Pulse weekly outlook: Industry adapting to new market reality

CNS Canada -- Pulse growers are facing new questions on the Prairies these days as a trade impasse with India forces many farmers to prepare for new market realities. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau next week will visit India, where the thorny subject of its levies on Canadian pulse exports will be raised. India imposed the[...]

Saskatchewan lentil acres seen rising

CNS Canada -- The International Year of the Pulses is certainly living up to its name, as territories capable of growing them look to cash in on India's insatiable demand for supplies. However, it seems not all pulses are created equal, as lentils appear to be the main driver, with peas coming in second. "It[...]


Prairie pea yields appear lower in early harvest

CNS Canada -- Western Canada's pea harvest has begun and yields appear to be down, according to a crop management specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. "Once farmers cut into the peas they began finding yields maybe half of what they typically expected," said Shannon Friesen. Excess dryness in the early summer seems to have taken its[...]

Chickpeas see strength in early harvest returns

CNS Canada -- The chickpea harvest is slowly gathering steam across Western Canada with prices holding steady, despite the harvest pressure. In Saskatchewan, where the majority of the crop lies, one industry stakeholder estimated a fifth of the crop has been combined. "Chickpeas are 20 per cent complete or just nicely underway," said Colin Young[...]


Red varieties driving lentil acreage increase

CNS Canada -- As Canada's remaining old-crop lentils shuffle off to buyers overseas, interest is building in the potential for new crop in 2015. Chuck Penner of LeftField Commodity Research in Winnipeg said he expects more acres will be planted this spring as a result of the strong interest. "Oh, there'll definitely be more; the[...]

Pea growers weigh demand opportunities against root rot

CNS Canada -- Pea acreage in Western Canada could rise by five to 10 per cent this year, according to one industry expert, who notes root rot threatens to curtail that projection. Demand from India, China and Bangladesh is strong and that means total pea area could hit four million acres, said Carl Potts, executive[...]


Mustard acres expected to soften slightly in 2015

CNS Canada -- Canadian mustard seeds could be vying for attention this spring from some of their more lucrative rivals, the chairman of the Saskatchewan Mustard Seed Development Commission predicts. "I would say mustard acres would be down a little bit from the previous year just based on the profit potential for other crops," said[...]

Chickpeas face pressure from cheap Russian exports

CNS Canada -- Cheap Russian exports of chickpeas are driving down the cost of the commodity worldwide, though one Canadian marketer says a new type of seed is helping domestic growers make financial inroads. "We're still facing stiff competition from other producing countries, primarily B90 (seeds) out of Russia," said Colin Young, owner of Midwest[...]


Better-than-expected lentil crop faces market volatility

CNS Canada -- Despite a summer of excess moisture across much of the Prairies, lentils fared better than earlier expectations, according to Bobby Leavins, operations manager for Rayglen Commodities in Saskatoon. However, the crop's grade spread is still very wide and prices are expected to be wide-ranging over the winter. "With all the moisture a[...]

Peas hold their own after large exports to India

Commodity News Service Canada -- Despite some concerns over quality, Canadian peas are holding their own on the international market, according to an industry watcher. “I would think there’s going to be pretty good prices for peas coming down the pike. I think it will be pretty good. There’s been a very aggressive export program[...]