(Resource News International) –– Export demand is slowly picking up for edible peas, as new-crop supplies start to become available. But with a sizeable portion still to be harvested, the unknowns regarding quality are limiting activity in the market.
“There seems to be a little bit of demand coming from the Indian subcontinent and from South America,” said pea merchant Cam Laxdal at Lakeside Global Grains’ Winnipeg export sales office, “but it’s only nibbling right now.”
While most of the yellow peas in southern Saskatchewan have been harvested, the quality of the green peas is still unknown, as a large portion is grown in central and northwestern Saskatchewan where operations have been delayed.
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“Saskatchewan is a big question mark,” said Laxdal. There was some reluctance pursuing the buying interest without knowing what there is to sell, he said.
For the fields left to harvest, most pea crops are now at the stage where frost won’t do major damage, although there are some late-seeded fields still vulnerable. “They need an extended period of warm, dry weather,” said Laxdal.
If bleaching does become an issue, he said, there would still be a market for green peas with some bleaching. At over 10 per cent bleached, however, the market thins out considerably.
“It’s a bit hit-and-miss,” said Les Aubin of Walker Seeds at Tisdale, Sask. on the quality of the pea crop coming in so far.
Yields were “average at best,” he said, with disease pressures later in the year limiting the potential.
The pea market was trading relatively sideways, Aubin said, and a big push in demand this fall was unlikely, as India has already been making steady purchases for the past few months.
Green peas delivered to the elevator are currently priced in the $5.25 to $5.75 per bushel area, according to the latest Prairie Ag Hotwire data. Yellow pea bids range from $4.85 to $5.17.
