Photo: Akchamczuk/iStock/Getty Images

Pulse Weekly: Crops growing well in Saskatchewan despite rains

As of June 10, seeding was 98 per cent complete in Saskatchewan according to the province’s weekly crop report. Also, 79 per cent of pulse crops were in normal development, while 19 per cent were behind and two per cent were ahead. Lentils were rated 90 per cent good to excellent, while chickpeas were rated at 95 per cent. Field peas were rated at 91 per cent good to excellent, while soybeans were at 83 per cent.

Canadian chickpea exports in April were down from the previous month.  Photo: File

Pulse weekly: Canadian pulse exports slowing

Glacier FarmMedia – Canadian pulse exports are showing signs of slowing down entering the final months of the 2023/24 marketing year, as end users turn their attention to the looming availability of new crop supplies. Canada has exported 1.286 million tonnes of lentils during the crop year-to-date, running about 25 per cent behind the pace […] Read more


herbicide resistant kochia

Kochia tumbling into Prairie pulse crops

Scouting — and testing for herbicide resistance — will be important this spring

Glacier FarmMedia — Concerns about the spread of kochia are growing for Saskatchewan’s pulse producers. Michael Brown, agronomy manager for Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, and Martin Carr, agronomy manager for WinField United, have seen the pesky tumbleweed spread throughout Saskatchewan, Alberta and the United States. The weed is resistant to some herbicides, among them Groups 4, […] Read more

Honey-brown discolouration of pea roots, characteristic of Aphanomyces euteiches.

Aphanomyces still a stubborn foe

Research offers hope, but proper crop management remains the best defence for today

In today’s bad news/good news ledger of pulse crop diseases, the bad news is there’s still no quick fix for controlling root rot in field peas and lentils. On the good news side, there are management options that help reduce the risk, research is narrowing in on some treatments that may help control the disease, […] Read more


Faba beans.

The flatulence-free faba bean

The process used is seen as an important tool for sustainability

Glacier FarmMedia — Let’s get the obvious part out of the way. By separating “the good stuff” (protein, starch and dietary fibre) from faba beans, a University of Alberta researcher has improved on a process that minimizes human flatulence from eating them. That issue has long been a deterrent to mass acceptance of the pulse. […] Read more

Seed treated with Vibrance Total, a combination of five different fungicide groups being brought to market for the 2024 season.

The year in pulse crop inputs

A quick look at new actives, new combinations and expanded labels

Following up on last issue’s roundup of product launches and label expansions in the cereal crop input market, here we’ve put together a quick list of new and/or improved pulse crop inputs that were announced in our earshot during the past year, including several due out for the coming growing season. Again, if we’ve inadvertently […] Read more


For fresh eating and freezing, fava beans must be picked when they are full-sized beans.

Fava beans for Prairie gardens — and fields

Part 3 of a series on Prairie farm gardens

The fava bean (Vicia faba) in Canada is often misunderstood, treated as though it is strictly a southern European or Middle Eastern legume crop. I have even seen the large fava bean type labelled as a Chinese crop. In point of fact, all of Europe grew fava beans. The beans were traditionally classified according to […] Read more



(Screengrab from Merit Functional Foods video via YouTube)

Merit Foods pays off operating lender, no deal yet for plant

Plant-based protein processor in receivership since March

A Winnipeg pea and canola protein processor in receivership since this spring remains mothballed for now with no firm buyer — but has paid off one of its three secured creditors. Merit Functional Foods, which entered receivership March 1 after just two years’ operation, has sold all its remaining finished and raw inventory and directed […] Read more

Green lentils. (Savany/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Green lentils show strength, reds lag

Green lentil sales limited as farmers bullish

MarketsFarm — Green lentil bids in Western Canada are trading at their highest levels of the past year, with solid new-crop pricing opportunities already becoming available. Spot bids for large green lentils can currently be found in the 60 to 72 cents/lb. area, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data, with new-crop contracts hitting 50 cents […] Read more