Canadian Peat Moss Harvest Update Looks Promising

Posted by Brian Sparks|November 7, 2018

Photo credit: Janeen Wright

The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA), whose members represent 92% of North American peat production, has announced its projections for the peat harvest for the 2018 season.

On Aug. 31, CSPMA conducted a survey of its members concerning their 2018 actual harvest as a percentage of their 2018 expected harvest (see below for details). Overall, the season has been close to meeting or slightly exceeded expectations.
• In New Brunswick, for both the north and south reporting areas, the industry is above its expected harvest volumes. (New Brunswick North, 110%, New Brunswick South, 102%).
• Québec’s South Shore (107%) recorded the largest above expectation harvest for all reporting areas. A mild spring and above-normal summer temperatures contributed to the results. In Québec’s North Shore (92%), the results are slightly below expectations due to less favorable weather conditions during the summer harvest.
• The Prairie Provinces (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta), experienced slightly lower harvest expectations (Manitoba, 97%; Saskatchewan, 82%; Alberta, 97%). A cooler spring and variable summer weather conditions account for the poorer showing. Minnesota has experienced a similarly slightly lower than expected harvest with only 93% achieved.

As in the past, CSPMA members are committed to working cooperatively with their commercial business partners.

• 2018 Actual Harvest: The volume of cubic feet of harvest that corporately was achieved as of August 31, plus what can reasonably be expected to be harvested for the last few weeks of the season based on normal harvesting conditions.
• 2018 Expected Harvest: The volume of cubic feet that equates to a) market needs, b) anticipated buffer at the end of the 2018 season, minus, c) inventory on hand at the start of the 2018 season (what was left of the 2017 buffer).