Lentil Area Creeps Higher; Peas Down Slightly

Canadian producers seeded a few more lentils but cut back slightly on dry peas compared to April intentions, according to a Statistics Canada acreage report released Tuesday.

The report pegged 2021 lentil seeded area at 4.3 million acres, up slightly from intentions of 4.21 million and in line with pre-report trade expectations. If accurate, lentil planted area would be up a modest 1.7% from a year earlier and the largest since 2017 at 4.4 million acres. On the other hand, pea acres fell slightly, declining to 3.81 million from intentions of 3.83 million and 4.25 million in 2020 – potentially the lowest since 3.61 million acres were seeded in 2018.

Planted area for other pulse and special crops was mixed compared to April intentions.

At 1.02 million acres, flax seeded area increased from intentions of 982,300 and the 930,500 acres seeded in 2020. Amid strong prices and an old-crop supply pipeline that is near empty, it represents the largest flax seeded area since 1.04 million acres went into the ground in 2017.

Canaryseed acres are also up from intentions, climbing to 314,000 from 243,600 in April and 273,000 a year earlier. If accurate, it is the largest canary seeded area since 325,000 acres in 2015.

In contrast, chickpea area is now estimated at just 185,500 acres. That is down from intentions of 212,200 and the previous year’s 297,800 and represents the smallest chickpea planted area since 160,000 acres went into the ground in 2017.

At an estimated 305,500 acres, mustard area is down from intentions of 358,100 but still up from 256,400 a year earlier.

Dry bean area is down to 373,400 acres from intentions of 414,000 and 18.3% below a year earlier. It is potentially the smallest dry bean area since 353,600 acres were planted in 2018.

Sunflower area is now estimated at only 77,400 acres, a 7.8% drop from intentions of 84,000 and a fall of nearly 31% from the 111,900 acres seeded in 2010. However, it remains slightly above the 76,300 acres seeded in 2019.