MarketsFarm — As farmers decide what to plant in 2020, Dale McManus of Johnston’s Grain at Welwyn, Sask. hasn’t seen any significant deviation from what producers normally buy for pulse seed.
“Red lentils, green lentils, green and yellow peas,” McManus cited among the pulses being purchased.
Also, he noted, prices have remained quite steady in view of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Prices tracked by Prairie Ag Hotwire show things haven’t changed too much on a daily basis, but there’s been some movement on a weekly basis.
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Depending on the variety, prices for Crimson, Eston and Laird lentils increased by 1.5-6.5 cents/lb. between March 31 and Monday this week. Richlea lentils saw declines of two to seven cents/lb.
Chickpeas backed off by a penny per pound week to week, but desi chickpeas slipped four cents. Peas largely held firm as well, although yellow peas gained seven cents per bushel over the week and feed peas in Manitoba jumped 50 cents.
McManus pointed to one continuing problem — that the movement of pulses, as well as other crops, was slow over the winter.
“Things are backed up at the ports,” he said, noting the strike at Canadian National Railway in November and the more recent rail blockades exacerbated those delays. Cold weather, avalanches and derailments during the winter added more pressure.
— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.
