CNS Canada — The plunging value of the lira is threatening to curb sales of Canadian lentils to Turkey — traditionally one of Canada’s biggest customers for the pulse. The Turkish lira hit a record low on Monday as soaring inflation and political turmoil sent the currency plunging relative to the U.S. dollar. At the […] Read more

Turkish currency crisis casts cloud over lentil exports

Pulse weekly outlook: Lentil crop prospects look good, market down
CNS Canada — The western Canadian lentil crop is looking good, which has buyers in no rush to lock in contracts. “The crop is germinating well and so (buyers are) not really anxious or worried about having product available in this coming crop year,” said Marlene Boersch, of Mercantile Consulting Venture. Thursday’s crop report from […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Prairie lentils look for spark
CNS Canada — It’s not exactly a banner time for the lentil market. Prices have been steady to slightly lower over the past month as lacklustre interest and Indian tariffs on peas and chickpeas have largely dissuaded farmers from planting pulses in general. “I think the impact and extension of the impact of the Indian […] Read more

Lakehead University to operate Thunder Bay ag station
The not-for-profit Thunder Bay Agricultural Research Station’s quest for a longer-term operating plan has ended with a new operator, and a new name. The Ontario government recently announced it will transfer the TBARS’s operating and research programming responsibilities to Thunder Bay-based Lakehead University, which will now operate the site as Lakehead University Agricultural Research Station […] Read more

India imposes duties on chickpeas, lentils
CNS Canada — India is introducing immediate 30 per cent tariffs on imports of chickpeas and lentils, the country’s government announced Thursday. The import duties follow the 50 per cent tariff on yellow peas India introduced in November, and come as part of ongoing efforts by India to support farmers. “Production of chana (chickpeas) and […] Read more

Lentils back at square one heading into 2018
CNS Canada — Lentil prices in Western Canada have dropped significantly over the past year as India’s policy changes and militant actions elsewhere affected markets, according to traders. Green lentil prices in Western Canada lost anywhere from 20 to 36 cents per pound over the course of 2017, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. Prices are […] Read more

Crop research partnership maps two lentil genomes
A partnership between University of Saskatchewan (U of S) crop scientists and genomic big data company NRGene of Israel has successfully sequenced two wild lentil genomes—the largest legume genomes ever assembled. In a Nov. 8 news release, the U of S said the research was part of the $7.9-million Genome Canada-funded “Application of Genomics to […] Read more

Lentil market quiet heading into new year
CNS Canada — Heading into the New Year, Canadian lentil markets will be quiet, according to an analyst. “It’s not exactly what farmers expected. They have had three years of very brisk intake and it will take a little bit of an adjustment to realize that the market is not coming to them as readily […] Read more

Declining lentil prices should level off, improve
CNS Canada — Red lentil growers, who have seen prices cut in half during the past year and a half, may finally be able to find solace in what some analysts call a brighter outlook for the remainder of 2017. “I personally am optimistic that we will see higher prices. Some other people will dispute […] Read more

India keeps Canadian lentil market at standstill
CNS Canada — Lentil prices are largely stagnant, one market participant says, as key buyer India sits on the sidelines. And from the outside, stocks appear ample, but new-crop production could shift the dynamic of Canada’s lentil market. Statistics Canada stocks data as of March 31, 2017 pegged lentil supplies at about 1.1 million tonnes, […] Read more