Pulses: Sask. harvest wraps, El Nino hits Australia

CNS Canada — Following are a few highlights in the Canadian and world pulse markets on Friday morning, Oct. 9.

• Peas and lentils are both 99 per cent combined in Saskatchewan, according to the latest provincial report. Lentil yields are averaging 1,279 lbs./ac., which compares with 1,371 in 2014. Peas averaged 32 bu./ac., also down from 34 in 2014.

• Canada exported 46,000 tonnes of peas during the week ended Oct. 4, according to the latest Canadian Grain Commission data. Total pea exports during the crop year to date, at 905,700 tonnes, are running ahead of the year-ago level of 859,700 tonnes.

• El Nino weather patterns in Australia are cutting into production prospects after the third-driest September on record. Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology is predicting dry and hot weather to continue through December in the southeast corner of the country, with El Nino effects lingering into 2016.

• While weather problems hurt pulse production in India this year, substandard pesticides have also contributed to yield losses according to a recent study from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The study on the “Menace of Spurious/Counterfeit Pesticides in India” found that up to 30 per cent of the chemicals used by the country’s agriculture sector are not genuine. These counterfeit and sub-standard products hurt soil fertility and also cause crop and revenue losses.

• Green pea prices in the C$7.50 to $8 per bushel range are being reported, while prices anywhere from C$7.50 to $9 per bushel can be found for yellow peas. Large-calibre chickpeas are trading in the 35-36 cents/lb. (delivered elevator) area, with discounts for smaller Kabulis and Desis.

• The feed pea benchmark compiled by the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers and Alberta Pulse Growers ranged from C$275 per tonne in Manitoba to as high as C$327 per tonne in Saskatchewan during the two-week period ended Sept. 30. Those values are down slightly from the previous reporting period.