Manitoba, one of three provinces growing canary seed, produced 4.6 percent of the Canadian crop in 1999, down from 10.6 percent in 1998. The major canary seed-producing province is Saskatchewan with smaller amounts being grown in Alberta. The seed is loaded on ships for transportation to Western Europe. Some of the canary seed crop is cleaned by Manitoba plants and shipped directly to the United States and South America. Small amounts are sold to companies in Eastern Canada, from where packaged seed is sent back to Manitoba for the domestic birdseed market.
Some canary seed is mixed with other seed and sold as mixed birdseed in Manitoba.
In 1999, Manitoba canary seed was exported to 25 countries, such as Belgium, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, United Kingdom and Venezuela.