For 2005-06, total area seeded to pulse and special crops in Canada decreased by 2%, from 2004-05, as increases for dry peas, lentils, dry beans, sunflower seed and chickpeas were more than offset by decreases for mustard seed, canary seed and buckwheat.

Statistics Canada’s (STC) seeded area survey, conducted during May 16 - June 3 and released on June 23, provided seeded area estimates for most pulse and special crops by province, but for some of the smaller producing provinces the area seeded has been estimated by AAFC.

In general, crop development is near normal, except for Manitoba where it is mostly behind normal due to stress caused by excessive moisture. Normal crop abandonment is expected except for Manitoba where higher than normal abandonment is expected due to excessive moisture. Yields are expected to be higher than trend for Saskatchewan and Alberta, trend for Ontario and Québec, and below trend for Manitoba. The poor crop in Manitoba mainly affects Canadian dry bean, sunflower seed and buckwheat production because Manitoba is normally the largest producer of these crops.

The dry pea and lentil harvest has started and harvesting of chickpeas, mustard seed and canary seed is expected to start in mid to late August. It is assumed that precipitation will be normal for the harvest period and that average quality will be normal.

Total production in Canada is forecast to decrease by 6%, from 2004-05, to 4.9 million tonnes (Mt). Total supply is expected to increase by 5% to 6.1 Mt, as higher carry-in stocks more than offset the decrease in production. Exports are forecast to increase by 9% due to stronger demand. Carry-out stocks are expected to increase marginally.

Average prices, over all types, grades and markets, are forecast to increase for chickpeas and mustard seed, decrease for dry peas, lentils, dry beans and sunflower seed, and be the same for canary seed and buckwheat. The main factor to watch are precipitation and temperatures during the late summer and fall in Canada. Other factors to watch are the exchange rates of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar and other currencies, ocean shipping rates and growing and harvest conditions in major producing regions, especially United States, India and Australia.

Complete report in PDF format: http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2005/pdf/13090.pdf