New mustard promises better yields

Prairie mustard growers are beginning to see big changes in their industry, thanks to the introduction of the country’s first hybrid mustard variety, AAC Hybrid Brown 18. The variety, developed by Agriculture Canada mustard breeder Bifeng Cheng at Ag Canada’s Saskatoon Research and Development Centre, is expected to be planted on nearly 30,000 prairie acres this year, or roughly 15 to 20 percent of total brown mustard plantings in Western Canada. “This is a huge opportunity for our growers and our industry,” said Rick Mitzel, executive director of the Saskatchewan Mustard Development Commission (SaskMustard) and Mustard 21, which represents mustard growers across Canada. “AAC Hybrid Brown 18 has a 20 percent yield increase compared to open pollinated mustard varieties.” That yield bump will allow prairie mustard growers to increase per acre returns and capture a larger share of world markets versus competing growers in Europe and other mustard exporting countries, Mitzel said. As ...