By Alice McFarlane

Agriculture Roundup for Tuesday March 30, 2021

Mar 30, 2021 | 10:41 AM

MELFORT, Sask. — Despite some setbacks caused by the pandemic, Canada’s food and beverage sector is expected to be even stronger this year.

According to a new Farm Credit Canada (FCC) report most economic indicators for food and beverage show a better performance compared to other sectors of the Canadian economy. Capital expenditures and employment in food and beverage processing fell less as a percentage than all industries combined.

FCC chief economist J.P. Gervais said the pandemic brought on losses that can never be recouped, but it has also opened up many opportunities.

“In many ways, the pandemic did not create these opportunities, but accelerated the tide of underlying trends that promote them,” Gervais said.

The report also said higher disposable income and savings in 2020 will likely spur growth in food and beverage consumption once it is safe to fully reopen food services.

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Grain and oilseed milling is expected to see the most significant increase in sales at 13.4 per cent, due to increased demand for edible oils, flour, and other baking products. Plant-based products are expected to capture a greater portion of food spending as part of a growing consumer trend.

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The Discovery Farm research facility near Langham, Sask. has a new farm and field manager.

Professional agrologist Joel Peru will provide oversight of day-to-day operations of the Ag in Motion agricultural event, research, and demonstration site.

He said Discovery Farm is where producers can learn about sustainable and profitable practices.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of working with partners, meeting new people and being part of both Field of Excellence and the largest farm show in western Canada, Ag in Motion,” Peru said in a news release.

Peru grew up in Saskatoon, Sask. but spent his summers working on his grandparents’ 4,000-acre grain farm in southwest Saskatchewan.

Before joining Discovery Farm, Peru was an irrigation agrologist with the Ministry of Agriculture Crop and Irrigation Branch in Outlook, Sask.

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW