MarketsFarm — Early signs point to a sizeable increase in Canadian pulse production in 2022-23, but co-operative weather will be needed to meet those expectations.
Strong returns over the past year relative to other crops should encourage farmers to seed more peas and lentils in 2022, according to the first outlook for the new crop year from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), released Friday.
High fertilizer prices may also be encouraging a closer look at seeding the nitrogen-fixing legumes.
The government agency forecasts pea seedings at 4.08 million acres and lentils at 4.45 million, which would be up by 6.7 and 3.3 per cent respectively. However, with a return to average yields, total pea production is forecast to be up by 68.4 per cent on the year, at 3.8 million tonnes, while lentils are predicted to be up by 55.7 per cent, at 2.5 million tonnes.
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Aside from 2021’s drought-stricken crops, actual Canadian pea and lentil production has surpassed the early January forecast in each of the previous three years by five to as much as 27 per cent (2018-2020), so actual supplies could end up even larger.
Increased production should also lead to increased exports, although AAFC also predicts a decline in average prices for the two crops.
Average pea prices in 2022-23 are forecast at $450 per tonne, which would be down from an anticipated $610 per tonne for the current crop year. Lentil returns are forecast at an average of $725 per tonne, down from $1,080 in 2021-22.
Statistics Canada’s official acreage intentions are due to be released in April.
— Phil Franz-Warkentin reports for MarketsFarm from Winnipeg.
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