At the recent meetings of the Prairie Grain Development Committee, Seed World Canada sat down with Howard Love, lead scientist for Mustard 21 in Saskatoon, to talk about his extensive history in the ag industry, where mustard is as a crop and where it’s going in the future.
The crop is hugely important to Canada, which is one of the world’s top exporters of mustard grain. Mustard 21’s primary goal is to ensure that mustard remains a competitive crop on the Prairies.
“Currently, the economics of mustard cultivation are in our favour. The price of mustard per pound makes it significantly more profitable than canola, especially when comparing the return per bushel. This difference in pricing structure underscores the financial appeal of mustard farming,” Love says.
Market dynamics, however, are not static.
Many producers see mustard as a viable alternative in various regions, Love notes in a wide-ranging conversation. Yet, it’s crucial to remain vigilant about crop rotations to mitigate the risk of volunteer canola intrusion. Mustard 21 is actively addressing these concerns to safeguard the long-term sustainability of mustard farming.
