Quattro Ventures in Alberta is one of very few. Emily Ford, senior agronomist at the joint-venture farm where mint is cultivated for the essential oils market, knows of only one other Prairie farm producing this specialty crop.

Ford said this presents some unique challenges for agronomists like herself.

“When you are growing other specialty crops, let’s say potatoes in southern Alberta for example, you usually have a wealth of peers and experts to phone up when something looks funny or you have a problem,” Ford said.

Why it matters: If a given crop isn’t often commercially grown on the Prairies, that doesn’t necessarily mean it was never possible.

With mint, there isn’t a network of people Ford can readily turn to for help. She noted some agronomic information is available through organizations, such as the Mint Industry Research Council in the United States, but much of what Ford understands about commercial mint production has been largely self-taught.

“I didn’t know anything about mint five years ago until I started working at Quattro,” Ford said, adding trial and error has been an important aspect of the learning process.

“If you are given the opportunity to work with a crop like this, you just dive in, read as much as you can, lean on the people who know something about it, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You have to work with farmers to figure it out together, because mint is so different from other crops that are really commonly grown,” she said.

“I think agronomists become agronomists because we’re curious people who want to find out how things work, so I can say this has been a fun challenge.”

Community curiosity around this novel crop has been strong as well. Ford noted a lot of producers in the area have visited Quattro Ventures so they could get a first-hand look at commercial mint production.

“We do a lot of farm tours, but so far no one has taken the plunge and tried it.”

Located in the Bow Island/Burdett area in southeastern Alberta, Quattro Ventures comprises five family farms cultivating a diverse array of crops across dryland and irrigated acres. This includes dill, another speciality crop grown for the essential oils market, as well as cereals, seed canola, peas and potatoes.

Ford helps run the 3,000-acre operation as part of the farm’s management team, which includes both owners and non-owners. Quattro Ventures was founded by the Palliser Triangle Marketing Group, a collection of forward-thinking farmers intent on exploring new agricultural marketing opportunities. The idea behind it was to unite the strengths of individual family farms while leveraging the group’s collective knowledge, resources and markets.

Essential oils are highly concentrated, aromatic liquids extracted from plants that capture the plant’s fragrance and flavour. The spearmint and peppermint essential oils produced by Quattro Ventures go into such things as candy, chewing gum, toothpaste and cosmetics, while the farm’s dill essential oil is used for dill pickles.

According to Ford, India and the U.S. Pacific Northwest are the main areas that produce mint for the essential oils market. In Ford’s estimation, Quattro Ventures has grown to the point where it now produces 25 per cent of North America’s mint oil.

One reason more Prairie farms haven’t followed Quattro Ventures’ lead could be that commercial mint production isn’t for the faint of heart.

Mint is a perennial rhizome crop that propagates through rhizome cuttings, not seed, so specialized agricultural machinery is required for planting and harvesting. Specialized processing equipment is also needed to extract and distill the oil from the harvested mint leaves.

Ford acknowledged some farmers may shy away from the risks associated with producing an unfamiliar crop such as mint, given the hefty expense of getting everything up and running.

“It’s a big investment. You need to have specialized equipment and facilities to process the oil and get it to market, and it’s very expensive.”

Area well-suited for mint

According to Ford, Quattro Ventures’s location in southeastern Alberta has several attributes that make it a prime area for producing high-quality mint oil.

One is linked to where it is situated in the Canadian brown soil zone. “Because of the soil types we have here, we produce a certain oil that meets quality standards the flavour houses or brokers are looking for with purity, menthol content, aroma, all of those sorts of things.”

Growing conditions in the area are another major plus. Mint requires long, warm summer days and cooler nights for optimal oil production. Quattro Ventures fits the bill, with an extended growing window of 124 to 132 frost-free days and average crop heat units in the 2,400 range.

As well, mint is a thirsty crop requiring reliable, consistent moisture, especially during peak summer heat. Quattro Ventures relies heavily on irrigation infrastructure provided by the St. Mary River system — something that’s particularly important within the drought-prone Palliser Triangle region where the farm is located.

“You can’t grow mint without irrigation,” Ford said. “At peak crop staging with the hot, dry weather, you’re looking at an inch to an inch and a half of water a week.”

Planting and field management

Each mint production cycle at Quattro Ventures starts with disease-free tissue culture plantlets the farm gets from a specialty nursery. The plantlets aren’t planted in fields right away but are placed in nursery blocks where they serve as a source of clean rhizome rootstock.

“Once those plantlets are established, the next spring we go back and dig up some of the rhizomes from that clean stock. We use a modified potato digger to dig up them up and then they’re planted into a production field.

“You only need one inch of a viable rhizome to create a mint plant. The first year we really focus on establishment and then after that, we’re looking at production and are harvesting a crop every year.”

The mint fields, once established, will remain productive for up to five years, Ford said, adding “because it is a five-year crop, there is no tillage on that piece of land for five years.” She noted this kind of tillage reprieve provides a nice break for fields, particularly since Quattro Ventures grows some heavier tillage crops, such as sugar beets and potatoes.

“I think that’s really beneficial for soil health, not just for the mint crop but for all the other subsequent crops we grow on that land.”

According to Ford, mint is a heavy feeding crop for fertilizer, which is applied to Quattro Ventures mint fields in the spring. Typically, each acre receives 120 to 150 pounds of nitrogen, along with 100 pounds of potassium and 80 pounds of phosphorus. Because mint doesn’t grow in rows, fertilizer is distributed through broadcast applications.

In recent years, Quattro Ventures has started using environmentally smart nitrogen products for its nitrogen applications in mint fields. Ford said the slow-release fertilizer allows nutrient availability to be better matched with crop uptake. It has also meant fertigation, something the farm has practiced in the past, is no longer needed.

The mint at Quattro Ventures is typically harvested in late July to early August. Swathed crops are chopped with forage harvesters and loaded into specialized tubs, which connect directly to steam lines at a central distillation facility at the farm where the essential oils are extracted.

Crop residues left over from the distilling process serve a very useful purpose, Ford said. They spread the “mint plugs” on the fields to increase organic matter and remediate areas that are erosion-prone.

“It is a nice soil addition, with very similar characteristics to well-composted cattle manure. And there aren’t any restrictions on what fields you can put it on because it’s clean. It has been steamed to 300 degrees, so essentially all the weed seeds are not viable.”

Weed, disease and pest management

According to Ford, weed control in mint is critical, especially after it is first planted in a production field.

She noted because mint is a broadleaf crop, there are limited options for broadleaf weed control. As a result, Ford said, “we really focus on the first couple of years trying to get weed free. Usually by the fifth year, it’s a tough time to try to control those broadleaf weeds.”

Careful herbicide selection is also essential because of rotational considerations for the following crops. “Re-cropping restrictions mean there are only certain chemicals we can apply in the first couple of years of a mint stand.”

As far as disease threats go, powdery mildew is an important one to watch for in mint because it is a heavy canopy crop. Powdery mildew is a fungal infection that can cause mint leaves to wilt and fall off.

“It is imperative to maintain those leaves, because the leaves are where the oil is. You don’t want them on the ground,” Ford said, adding early fungicide applications are used as a preventative measure at Quattro Ventures to help protect against powdery mildew.

Ford noted verticillium wilt is also on the farm’s radar since it has been a problem for mint producers elsewhere, particularly in areas when mint has been cultivated for much longer than it has in southeastern Alberta.

“We have been lucky not to see it here. That’s something you have to really watch out for, because there’s nothing to be done about verticillium wilt once it shows up.”

According to Ford, disease control efforts are hampered due to very few products with minor use registration being available for a specialty crop such as mint. It’s a big reason Quattro Ventures always ensures it is sourcing disease-free mint stock.

Ford said while mint is generally resistant to major insect pressure, spider mites can emerge during hot, dry spells. They can harm mint plants by sucking the oil out of the leaves.

However, spider mites usually only appear near the field edges, Ford noted, adding the bugs avoid moisture so they can be effectively controlled with irrigation.

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Factoring in Statistics Canada’s latest acreage estimates and its data for stocks as of March 31 — figures both released in the past month — AAFC now forecasts canola ending stocks of 650,000 tonnes for 2022-23 and only 650,000 for 2023-24. That compares with the April forecasts of one million and 1.05 million tonnes respectively.

Total canola production in 2023-24 was forecast at 18.4 million tonnes, which would be down slightly from the 18.5 million tonnes forecast in April but still up from 18.17 million tonnes grown in 2022-23.

For wheat, ending stocks for 2022-23 were lowered to 3.98 million tonnes, from an estimated 4.3 million in April. However, new-crop wheat ending stocks were bumped up by 100,000 tonnes on the month, to 5.8 million tonnes.

Total wheat production in the country is forecast to hit 35.75 million tonnes in 2023-24, which would be well above the April estimate of 34.33 million and the 2022-23 production of 33.82 million tonnes.

Tables: May estimates for major Canadian crops’ supply and demand, in millions of metric tonnes. Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

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Projected Canadian wheat exports for the 2022-23 marketing year were raised to 24.3 million tonnes, up by 200,000 from the February estimate. Domestic usage was lowered by 100,000, at 8.911 million tonnes, leaving the projected ending stocks down by only 100,000 as well, at 4.4 million tonnes.

Canadian wheat exports for 2023-24 were left unchanged at 24 million tonnes, but domestic usage was lowered by 100,000 tonnes, to 9.152 million. As a result, new-crop Canadian wheat ending stocks were unchanged at 5.7 million tonnes.

The balance sheet for canola was left unchanged on the month, with projected exports of 8.6 million tonnes during the current marketing year and 8.8 million in 2023-24. Canola ending stocks were pegged at 800,000 tonnes for 2022-23 and 850,000 for the next year.

However, the government agency did raise its average price forecast for canola during the current marketing year to $890 per tonne, from $880 per tonne in February. The new-crop canola price projection was left unchanged at $850 per tonne.

Pulse and special crop projections were all unchanged on the month. Statistics Canada’s acreage estimates will be released at the end of April.

Tables: March estimates for Canadian major crops supply and demand: in million metric tonnes. Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

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The government agency raised its forecast for total Canadian wheat production in 2022-23 to 33.092 million tonnes, up from the May estimate of 31.601 million and the year-ago level of 21.652 million tonnes when drought cut into yields.

Projected wheat exports for 2022-23 were raised by 300,000 tonnes, to 22.2 million. That compares with an estimated 14.8 million tonnes in the current market year. Domestic usage was forecast to be up by roughly 1.2 million tonnes from the previous month, at 9.567 million tonnes. As a result, wheat ending stocks for 2022-23 were left unchanged at five million tonnes. The carryout for 2021-22 was also left unchanged at 3.55 million tonnes.

Canola ending stocks for both the current marketing year and the upcoming 2022/23 crop year were left unchanged at 400,000 and 500,000 tonnes respectively. Production, exports and domestic usage numbers for both crop years were also left unchanged for canola.

Canola production for 2022-23 is forecast at 17.95 million tonnes by AAFC, which compares with 12.595 million tonnes in 2021-22. Exports are expected to increase to 8.8 million tonnes in the new crop year, from 5.15 million, while domestic usage is forecast to be up by only 2.6 per cent on the year at 9.15 million tonnes.

Pulses and special crops only saw minor adjustments on the month.

Statistics Canada releases its next acreage estimates for the 2022-23 growing season on July 5, which should lead to larger revisions in subsequent supply/demand projections.

Tables: June estimates for Canadian major crops’ supply and demand, in millions of metric tonnes. Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

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The department’s projected ending stocks for wheat and canola were left unchanged from the previous month. Factoring in the official estimates from Statistics Canada, released Dec. 3, production of both canola and wheat was lowered from November.

Canola exports and domestic usage were also down slightly from November, leaving projected ending stocks for 2021-22 steady at 500,000 tonnes. That compares with the 1.767 million-tonne carryout from the previous year. Canola exports are now forecast at 5.4 million tonnes, from 5.5 million in November and 10.534 million the previous year. Domestic usage, at 8.612 million tonnes, was down slightly from November and about two million tonnes off the year-ago level.

Canadian wheat ending stocks were left unchanged at 3.45 million tonnes, which would still be well below the 5.705 million-tonne carryout from 2020-21. Total wheat exports were forecast at 16.3 million tonnes, which would be up by 200,000 from the November estimate but still well below the 26.407 million exported in 2020-21. Of that total, durum exports are forecast at only 2.3 million tonnes, down from 3.1 million in November and 5.773 million the previous year.

The pulse and special crops also only saw minor adjustments on the month, with ending stocks for both peas and lentils left unchanged at 50,000 tonnes. That compares with pea ending stocks in 2020-21 of 479,000 tonnes and lentils at 406,000.

Tables: December estimates for Canadian major crops’ supply and demand, in millions of metric tonnes. Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

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Statistics Canada releases its first survey-based acreage estimates for the upcoming growing season on Tuesday next week (April 27), which should lead to adjustments in subsequent supply/demand projections.

Canola ending stocks for both the current marketing year and the upcoming 2021-22 crop year were left unchanged at 700,000 tonnes for both years. That would be well below the 3.13 million tonne carryout from 2019-20.

Wheat, durum, barley, and corn saw slight downward revisions to their new-crop ending stocks projections. Total wheat carryout for 2020-21 was unchanged at 5.31 million tonnes, while new-crop wheat ending stocks were lowered to 6.05 million from 6.22 million in March.

The barley carryout for 2020-21 was lowered by 100,000 tonnes, to 500,000 tonnes, while new-crop barley carryout was down by the same amount to an estimated at 700,000 tonnes.

Pulse and special crops only saw minor adjustments on the month.

Tables: April estimates for Canadian major crops’ supply and demand, in millions of metric tonnes. Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

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Why it matters: Canadian pulse crop exporters rely on shipping containers to get their products to international customers. A lack of them could delay affect sales and pulse crop prices to farmers.

The American-based Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance said Oct. 23 its “members were shocked to learn this week that shipments of agricultural products by containers are being discontinued by a major shipping line, effective immediately and for the foreseeable future.”

The alliance called the German international shipping and transportation company Hapag-Lloyd’s decision to suspend overseas container shipments from North America a “bombshell,” adding it would hurt members, especially in the upper Midwest.

The alliance said the decision is driven by “hard economics during a time of unprecedented demand for higher-value North American consumer imports by containers from Asia at premium prices… even if it means forgoing hauling critical food and agriculture products back to manufacturers overseas.”

Pulse Canada is aware of Hapag-Lloyd’s decision, Jeff English, vice president of marketing and communications, said via email Wednesday.

“Pulse Canada is working with our members and industry partners to actively monitor the impact of this decision,” he wrote, adding that it was a temporary measure.

“We understand this was a business decision made due to capacity issues.”

Canada’s pulse sector relies heavily on service providers such as steamships lines and railways to get products to markets around the world, he wrote.

“Decisions like these have a real impact on our international competitiveness,” English wrote. “From our perspective, this further underscores the need for a timely and serious conversation about investing in and improving the resilience and effectiveness of Canada’s transportation infrastructure and trade corridors and gateways.”

According to one industry official, COVID-19 delayed Asian shipments to North America earlier this year and they’re trying to make up for it now to fulfill increased Christmas demand. That should mean more containers will be available for pulse crop exporters in the new year.

Even container stuffers at Canada’s West Coast ports are affected, according to the official. Normally that’s not the case because of the quick turnaround between unloading incoming containers and filling them with pulses to ship back to Asia.

Although pulse and special crops account for most of the Canadian grain exported in containers, others such as identity-preserved crops also rely on containers.

Last crop year about 11 per cent of Western Canadian grain was exported via containers, compared to just 2.5 per cent in 1999-2000.

— Allan Dawson reports for the Manitoba Co-operator from Miami, Man.

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All-wheat ending stocks for 2020-21 are now forecast at 6.3 million tonnes, which compares with the September estimate of 5.9 million. The total wheat carryout compares with the upwardly-revised 2019-20 level of 5.499 million.

Of the total, 2020-21 durum ending stocks are forecast at 800,000 tonnes. That would be up from the 700,000-tonne September forecast and the 2019-20 level of 737,000 tonnes.

Canola ending stocks for 2020-21 were estimated at 2.25 million, up only 50,000 tonnes from the September estimate but well below the 3.131 million-tonne carryout the previous year.

The agriculture department raised its forecast for 2020-21 canola exports to 10.2 million tonnes, from 9.85 million in September. If realized, exports would be in line with the 10.17 million exported in 2019-20.

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Canola ending stocks for 2020-21 are forecast at 2.7 million tonnes in the updated tables. That would be down from the 2.8 million tonnes predicted in March, and compares with the revised 3.2 million-tonne carryout expected for 2019-20.

Total wheat ending stocks are forecast to rise to 6.9 million tonnes for 2020-21. That compares with the March estimate of 6.8 million and the 5.9 million-tonne projection for the current marketing year.

Assuming normal growing conditions, AAFC said large world supplies would pressure prices for most crops in 2020-21. However, the agency added that “grain prices in Canada will continue to be supported by the relatively low value of the Canadian dollar.”

In addition, “the outlook for world and Canadian grain markets is expected to continue to be highly impacted by the domestic and international uncertainty caused by COVID-19,” AAFC said.

The pulse and special crop balance sheets only saw small adjustments from March.

Statistics Canada is set to release the results of its first acreage survey of the year on May 7, which should lead to adjustments in subsequent supply/demand tables.

— Phil Franz-Warkentin reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.

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Jeff Van Pevenage, president of Columbia Grain at Portland, Ore., first made the allegations to the Western Producer in September. He said this practice has allegedly been going on for about six to eight months.

Van Pevenage told the Producer U.S. peas face a 25 per cent tariff when exported to China, whereas there isn’t a tariff for Canadian peas. Also, U.S. lentils are slapped with a 55 per cent tariff when going to India, compared to the 33 per cent levy for Canadian lentils.

Supporting Van Pevenage’s claim are data from Statistics Canada, which show almost 47,500 tonnes of peas and nearly 39,600 tonnes of lentils from the U.S. came into Canada in July alone. That compares to about 19,700 tonnes of peas and close to 16,800 tonnes of lentils imported from the U.S. into Canada for all of 2018.

“That’s where the distortion is coming and that’s where it’s allowing people to take advantage of the system, so to speak,” he said to MarketsFarm.

Although Columbia Grain has been unable to verify its claims, Van Pevenage remained adamant.

“I have no solid proof, but I can tell you that there are Chinese customers that have bragged about being able to do this. Chinese customers who clearly ask me if I would take our green peas and put them in Canada and call them Canadian,” he said.

Furthermore, Van Pevenage accused the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) of turning a blind eye to this practice. He said phytosanitary certificates would be required to identify the origin of the product.

In an email response to the allegations, the CFIA said it’s the responsibility of the exporters to correctly label the origin of the grain, especially when applying phytosanitary certificates from the agency.

CFIA, in its email, also stated India requires phytosanitary certificates for peas and lentils, and China requires such for peas, adding Canada currently doesn’t export lentils to China.

In addition, the Canadian Grain Commission said it has not seen anything crop up in its data to support Van Pevenage’s allegation.

“At this point, based on the statistical reporting we’re getting from our licensees, we’re not seeing that,” said Remi Gosselin, manager of corporate information services for the CGC.

As for the Canadian Special Crops Association (CSC), its spokesperson said the group won’t comment on accusations or allegations made by members of the trade.

“But I can assure you that the CSC works closely with the CFIA to ensure that our members are aware of their requirements for export,” said Tracy Shelton, vice-president of marketing and communications.

— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm, a Glacier FarmMedia division specializing in grain and commodity market analysis and reporting. Includes files from Sean Pratt of the Western Producer.

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