Pulse and special crops could be among the beneficiaries of wet conditions in parts of Western Canada this spring.
Tuesday’s Statistics Canada acreage report, the first for the 2022 growing season, indicated a sharp increase in mustard acres compared to a year earlier, along with more lentils and sunflowers. All other pulse and special crops were reported lower. But the survey for the acreage report, which collects information on crop planting intentions, was conducted between March 1 and March 29 – well before two spring storms brought heavy precipitation to parts of Manitoba and Saskatchewan during the second half of April.
MarketsFarm Pro analyst Mike Jubinville warned wet ground and the potential for planting delays could cause further shifts in new-crop acreage.
“(More precipitation) may take some of the wheat out because wheat tends to be the crop that comes in first,” he said. “(Pulses) might pick up a couple of acres here and there for peas and lentils but that might be something to watch in future reports.”
National lentil planted area was pegged by StatsCan at 4.49 million, up 4.2% from a year earlier. In Saskatchewan, where 90% of Canada’s lentil crop is grown, seeded area was estimated at 4 million acres, a 5.8% rise.
Jubinville said strong prices, and an anticipated decline in canola acres (down 7% to 20.9 million acres), are likely among the reasons lentil intentions are up this year.
“(The high prices have) probably attracted some grower interest,” he said. “I know canola in recent years had expanded its acreage in some of those lighter soil zones. (Growers) have shifted away from canola in those areas, probably (due to) drought-related issues and high fertilizer costs. I have a feeling lentils have gained some of that ground.”
Dry pea intentions were reported by StatsCan at 3.55 million acres, down 7% from last year. Jubinville attributed the expected decline in peas to high-priced cereal crops.
“Every cropping option has a profitable opportunity to it, it seems. For one reason or another, growers are pulling away from peas,” he said. “Growers have the intention to grow more wheat and oats.”
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