Grainswest - Spring 2025

Spring 2025 Grains West 40 Canadian farmers face competition as market heats up BY GEOFF GEDDES PHOTOS BY JAKE LEGUEE CANADA IS A STRONG INTERNATIONAL COMPETITOR in durum marketing. Over the past five years, it has exported more than 23 million tonnes. The country’s approach is straightforward: Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing. Market dominance is not easy to maintain given factors such as new Russian and Turkish production. As well, drought conditions in Alberta and Saskatchewan, which produce almost half the world’s durum supply, decreased the quality of last year’s crop. As farmers plan for the next crop season, market competition, weather and pests loom large. “Last year, Turkey entered the durum marketplace in a big way, which greatly impacted the prices we earned,” said Jake Leguee, SaskWheat board chair and durum farmer near Weyburn, SK. Turkey exported an estimated 1.5 million tonnes in the 2023/24 crop year with an expectated increase to two million in 2024/25. “I suspect that won’t be the only domino FEATURE Durum donnybrook