality, potentially reducing farmers' income prospects and decreasing access to high-quality crops in the global market. ⑶ A Saskatchewan farmer stated that what was originally all first-grade crop is now considered lucky to get second-grade. He estimates that a drop in grade from first to second or third will reduce crop prices by about $0.30 to $1 per bushel, potentially meaning a loss of over $100,000 for his farm. ⑷ Normally, his wheat harvest should be finished by the second week of September, and his canola harvest should be well underway. However, as of last Friday, less than a quarter of his 4,300 acres of wheat and 3,000 acres of canola had been harvested, a situation prevalent from Alberta to Manitoba. (5) Statistics Canada is scheduled to release its first crop yield estimate on Wednesday, but analysts point out that the damage from the rain occurred after the agency completed its analysis. (6) Saskatchewan's agricultural department reported that only 27% of the crop had been harvested as of September 7, compared to a 5-year average of 58%, while Alberta's harvest was approximately 21% complete as of September 8, compared to a 5-year average of 43.5%. (7) Canadian farmers still have time to complete the harvest, as snowfall and ground freezing typically don't occur until late November. However, every extra day in wet fields threatens the quality of wheat and durum wheat, which is crucial for processors such as millers that rely on Healthy Canada supplies and forms the basis of farmer pricing. (8) Grains may fade and lose weight due to rain soaking, some grains may sprout, and mold and fungi may spread internally and are not easily visible to the naked eye. (9) Farmers had previously worried that the warm and humid July would lead to various diseases in crops, and that early damage could overlap with later infection. The crops across the country looked generally healthy and large in scale when they entered the harvest season. The challenge now is to bring back the crops that are still in the fields.
