File photo of a pea crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Pulse weekly outlook: Pea prices beginning to weaken

'Increased export competition' seen

MarketsFarm — With increased export competition, pea prices in Western Canada have slipped back, according to Levon Sargsyan of Johnston Grains in Calgary. “We are hearing that China slowed their imports down from Canada, which is driving the current decrease in prices,” Sargsyan said. “They have increased their imports from countries like Russia, which is […] Read more

Yellow peas. (Victoria Popova/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Pea exports solid so far, lentils down on year

MarketsFarm — Canadian pea exports are running at a solid pace through the first two months of the 2023-24 marketing year, despite smaller production, as exports of newly-harvested supplies in September nearly quadrupled what moved the previous month. Canada exported 440,085 tonnes of peas in September, up from only 99,645 tonnes the previous month, according […] Read more


beans, lentils, peas

Alberta Pulse Growers seeks advisors

Reading Time: < 1 minute Pulse producers who want to grow the province’s pulse industry while developing their own leadership skills are invited to let their names stand for election as an Alberta Pulse Growers advisor at zone meetings this fall. “I strongly encourage any interested pulse farmers to join the APG team,” said chair Shane Strydhorst. “I started out […] Read more

Lentils. (Seb_ra/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Lentils shift in narrow range

Farmers seen sitting on product for now

MarketsFarm — Price movement for most western Canadian lentils held narrowly rangebound for the week ended Monday. Prairie Ag Hotwire reported most prices remained one cent per pound of unchanged. To Marcos Mosnaim of Export Packers, there were two central reasons for such sparse movement in lentils. “On one side… I will say the lack […] Read more


Chickpea curry. (Modesigns58/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Activity to ramp up for chickpeas

'Quality was good, yields were lower'

MarketsFarm — Things are quiet right now on the chickpea front, but that could change in a few weeks, according to Jake Hansen of Mid-West Grain in Moose Jaw. “I think everyone’s getting prepped and ready for Argentina’s harvest, but it’s quiet,” he said. “There’s still movement on previous contracts, but not a lot of […] Read more

Pinto beans. (Vergani_Fotografia/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Smaller North American dry bean crops to underpin prices

Canada's edible bean crop estimated smallest since 2016

MarketsFarm — Variable weather conditions during the 2023 growing season cut into edible bean production in some key North American growing regions, with tighter supplies overall likely to keep prices well supported. “The whole world is a little short of beans this year,” said Mitch Coulter, executive director of the Northarvest Bean Growers Association in […] Read more


File photo of a pea crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 1, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Pulse weekly outlook: Smaller yields than last year in Saskatchewan

Pulse production seen varying by location

MarketsFarm — Yields and crop conditions from this year’s pulse harvest in Saskatchewan largely varied by location, according to SaskPulse executive director Carl Potts. “Generally on the east side of the province and some areas of the south, some pretty good yields. And then in the west-central, southwest regions, some yields that were quite low. […] Read more

File photo of black beans. (Nhattienphoto/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: ‘Average’ dry bean crop in Manitoba

Won't be close to last year's 'pretty phenomenal' crop

MarketsFarm — As Manitoba’s pulse harvest neared completion, a provincial pulse specialist says it will vary as to whether dry bean growers are satisfied with the result. Dennis Lange said that 96 per cent of Manitoba’s dry bean crop has already come off the field. In the central region, 97 per cent of its dry […] Read more


Lentils. (Seb_ra/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: India dispute leaves lentils’ future uncertain

India was Canada's top customer in 2022-23

MarketsFarm — As tensions between Canada and India remain very high, the future direction for Canadian lentils continued to be uncertain. “Your guess is as good as mine,” Marcos Mosnaim of Export Packers said as to what could happen, adding “Canada has to be careful. I don’t know what India will do.” Prime Minister Justin […] Read more

peas

Researchers want producers to plant more peas

Four-year project attempts to eliminate barriers to growing the crop

Reading Time: 3 minutes Peas are a powerhouse. Not only do they sport a low carbon footprint and contain a high amount of protein, they come with their own nitrogen. So why aren’t more producers planting them? The biggest reason is the risk of root rot, a disease of peas that can infect the soil for years. But what […] Read more