CANADA’S WHEAT PRODUCTION DROPS, BUT QUALITY HIGH
While Canada’s wheat harvest dropped 13% in 2023, a majority of the crop was graded No. 2 or better with average to higher-than-average protein content, according to Cereals Canada. Wheat production of 29.8 million tonnes was in line with the five-year average. In terms of quality, Cereals Canada said:
• Over 95% of the Canada Western Red Spring crop has graded No. 1 and No. 2, with average protein content
• Over 80% of Canada Western Amber Durum has graded No. 1 and No. 2, with protein content higher than average
• Over 90% of Canada Prairie Spring Red has graded No. 1 and No. 2, with average protein content
• Over 90% of Canada Eastern Soft Red Winter has graded No. 1 and No. 2, with average protein content.
(Link: WorldGrain)
UKRAINE HARVESTS COULD FALL SHORT IN FUTURE IF ATTACKS CONTINUE
Ukraine may not be able to meet domestic and export wheat demand in the years to come if Russian attacks on food infrastructure and blockage of sea export routes continue, according to WFP. Matthew Hollingworth, WFP Ukraine country director, said Ukraine’s agricultural sector already has experienced $40.2 billion in damages and losses since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. “Ukrainians are being cut off from accessing markets to buy food and farmers are reporting that they can no longer produce enough food,” he said. Hollingworth said that before the war Ukraine made up 9% of global wheat exports, 15% of maize, and 44% of sunflower oil.
UN officials are trying to revive the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which Russia quit in July a year after it was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey. Since then, Ukraine launched a temporary corridor for agricultural exports that has allowed for the shipment of more than 700,000 tonnes of grain from Ukrainian ports. Russia’s agriculture minister said last week that Moscow had begun free grain shipments totaling up to 200,000 tonnes to six African states, as promised by President Vladimir Putin in July.
(Link: WorldGrain)
