Canadian pulse plantings to rise in 2024

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Published: March 12, 2024

File photo of a lentil crop before harvest in Saskatchewan. (Bobloblaw/iStock/Getty Images)

Glacier FarmMedia – Canadian farmers intend to seed more acres to pulse crops this spring, although actual planted area could end up larger still.

Canadian lentil area is forecast to be up by 4.4 per cent on the year, at 3.829 million acres, according to the estimates of principal field crops report released by Statistics Canada on March 11. After conducting a survey of producers in December and Janyar, StatCan forecast pea area in 2024 at 3.122 million acres which would be up by 2.4 per cent on the year.

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Photo: Vencavolrab/iStock/Getty Images

USDA adjusts supply/demand estimates

Corn and soybean yields in the United States were left unchanged in the latest supply/demand estimates from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, released July 11, although a reduction in harvested area led to small downward revisions to production for the crops.

Average pre-report expectations for both of those major pulse crops had called for even larger acreage increases, given the prospects for relatively favourable returns and lower input costs compared to other options.

Large green lentils are currently trading at some of their highest price levels of the past year, topping out above 80 cents per pound in some locations, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data. New crop pricing is in the 55 to 57 cents per pound area. Red lentils have lagged their green counterparts to the upside, with spot bids and new crop pricing both around 30 cents per pound or slightly higher.

Spot bids for large calibre kabuli chickpeas can be found as high as 55 cents per pound, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire, with new crop bids around 45 cents per pound.

Chickpea area is forecast to hit its highest level since 2018 at 400,000 acres, which would be up by 26.8 per cent from the 315,500 acres seeded in 2023.

Area seeded to edible beans is forecast to increase by 12.8 per cent, hitting 359,000 acres. However, of that total, coloured beans are forecast to be up by 20.8 per cent at 297,100 acres, while white (navy) bean acres are projected to come in at their lowest level in 13 years at only 61,800 acres.

Nearby prices for white beans top out at 54 cents per pound, while black beans are trading over 70 cents per pound and pintos are trading in the 54 to 57 cents per pound area.

Phil Franz-Warkentin is an associate editor/analyst with MarketsFarm in Winnipeg. 

About the author

Phil Franz-Warkentin

Phil Franz-Warkentin

Editor - Daily News

Phil Franz-Warkentin grew up on an acreage in southern Manitoba and has reported on agriculture for over 20 years. Based in Winnipeg, his writing has appeared in publications across Canada and internationally. Phil is a trusted voice on the Prairie radio waves providing daily futures market updates. In his spare time, Phil enjoys playing music and making art.

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