Sept. 23, 2011, St. Albert, Alta. — Poor weather conditions this year in
the East will cause Canadian peat harvesting to fall well short of
targets.
Sept. 23, 2011, St. Albert, Alta. — Poor weather conditions this year in the East will cause Canadian peat harvesting to fall well short of targets.
The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA), whose members represent 95 per cent of the North American peat production, made the announcement today.
Harvesting has been especially difficult in the East, with only 15 to 30 per cent of historically targeted requirements having been met. Current conditions are so poor that the harvest season has concluded.
Weather conditions have been better in Western Canada, and harvesting is continuing in some locations. However, the potential area of harvest represents about 30 to 40 per cent of the total Canadian production.
Continuous and heavy rainfall conditions throughout Eastern Canadian peat regions have impacted the ability of the industry to harvest expected volumes. The areas hardest hit are in New Brunswick and Québec. These areas account for 60 to 70 per cent of all of Canada’s peat production.
“The outcome is that overall the industry is facing one of its poorest peat harvest seasons,” says the CSPMA. “The peat industry is committed to working co-operatively with its commercial business partners to minimize the short-term impacts for the horticultural and agricultural industries.”
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