Glacier FarmMedia — As Statistics Canada projected Alberta to see larger harvests of dry peas and lentils in 2025/26, the Alberta Pulse Growers offered their views as to why.
StatCan placed dry pea production in Alberta at about 1.59 million tonnes this year, up from 1.16 million last year. Also, lentil output is to rise to 477,715 tonnes versus 316,295 a year ago.
Leanne Fischbuch, APG executive director, said market signals earlier this year led Alberta growers to opt for more dry peas and lentils. Especially with Canada’s two largest export customers, India and China, being more open to pulses at the time.
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“The market significantly changed come March,” Fischbuch said.
Just when India extended its duty-free period on its yellow pea imports, China slapped a 100 per cent tariff on its yellow peas from Canada. The latter was part of China’s retaliation against Canada imposing a 100 per cent levy on imports of Chinese made electric vehicles.
During the growing season in Alberta, warmer temperatures in July didn’t reach levels that could have encouraged flower blast, Fischbuch said.
“You want heat, but not that scorching, dry-me-out type of heat,” she added, noting that it came a little bit later than usual.
Fischbuch said spotty rains throughout much of Alberta were helpful, but they led to some mold issues but nothing too serious.
In terms of prices, Prairie Ag Hotwire reported that as of Sept. 22, dry peas were steady to 25 cents per bushel higher delivered and most lentils were up a half cent to 1.5 cents per pound. The exception being Richleas which were steady to down five cents/lb.
