Harvest progress in Alberta reached 85 per cent complete as of Oct. 1, progressing 11 points on the week, according to the latest provincial crop report.

Alberta harvest well ahead of five-year average
Progress hits 85 per cent complete

Barley, Canola, Cereals, Crops, Lentils, News, Oats, Pasture, Peas, Pulses, Soybeans, Spring Wheat, Winter Wheat
Combining in Saskatchewan ahead of five-year average
Harvesting in Saskatchewan is in the home stretch as warm and dry conditions for the week ended Sept. 30 saw a 12-point gain to 91 per cent complete, the provincial agriculture department reported.

Merit Foods pays off operating lender, no deal yet for plant
Plant-based protein processor in receivership since March
A Winnipeg pea and canola protein processor in receivership since this spring remains mothballed for now with no firm buyer — but has paid off one of its three secured creditors. Merit Functional Foods, which entered receivership March 1 after just two years’ operation, has sold all its remaining finished and raw inventory and directed […] Read more

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

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

Pulse weekly outlook: recent rains could stabilize crops
Prices for pulses across Western Canada have been steady
Marketsfarm – Despite the rain the Canadian Prairies received since July 17, MarketsFarm Pro analyst Mike Jubinville pointed out that the major pulse crop areas got very little. While any precipitation has been beneficial to this year’s crops struggling with dry conditions, Jubinville said, it won’t help that much. “In terms of advancing pea and […] Read more

Pea growers urged to keep score on ascochyta
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta farmers have a new tool to manage ascochyta blight in field peas. The Alberta Pulse Growers have added a disease ‘scorecard’ to its app to help pea growers make the decision on whether or not to spray. Ascochyta blight is the most destructive foliar disease of peas in Western Canada and around the world. […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Peas heading in different directions
Export demand seen down for yellows
MarketsFarm — Prices for green and yellow peas have been starting to move further apart, according to Levon Sargsyan, grain broker with Johnston’s Grain at Welwyn, Sask. Sargsyan pointed out that prices for yellow peas have been slipping back recently. “Export demand has dropped overseas, so that’s been pushing the yellow pea prices down. The […] Read more

Bidding open for Merit Foods for two more weeks
Stakeholder Burcon plans to put up 'compelling bid'
The fate of Winnipeg pea- and canola-based protein processor Merit Functional Foods won’t be confirmed until the end of April at the earliest. Merit, whose major shareholders include Vancouver plant-based protein firm Burcon NutraScience, U.S. agrifood firm Bunge and former executives of Hemp Oil Canada, was placed into receivership March 1. According to the first […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Manitoba growers not worried about Merit situation
Pea, canola protein processor in receivership
MarketsFarm — After Manitoba-based plant protein processor Merit Functional Foods went into receivership last Wednesday, Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers (MPSG) executive director Daryl Domitruk said it is not a microcosm of the province’s pulse industry. Domitruk said MPSG learned about Merit’s financial situation through the media. He also added that some Manitoba pea growers […] Read more