Source: Agriculture and Agrifood Canada

SUMMARY

For 2006-07, the total area seeded to pulse and special crops in Canada decreased by 12% from 2005-06, as higher areas for dry peas, chickpeas and buckwheat were more than offset by lower areas for lentils, dry beans, mustard seed, canary seed and sunflower seed. Statistics Canada’s (STC) seeded area survey, conducted during May 24 to June 4 and released on June 22, provided estimates for most pulse and special crops by province, but for some of the smaller producing provinces the area seeded has been forecast by AAFC. Crop development and condition is, in general, normal. It is assumed that precipitation will be normal for the growing and harvest periods and that quality will be normal. Trend yields are assumed for both western and eastern Canada, as soil moisture reserves are good in most areas, although there are areas which are too dry and other areas which have excessive moisture. The abandonment rate is expected to be normal, except for dry peas and canary seed in
Saskatchewan for which slightly higher than normal abandonment is forecast because of excessive moisture in north-eastern Saskatchewan, where a significant portion of these crops are produced.

Total production in Canada is forecast to decrease by 16%, from 2005-06, to 4.47 million tonnes (Mt). Total supply is expected to decrease by 11% to 5.98 Mt, as higher carry-in stocks offset some of the decrease in production. Exports, domestic use and carry-out stocks are forecast to decrease because of lower supply. Average prices, over all types, grades and markets, are forecast to increase for dry peas, lentils, mustard seed, canary seed and sunflower seed, decrease for dry beans and chickpeas, and be the same for buckwheat. The stronger Canadian dollar, compared to the US dollar, is expected to have the largest impact on dry bean and sunflower seed prices, as Canadian prices for these crops are directly related to US prices. The main factors to watch are weather conditions, especially precipitation, during the growing and harvest periods 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 conditions in the major producing regions, especially the United States, the European Union, Turkey, Australia, India and Mexico.

Full report in PDF format: http://www.seedquest.com/News/releases/2006/pdf/16186.pdf