MarketsFarm — Springtime still seems distant for southern Manitoba as snow remains and freezing temperatures persist. However, provincial pulse specialist Dennis Lange said current conditions are setting up well for seeding after temperatures rise and snow melts. “We’re still a little ways off. There are still snow drifts in the fields in most areas of […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: For growers, spring still far away
Just 'minor changes' expected in Manitoba acres

Pulse weekly outlook: Steady world trade expected in 2023
IGC sees firmer demand for dry peas in particular
MarketsFarm — World trade in chickpeas and lentils is expected to remain relatively steady in 2023, with solid demand from South Asia underpinning markets, according to the latest outlook from the International Grains Council. The IGC sees the world trade in chickpeas in 2023 at about 1.9 million tonnes, which would be unchanged from 2022, […] 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

Pulse crops struggle to keep up in the crop popularity sweepstakes
Peas, lentils and beans cut the fertilizer bill (and emissions) but run a distant fourth in acres
Reading Time: 5 minutes When Alberta Pulse Growers recently announced its new board, it sent a press release to say it would work hard “to achieve the vision of pulses on every farm.” But while many producers grow pulses (at least some of the time), the nitrogen-fixing legumes run far behind canola, wheat and barley in the crop popularity […] Read more

Merit Foods stakeholder looking to buy company
Burcon 'actively engaged' with company's receiver
One of the joint-venture owners of Winnipeg pea and canola protein processor Merit Functional Foods says it’s in talks to buy full control of the cash-strapped company. Two days after Merit entered a court-ordered receivership, Vancouver-based Burcon NutraScience announced Friday it “intends to submit a formal proposal to acquire the business.” Burcon said Merit’s receivership […] Read more

Plant protein processor Merit Foods in receivership
Company owes $95 million to EDC, FCC
The company behind a new Prairie processing plant extracting plant-based proteins from peas and canola has landed in receivership, in the high eight figures’ debt to its secured lenders. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on Wednesday announced it’s the receiver for both Merit Functional Foods Corp. and the numbered company that owns Merit’s processing plant and property in […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Peas seeing good Prairie movement
MarketsFarm — Peas are seeing good movement in Western Canada ahead of spring, although prices have held steady over the past month. “The yellow pea market has some life again,” said Allan Johnston of Johnston’s Grain at Wellwyn, Sask. He added there were also a few companies chasing after some coverage for green peas with […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: AAFC report makes minor changes
Revisions mainly in dry peas, chickpeas
MarketsFarm — Following the latest supply and demand estimates from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), MarketsFarm Pro analyst Mike Jubinville said their numbers “all seem reasonable enough.” There were only a handful of small tweaks to pulses in the AAFC report released Friday. For the most part, the revisions came with dry beans and chickpeas. […] Read more

Pulse weekly outlook: Earthquake to have little effect on pulse markets
Such disasters don't often blow back on agrifood commodity costs
MarketsFarm — The earthquake that devastated parts of Turkey and Syria on Monday last week, taking the lives of more than 40,000 people, may not have a major effect on pulse markets, according to one analyst. Jon Driedger from Leftfield Commodity Research in Winnipeg said that while natural disasters like an earthquake can take on […] Read more

China top destination for Canadian grains, oilseeds
CGC data points to key destinations
MarketsFarm — China is the top destination for Canadian grain and oilseed exports through the first five months of the 2022-23 marketing year, accounting for roughly a third of the total movement, according to the latest monthly report from the Canadian Grain Commission. Canada has exported 6.566 million tonnes of grains, oilseeds, and pulses to […] Read more