OTTAWA: Canada exported 32,800 tonnes of peas and only 100 tonnes of lentils during the week ended April 17, according to the latest data from the Canadian Grain Commission. Exports of both crops were down on the week, but are still running well ahead of last year’s pace.
Canadian farmers intend to plant 4.28 million acres of peas and 5.14 million acres of lentils this year, according to survey data released by Statistics Canada on April 21. Both would represent new records, and compare with the 3.68 million acres of peas and 3.95 million acres of lentils seeded in 2015.
Green pea prices in the C$9.00 to C$9.75 per bushel range are being reported in Western Canada. Meanwhile, top end yellow peas are going for as much as C$12.90 per bushel in some locations. Red lentil bids of 53 cents per pound now being reported in some locations. Meanwhile, number two large green lentils are hitting prices as high as 75 cents and number ones have topped 80 cents at some locations.
Chickpea prices in Western Canada also remain strong, with large caliber Kabulis’s trading as high as 56 cents per pound.
