MarketsFarm — Statistics Canada on Tuesday tallied up increases in commercial and on-farm stocks of both lentils and dry peas, in its report on grain stocks as of Dec. 31, 2022.
Unlike those two pulses, however, StatCan reported total stocks of chickpeas decreased, at 185,000 tonnes in December 2022 compared to 311,000 in December 2021. That’s despite an increase in production from nearly 91,300 tonnes in 2021 to almost 128,000 in 2022.
While commercial stocks of chickpeas remained consistent at 25,000 tonnes, the federal agency saw a drop in on-farm stocks from 285,000 tonnes in December 2021 to 160,000 tonnes in December 2022. The five-year average is 263,000 tonnes; however, StatCan does not have a stocks figure for December 2017.
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Total stocks of lentils improved from 1.21 million tonnes to almost 1.44 million. StatCan pegged on-farm stocks as of Dec. 31 at 1.28 million tonnes, for a gain of 211,000 from a year ago. Commercial stocks as of this past December were 162,000, up from last year’s 146,000. The five-average for lentils is 1.98 million tonnes.
Dry pea stocks stood at almost 2.12 million tonnes in the StatCan report, up from last year’s 1.59 million. While on-farm stocks were 524,000 tonnes higher at 1.81 million tonnes, commercial stocks held relatively steady at 307,000 compared to 310,000 a year ago. The five-year for dry peas is 2.49 million tonnes.
Prior to the StatCan report, chickpea prices were unchanged in Western Canada as of Monday, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. The larger Kabulis (eight to 10 millimetres) ranged from 52 to 55 cents per pound delivered, while the seven-mm Kabulis fetched 38-40 cents/lb. The Desi No. 1 and B-90 No. 1 chickpeas remained at 30-35 cents/lb. and 38-40 cents/lb. respectively.
As for lentils, there were only changes over the last week in Richlea No. 1 and Crimson No. 1, each having lost a penny a pound. Depending on size, Lairds were 39-51 cents/lb. delivered, Estons at 45-47/lb., Richleas at 39-49 cents/lb. and Crimsons at 24.5-32 cents/lb.
— Glen Hallick reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.
