Pulses: Chickpea farmers Down Under hoping for rain

By Dave Sims, Commodity News Service Canada

Winnipeg, May 16 – Bids for laird number one lentils in Western Canada are hanging steady, according to the latest information from the Prairie Ag Hotwire. Prices are locked in a range of 48 to 52 cents per pound.
Green peas are in a range of C$7.65 to C$8.50 per bushel.
According to a report in the Farm and Ranch Guide, there are high hopes for fava beans in North Dakota. One company, Great Northern Ag, says the beans have some of the best genetics in the world. Officials say the beans are a cool season crop that tend to do better in the northern tier states. New varieties are coming out however that in time could allow southern regions to plant them as well.
Chickpea farmers in eastern Australia are hoping to see rain this week, according to a report in Queensland Country Life. Forecasts are calling for as much as 3mm in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
Russian pea production is on the rise. According to APK-Inform, the 2016/17 pea crop hit 2.2 million tonnes. That is 22 percent higher than the previous year.