Canary seed prices rise as production drops in Canada

MarketsFarm — This year’s canary seed crop in Canada will be smaller than expected, according to Darren Yungmann, board chair of the Canary Seed Development Commission of Saskatchewan. “Overall, canary seed is one of the most susceptible to the drought when compared to other crops,” he said, noting it’s shallow-rooted and could not access any soil moisture further down. Yungmann, who farms near St. Gregor, about 20 km east of Humboldt, said prices have been climbing this year and were around 55 cents/lb. Prairie Ag Hotwire reported canary seed prices were currently 52 to 57 cents/lb. delivered on the Prairies. Over the course of the last 12 months, prices have climbed from 25 cents/lb and reached as high as 58 cents. The great majority of the canary seed market has remained in bird feed, although Yungmann noted the crop was approved for human consumption in January 2016. “But the market is still developing,” he said. Also, canary seed became an official grain under the Canada ...