Pulse weekly outlook: Lentil acres likely up in 2022

MarketsFarm — Statistics Canada released its first survey-based crop acreage estimates of 2022 on Tuesday, reporting that while more lentil acres may be planted this spring, other pulses are expected to have their seeded area shrink.

The national data agency projected 4.49 million acres of lentils will be planted in Canada this year, a 4.2 per cent increase from 2021. In Saskatchewan, where 90 per cent of Canada’s lentil crop is grown, seeded area was estimated at four million acres, a 5.8 per cent rise. Alberta is expected to use 8.8 per cent fewer acres to grow the crop this year.

Over the past year, lentil prices rose between 10 and 21 cents/lb., according to Prairie Ag Hotwire. MarketsFarm Pro analyst Mike Jubinville believes the rise in prices, an anticipated decline in canola acres (down seven per cent to 20.9 million acres), and good financial returns are creating additional lentil acres.

High prices have “probably attracted some grower interest,” he said. “I know canola in recent years had expanded its acreage in some of those lighter soil zones… (Growers) have shifted away from canola in those areas, probably (due to) drought-related issues and high fertilizer costs. I have a feeling lentils have gained some of that ground.”

However, lentils’ rise was not duplicated by other pulses. Dry pea acres, like canola, is expected to see a seven per cent decrease in acres to 3.55 million. Jubinville attributes the downturn to high-priced cereal crops.

“Every cropping option has a profitable opportunity to it, it seems. For one reason or another, growers are pulling away from peas,” he said. “Growers have the intention to grow more wheat and oats.”

Dry beans saw the greatest decline among all principal field crops in the report with its acreage set to fall 22.9 per cent to 337,000 acres. Meanwhile, the seeded area for chickpeas is projected to be at 175,000 acres, 5.6 per cent less than in 2021.

The survey was conducted in March, before two major weather events brought precipitation to parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan during the second half of April. Jubinville warns that delayed planting and wet soil can cause a further shift in pulse acres.

Further precipitation “may take some of the wheat out because wheat tends to be the crop that comes in first,” he said. Pulses “might pick up a couple of acres here and there for peas and lentils but that might be something to watch in future reports.”

— Adam Peleshaty reports for MarketsFarm from Stonewall, Man.