Why it matters: U.S. pulses compete with Canadian crops on the international export market.

Peas

• · Dry edible pea production was estimated at 838,400 tonnes in the January report, which was down by nearly 100,000 tonnes from the December estimate but still up from the 772,400 tonnes grown in 2024.
• · Average U.S. pea yields were lowered to 1.95 tonnes per hectare from 2.03 T/ha in December, while harvested pea area was down six per cent from the previous month at 430,190 hectares.
• · Green peas are currently trading as high as US$9.60 per bushel (C$13.28) in North Dakota with yellow peas topping out at US$6.25 (C$8.65), according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data.

Lentils

• · Average U.S. lentil yields were raised to 1.25 T/ha, from 1.18 T/ha in December. However, production was revised lower due to a 10 per cent drop in harvested area.
• · Total U.S. lentil production for 2025 is now estimated at 478,860 tonnes. That compares with the December estimate of 502,720 tonnes and the year-ago level of 410,460 tonnes.

Chickpea

• · Chickpea production, at 310,440 tonnes, was down from the previous estimate of 337,020 tonnes, but up by 20 per cent from 2024.
• · Average U.S. chickpea yields of 1.47 T/ha compare with 1.29 T/ha in 2024.

Edible beans

• · U.S. farmers grew 1.218 million tonnes of edible beans in 2025, according to the USDA. That was down from 1.420 million tonnes in the previous year and the December estimate of 1.363 million tonnes.

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‘General malaise’

Lentils, peas and other pulses in Western Canada remained largely unchanged during the holiday season, but Boersch said there’s a “general malaise” that continues to hang over the Canadian pulse market.

One aspect she cited was China’s tariffs on its imports of Canadian peas. Another being the duties Turkey had in place on its lentil imports.

“Both of those countries, their overall import numbers are actually up over last year, it’s just that our market share is falling for a number of reasons,” Boersch said. “That’s really the crux of the problem.”

Reduced acres likely

Also, there’s an ample supply of green lentils while the situation is not as severe with the reds. She noted that it will take some time to reduce that supply and the carryout for 2025/26 will increase.

“That changes the outlook completely. It changes the willingness to contract and affix prices,” Boersch said, noting that planted pea and lentil acres are likely to decline this spring.

“The other commodities don’t look like shining stars either,” she added.

Lentil, pea prices

Prairie Ag Hotwire reported lentil prices were almost all unchanged for the week ended Jan. 6. The Lairds ranged from 11.5 to 26 cents per pound, delivered depending on the size. Estons were 14 to 24.5 cents/lb. Richleas 9.5 to 22 cents/lb. Crimsons 12 to 23 cents/lb.

Green peas remained in place at C$8.50 to C$10.50 per bushel delivered, but the yellows climbed nine cents at C$6.50 to C$7.46/bu.

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• · Estimated wheat ending stocks grew to 7.500 million tonnes, from 5.100 million in November and 4.112 million in 2024/25. Wheat exports for 2025/26 were raised to 28.350 million, from 27.700 million in November but still below the 29.220 million that moved in 2024/25.
• · Projected canola ending stocks for 2025/26 were up by 450,000 tonnes from November, at 2.950 million tonnes. That compares with 1.597 million in 2024/25. Canola exports at 8.000 million tonnes compare with 7.000 million in November. However, that would still be down by 1.3 million tonnes on the year. Domestic canola usage was forecast to hit a record 12.000 million tonnes.
• · The barley carryout was raised to 1.5 million tonnes, from 1.000 million in November and 1.249 million tonnes the previous year.
• · Ending stocks for peas and lentils were both forecast to be roughly three-times the carryout from 2024/25 at 1.568 million tonnes and 1.535 million tonnes respectively.
• · Downward revisions to soybean and corn production by Statistics Canada led to reductions in the ending stocks forecasts from AAFC. Soybean ending stocks were down by 100,000 tonnes from November at 400,000 tonnes, while the corn carryout was cut by 300,000 tonnes at 1.600 million tonnes.

December estimates for Canadian major crops supply and demand: in million tonnes. Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

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The pulse harvest is well underway in Australia, with total pulse production for the country forecast by ABARES to increase by 16 per cent on the year at 6.3 million tonnes.

Why it matters: Australian chickpeas and lentils compete with Canadian supplies on the global market.

Of that total, chickpea production is forecast to dip to 2.120 million tonnes from 2.267 million tonnes grown in 2024/25. Meanwhile, lentil production is forecast at 1.910 million tonnes, which would be up 51 per cent on the year.

Lupin production is forecast at 991,000 tonnes, up 27 per cent, while all other pulses at 1.283 million tonnes would be up by 15 per cent.

Increased demand form India has reportedly helped drive Australian farmers to grow more pulses. Australia exported a record 2.050 million tonnes of chickpeas in 2024/25, with 70 per cent of that total going to India.

“India’s domestic production had been impacted by poor seasonal conditions, resulting in high domestic prices,” said ABARES, noting that the strong sales to India were due to India instituting a tariff free period for Australian chickpeas.

“The increased demand for Australian exports resulted in chickpea prices increasing to over $1,000 (Australian dollars) per tonne, as exporters competed to secure supply from growers,” said ABARES.

The tariff free period ended on March 31, 2025, but the rate was adjusted to 10 per cent rather than the 66 per cent tariffs before the tariff free period.

ABARES expects chickpea exports will dip to 1.714 million tonnes in 2025/26, but sees lentil exports increasing to 1.537 million tonnes from 1.155 million in 2024/25.

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In Saskatchewan, the province’s weekly crop report showed the average field pea yield as of Oct. 6 was 42 bushels per acre. That would be well above StatCan’s September principal field crop estimates that forecast that forecast Saskatchewan pea yields at 35.5 bu./ac. and compares with 32.6 bu./ac. in 2024-25. Lentils, which were 99.1 per cent harvested, yielded 1,922 pounds per acre, said the province. StatCan reported 1,463 lbs./ac. for 2025-26, up from 1,285 the previous year. Chickpeas lagged behind all other crops at 69.2 per cent harvest completion and reported an average yield of 1,817 lbs./ac. StatCan reported an estimate of 1,342, slightly higher than the average of 1,304 in 2024-25.

Manitoba’s field pea harvest was also complete with the province reporting an average yield of 60 bu./ac. as of Oct. 5, with yields ranging from 30 to 75. StatCan reported the projected average yield at 49.4, compared to last year’s yield of 51.1 Dry beans, grown in the central and east regions, were 90 per cent harvested. Dennis Lange, the province’s pulse specialist, said on Oct. 7 many fields reported up to 2,000 lbs./ac. with some pinto beans reported at 2,500 lbs./ac.

Alberta’s field pea harvest was complete as of Oct. 7 and yields were larger than in previous years. The province reported an average yield of 46.8 bu./ac., 33 per cent above the five-year average. StatCan’s estimate was 40.2, compared to 35.4 last year. Quality was down with only nine per cent of the crop graded 1 Can. compared to 24 per last year. Lentils, grown in the south and central regions, were also 100 per cent harvested. StatCan’s estimated average yield was 1,878 lbs./ac., higher than the 1,254 reported last year. Chickpeas, of which Alberta’s harvest is near complete, had an estimated average yield of 1,781 lbs./ac., compared to 1,400 last year, said StatCan.

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I picked all the tomatoes, thankfully without a hint of frost on them, then cut down the herbs. The basil leaves that protruded above the raised bed’s timber frame were wilted and discoloured from the chill, so I snipped the rest, then moved on to the hardier herbs. The rosemary plants came indoors.

By then, my kitchen counters were covered. So I left the last of the beans on their bushes and vines to dry for seed. And I left the carrots, beets and spuds in their beds to get chilly, transforming into added sweetness. I made a coffee and thought about how to store my bounty, starting with the herbs.

READ MORE: Tomatoes and onions in gardens everywhere

Highly flavoured acid — that is, vinegar — is a necessity in the cook’s pantry. Acidity is vital for balancing dishes in conjunction with salt, sweetness, fat and spicy heat. I have a cupboard devoted to vinegars, so I filled a few quart jars with herbs, plus a few embellishments, then glugged in some apple cider vinegar to cover the stems and leaves. A double layer of plastic wrap went over the mouth of the jar to protect the lid from corroding, then I sealed and labelled each. They’d be ready for decanting in about a month. One jar was straight tarragon; a second held basil, thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano and parsley, in a Prairie version of “Scarborough Fair”; a third held the last of the basil with some quartered purple prune plums and star anise.

I tied the rest of the herbs into bundles and hung them over the wood stove to dry for several weeks before they would be rubbed from their stems and stored in glass jars.

The tomatoes ripened slowly on the counter in a single row, stems down, on trays lined with paper towel. If I’d planned on being away for a protracted length of time, I’d have wrapped each in newspaper and stored them in a cool room for my return. When I got impatient with the slow ripening time, I added a few bananas to each tray for their ethylene emission.

That morning I made soup with the first few pounds of ripe tomatoes. “What smells so good?” Dave said repeatedly whenever he wandered into the kitchen. A few days later, when more tomatoes ripened, I made the soup again, but with variations. Dave couldn’t make up his mind which version he preferred. So first we eat, then let’s talk about the hallmarks of a good recipe.

Tomato and red lentil soup

One of the hallmarks of a good recipe might be its versatility. This self-thickening soup, my current favourite, can drive off in all kinds of other directions, depending on how you season it. See options at the bottom of the ingredients list to debate with your own clan. Use fresh tomatoes, or Roasted Tomato Sauce (see Sept. 21, 2021 issue) from your freezer. I particularly love to serve it with grilled Greek-style pita slathered with Boursin cheese. Simmering time: about an hour.

Serves 6-8.

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil or butter
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 large onion, minced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1-2 mild or spicy sausages, diced, raw or cooked (optional)
• ¼ c. tomato paste
• 4 c. diced tomatoes
• 1 ½ c. red lentils
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 1 tsp. dried basil
• 1 Tbsp. honey
• a large sprig of fresh basil, if available
• 6 c. water
• 1 Tbsp. herb-flavoured vinegar
• 1 c. crème fraiche or whipping cream

Other possibilities:

• diced ham or pulled pork
• sliced bacon
• smoked paprika
• sweet paprika
• Indian curry spices
• Thai curry paste
• Mexican whole or ground chiles or chili powder
• cooked chickpeas or Great Northern beans
• diced bell peppers
• corn kernels
• coconut milk to replace the crème fraiche

Heat butter or oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot. Add garlic, sauté for a minute, then add onion. Season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and sweat onions for 10 minutes, stirring once or twice.

Uncover, raise the heat, and add sausage. Cook until done or reheated, then add tomato paste. Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring. Add all remaining ingredients except vinegar and crème fraiche or whipping cream. Stir well, bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until tender, and lentils fall apart, about an hour.

Add vinegar and crème fraiche or whipping cream, mix well, adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper to taste, and serve.

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Producers across Saskatchewan, and into neighbouring areas of Manitoba and Alberta, can access the site, input their location, and soil type, and find detailed trial results and variety information. The performance data will then help in making informed decisions about which pulse crops perform best in their specific geographic areas and growing environments. The enhanced platform builds on a previous tool, with several significant improvements:

Updated Pulse Varieties: The platform has a broad range of pulse varieties including lentils, peas, chickpeas, faba beans and dry beans.

Advanced Data Sets: Enhanced with detailed data sets that offer deeper insights into variety performance, including ratings for maturity, seed coat colour, protein content and disease resistance.

Weather Data Integration: Weather data is included to compare varietal performance under variable environmental conditions, helping producers understand how different varieties respond to climate patterns.

Superior User Experience: Completely redesigned interface ensures intuitive navigation and streamlined access to critical information. Compare all varieties available for a selected crop and region simultaneously.

Multi-Device Compatibility: Optimized for seamless performance across desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones, enabling farmers to access vital information anywhere, anytime.

Complete Feature Integration: All popular features from the previous version have been preserved and enhanced, ensuring continuity for existing users while providing expanded capabilities.

“We are excited to introduce this powerful new tool that will help pulse producers make more informed variety selection decisions,” said Winston van Staveren, SPG Board Chair in a news release. “The enhanced Pulse Variety Hub represents our continued commitment to supporting farmers with the most transparent and accessible agricultural information available.”

The platform serves as a resource for pulse crop producers seeking to optimize their variety selection based on specific growing conditions, regions, market requirements and production goals. The comprehensive database includes detailed information on agronomic characteristics, average yields, disease resistance profiles, maturity ratings and performance data across various growing environments.

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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.

“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.

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In the USDA’s first 2025/26 production estimates for the two pulse crops, released Sept. 12, it forecast dry edible pea production at 933,310 tonnes. That would be up by 23 per cent on the year, and the largest crop since 2020.

Projected pea yields, at 2.03 tonnes per hectare (1,814 pounds per acre), were only up by two per cent on the year, with most of the increased production linked to larger seeded area.

U.S. lentil production is forecast to be up by 22 per cent on the year, at 502,720 tonnes. Average yields are forecast at 1.18 tonnes per hectare (1,055 pounds per acre), up five per cent.

Chickpea production is estimated at 337,020 tonnes by the USDA, which compares with 255,460 tonnes in 2024/25.

Dry edible bean production in the U.S. is forecast to be down in 2025 despite improved yields due to a reduction in harvested area. Total edible bean production was forecast at 1.363 million tonnes by the USDA, which compares with 1.419 million tonnes in 2024/25.

Yellow peas are currently priced at around US$4.75 to US$5.75 per bushel in North Dakota, which works out to roughly C$6.57 to C$7.95 per bushel, according to Prairie Ag Hotwire data, which is slightly higher than average pricing opportunities in Western Canada.

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Dry pea production for 2025-26 was projected at 3.408 million tonnes, compared to 2.997 million the previous year. It would be the largest output in three years, as well as exceeding the five-year average of 2.936 million.

Lentil production is set to reach a five-year high at 2.655 million tonnes, up from 2.431 million last year and up from the five-year average of 2.162 million.

Chickpea production in Canada was also projected for an eight-year high at 308,868 tonnes, up from 286,768 in 2024-25 and well above the five-year average of 198,385.

Dry bean production is expected to decline in 2025-26 to 352,722 tonnes, down from 424,141 the previous year. The five-year average was 358,549 tonnes.

StatCan will release its principal field crop stocks as of July 31 on Sept. 9, followed by its next acreage estimates on Sept. 17.

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