The Prairies’ lentil growers will get “full access” to all six varieties of Clearfield lentils from BASF Canada for the 2010 growing season.

The chemical firm announced Dec. 10 it plans to have full availability for Clearfield lentil varieties in 2010 across every market class, including extra small red varieties CDC Imperial CL and CDC Impala CL, small red varieties CDC Impact CL and CDC Maxim CL, medium green variety CDC Impress CL, and large green variety CDC Improve CL.

Clearfield lentils’ use has been “spreading rapidly” across lentil-growing regions in Saskatchewan and Alberta since their launch in 2007, BASF said in a release.

Senior technical development specialist Mark Kuchuran of BASF Canada estimated half of all red lentil acres will be Clearfield varieties in 2010.

Kuchuran said he also expected Clearfield lentil green varieties, which were released to certified seed growers for increase a year after the reds, will account for 10 per cent of green lentil acres in 2010.