Federal research scientist Syama Chatterton is working on a tool that will identify root rot risk in pulse crops.

Root rot risk analysis tool could come online by next year

There are few things that pulse producers can do to manage root rots in their fields — but a new risk assessment tool could help

Reading Time: 3 minutes A new screening tool that will tell producers the risk of a root rot infection in their pulse crops could be available as early as next year. “At the moment, if producers are concerned about whether they have root rot in their field, they can take their soil to a commercial testing lab to determine […] Read more

Follow storage guidelines to protect your stored pulses

Follow storage guidelines to protect your stored pulses

Combining pulses when they’re tough reduces damage to seeds, but they then need to be dried down

Reading Time: 4 minutes Pulse crops retain their quality and maximize their marketability when a few grain storage guidelines are followed. Downgrading of pulses can occur when cracked seed coats or split seeds are present in the sample, or if a significant amount of seeds are heated or have a musty odour. The Canadian Grain Commission’s dry seed moisture […] Read more


Peace Country producer Caroline Sekulic said mixing with hundreds of international pulse traders, buyers, and sellers convinced her that there’s a very bright future for her crops.

It’s a great time to be a pulse grower

Five Alberta farmers attending the world’s biggest pulse event get an up-close look at the red-hot market for pulses

Reading Time: 3 minutes Caroline Sekulic just got back from the biggest pulse convention in the world — and she has a message for Alberta farmers. “We have to stay competitive and we have to keep on it with our market access initiatives,” said the Peace Country farmer, who was one of five Alberta pulse growers at the conference […] Read more

Alberta Pulse website offers more market info

Alberta Pulse website offers more market info

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Pulse Growers has revamped www.pulse.ab.ca to make it easier for pulse producers to find useful information about growing and marketing pulses. “When producers are looking for information, they need it fast and they need to be able to depend on it to be accurate,” said chair D’Arcy Hilgartner. “This website makes use of technological […] Read more



Pulse sector still on tenterhooks

Pulse sector still on tenterhooks

India’s insistence on fumigation of pulse imports throws up major barrier to Canadian pulse shipments


Reading Time: 2 minutes Canada’s pulse industry is still waiting to hear whether India will reverse a decision that could seriously hamper Prairie exports to its largest market. For more than a decade, India has required most pulse shipments be fumigated with methyl bromide in the country of origin. But Canada and some other countries were granted an exemption, […] Read more



Indiana-based Enjoy Life Foods in 2012 launched Plentils, a high-protein snack product made with lentil powder and billed as “chips with benefits.” (EnjoyLifeFoods.com)

Pulse crop strategy aims to broaden pulse demand

A new market development goal for Canada’s pulse crop industry hopes to create demand in use categories where pulses aren’t yet a major player. Pulse Canada’s board on Wednesday released a new target dubbed “25 by 2025,” under which the Canadian pulse crop grower/processor industry “will marshal its resources to create new demand in new […] Read more



Growing demand for plant-based proteins could drive up fababean acres, said provincial pulse unit head Mark Olson.

Fababeans get a reality check

Fabas were on a tear until this year, but experts expect the crop 
to have a solid, but modest, future in Alberta

Reading Time: 4 minutes With the sharp drop in Alberta fababean acres in 2016, has the clock struck midnight for last year’s Cinderella crop? Maybe, maybe not, says a provincial pulse expert. “I just can’t see them going away,” said Mark Olson, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry’s pulse crops unit head. “I don’t think the acres are going to go […] Read more