Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

For 2006-07, total Canadian exports and carry-out stocks of pulse and special crops are forecast to decrease from 2005-06 due to lower supply and higher domestic use. This report incorporates information from Statistics Canada’s Stocks of Canadian Grain at Dec. 31, 2006. Average prices, over all types, grades and markets, are forecast to increase for dry peas, lentils, dry beans, chickpeas, mustard seed, canary seed and sunflower seed, and be stable for buckwheat.

For 2007-08, total area seeded to pulse and special crops in Canada is forecast to decrease marginally from 2006-07, as increases for chickpeas, mustard seed, canary seed and sunflower seed are more than offset by decreases for dry peas, lentils and dry beans. It is assumed that precipitation will be normal for the growing and harvest periods, and that the abandonment rate and quality will be normal. Trend yields are assumed for both western and eastern Canada, as soil moisture reserves are good in most areas. Total production in Canada is forecast to decrease slightly to 4.37 million tonnes (Mt). Total supply is expected to decrease by 13% to 5.23 Mt, as lower carry-in stocks compound the decrease in production. Exports, domestic use and carry-out stocks are forecast to decrease due to the lower supply. Average prices, over all types, grades and markets, are forecast to increase for dry peas, lentils, dry beans, mustard seed, canary seed and sunflower seed, decrease for chickpeas, and be the same for buckwheat. 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 major producing regions, especially India, Pakistan, Mexico, United States, European Union, Turkey and Australia.

Full report: http://www.agr.gc.ca/mad-dam/pubs/bi/pdf/bulletin_20_01_2007-01-12_e.pdf