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Pulse weekly outlook: Good year for Alberta pulses, except in northern regions

MarketsFarm – Pulse crops are doing quite well in most of Alberta, according to the province’s agriculture department. However in the Peace River and northwest regions, the story has been much different. “This year, crop conditions are better than the five-year average in both the south and central regions. In the northern region, excess moisture […] Read more

Beyond Meat’s ‘latest iteration’ of its Beyond Burger gets to carry a Made in Canada label. (Photo courtesy Beyond Meat via Globe Newswire)

Beyond Meat lines up Canadian patty co-packer

U.S. company launches 'latest iteration' of burger line

One of the names tied closest to the plant protein-based meat substitute sector has enlisted an unnamed Quebec operation to make its beef-similar patties for the Canadian retail market. Los Angeles-based Beyond Meat on Wednesday launched the “latest iteration” of its flagship Beyond Burger, billed as “produced locally at a co-manufacturing facility in Canada” and […] Read more


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

Pulse weekly outlook: Saskatchewan pulses heading for a good year

MarketsFarm — Pulse crops in Saskatchewan are in shape to have a good year, according to Dale Risula, a pulse specialist with the province’s agriculture department. “Pulses got off to a pretty good start. Moisture levels in the soil were pretty good. Most of the pulses were up and growing rapidly,” Risula said, noting pulse […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canola Council of Canada)

Canola area expected to be lower in Monday’s StatsCan report

Later-seeded areas expected to add pulse, barley, durum acres

MarketsFarm — Market participants generally expect canola acreage will be revised downward in a second acreage estimate due out Monday from Statistics Canada. “There’s a lot of uncertainty about canola acres,” Ken Ball of P.I. International in Winnipeg said, noting acreage was “definitely lost” in central and northern Alberta due to wet spring conditions. In […] Read more


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Pulse weekly outlook: Pandemic may pose market opportunity

MarketsFarm — Plant protein products were steadily rising in popularity before the COVID-19 pandemic set in — but that industry could also get a boost from consumers shifting away from meat in a post-pandemic world. “There’s an increased level of awareness of hygiene issues in the meat industry,” Vishal Vijay, head of business development at […] Read more

Exports of peas and lentils were ahead of last year’s pace prior to the pandemic and once transport issues are resolved, should continue to be strong, say experts.

Pulse prospects are bright, but transport is the big hurdle right now

The pandemic hasn’t hurt demand but a shortage of shipping containers is constraining exports

Reading Time: 3 minutes Short-term demand for Canadian pulses has spiked in the midst of the pandemic as consumers stocked up their pantries. “I’ve seen it called the ‘plan for the worst’ trend, and this sector is pretty well positioned for that kind of buying pattern,” said Greg Cherewyk, president of Pulse Canada. “Generally speaking, when you account for […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Adjustments likely ahead for StatsCan’s early acreage estimates

Projections still in line with grain trade's expectations

MarketsFarm — The results of the first acreage estimates for 2020 from Statistics Canada come with an asterisk, as the COVID-19 pandemic halted data collection early. Canada’s actual seeded area is expected to see some shifts from the projections released Thursday. “As a result of the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic, these estimates were produced […] Read more



Construction presses on at Roquette’s pea-processing plant at Portage la Prairie, Man. (Roquette photo)

Pulse weekly outlook: Manitoba pea plant construction continues

MarketsFarm — Work continues on Roquette’s pea processing plant at Portage la Prairie, Man., where the French plant-protein firm says measures have been taken to meet health and safety regulations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. “Beginning in early March we proactively started collaborating with contractors on COVID-19 prevention measures, such as increased cleaning of communal spaces […] Read more

Green lentils. (Savany/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Prices mostly steady ahead of seeding

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 […] Read more