WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) -- Crop-killing frost swept through much of the Canadian Prairies for the second straight night on Friday, lowering the quality of the country's wheat, canola and oats....
On average, 62 percent of Western Canada's spring wheat reaches the top two quality levels prized by millers and bakers, but this year the Wheat Board had already expected that level to fall to 45 percent...
"Our big concern is that we have enough No. 1 wheat for our quality customers like Japan," Oberg said.
The board's last forecast, for 19 percent of farmers' spring wheat grading the highest quality, would still give it ample supplies, he said.
Frost, which kills plants when temperatures fall to minus 2.2 degrees Celsius (28 degrees Fahrenheit), arrived on time in Western Canada but damaged the quality of crops because many were immature and vulnerable after farmers planted them late...
The region's harvest is moving at its slowest pace in six years due to excessive rain...
Northeastern Saskatchewan areas around Yorkton, Hudson Bay and Nipawin escaped with above-freezing temperatures or light frost, said Environment Canada meteorologist Robert Paola...
Severe frost in northern Saskatchewan growing regions that produce much of Canada oats could lower oat quality below milling standards, said Oatinsight.com analyst Randy Strychar in a recent note to clients....
Frost also hit southwestern Manitoba around Brandon on Friday night, while much of southern Alberta had either light or no frost, Paola said.
..."It's been a very unusual year," Oberg said. "Delayed seeding was bad enough but when you have a very wet summer with cool weather, that's put us in the position where we're at."
On average, 62 percent of Western Canada's spring wheat reaches the top two quality levels prized by millers and bakers, but this year the Wheat Board had already expected that level to fall to 45 percent...
"Our big concern is that we have enough No. 1 wheat for our quality customers like Japan," Oberg said.
The board's last forecast, for 19 percent of farmers' spring wheat grading the highest quality, would still give it ample supplies, he said.
Frost, which kills plants when temperatures fall to minus 2.2 degrees Celsius (28 degrees Fahrenheit), arrived on time in Western Canada but damaged the quality of crops because many were immature and vulnerable after farmers planted them late...
The region's harvest is moving at its slowest pace in six years due to excessive rain...
Northeastern Saskatchewan areas around Yorkton, Hudson Bay and Nipawin escaped with above-freezing temperatures or light frost, said Environment Canada meteorologist Robert Paola...
Severe frost in northern Saskatchewan growing regions that produce much of Canada oats could lower oat quality below milling standards, said Oatinsight.com analyst Randy Strychar in a recent note to clients....
Frost also hit southwestern Manitoba around Brandon on Friday night, while much of southern Alberta had either light or no frost, Paola said.
..."It's been a very unusual year," Oberg said. "Delayed seeding was bad enough but when you have a very wet summer with cool weather, that's put us in the position where we're at."
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