(Dave Bedard photo)

Adjustments likely ahead for StatsCan’s early acreage estimates

Projections still in line with grain trade's expectations

MarketsFarm — The results of the first acreage estimates for 2020 from Statistics Canada come with an asterisk, as the COVID-19 pandemic halted data collection early. Canada’s actual seeded area is expected to see some shifts from the projections released Thursday. “As a result of the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic, these estimates were produced […] Read more



Construction presses on at Roquette’s pea-processing plant at Portage la Prairie, Man. (Roquette photo)

Pulse weekly outlook: Manitoba pea plant construction continues

MarketsFarm — Work continues on Roquette’s pea processing plant at Portage la Prairie, Man., where the French plant-protein firm says measures have been taken to meet health and safety regulations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. “Beginning in early March we proactively started collaborating with contractors on COVID-19 prevention measures, such as increased cleaning of communal spaces […] Read more




The pea crop was at the R4 stage — most of the pods on the plants were done filling but hadn’t started to ripen yet. There were numerous patches of damaged plants spread randomly around the field, the largest were on the headlands.

Crop advisor casebook: Why are these pea pods scratched and shredded open?

A Crop Advisor's Solution from the March 24, 2020 issue of Grainews

Brian is a grain farmer who also runs a successful crop input and agronomy business near Humboldt, Sask. He regularly calls or drops by my office with questions or ideas, so I wasn’t surprised when Brian came in to see me late last July. After shaking my hand, Brian got right down to business, pulling […] Read more


(4loops/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Lack of willing sellers underpins prices

MarketsFarm — Pea and lentil bids in Western Canada are holding relatively steady for the time being, despite anecdotal reports of increased international demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with attention soon shifting to spring seeding. A lack of willing sellers is keeping pulse bids underpinned in Western Canada, according to broker Dale McManus of […] Read more

Pinto beans. (Vergani_Fotografia/iStock/Getty Images)

Pulse weekly outlook: Bids underpin Manitoba edible bean area

Province's soybean acres expected to fall

MarketsFarm — Solid prices should keep Manitoba farmers growing edible beans in 2020, although soybean area will likely drop, according to a provincial specialist. Disappointing harvest weather in 2019 hurt yields and cut into harvested area for edible beans in both Manitoba and across the border in the United States. As a result, prices heading […] Read more


Wendy’s Canada said its new pea-based Plantiful “ensures flexitarians have a protein alternative that is full of taste.” (CNW Group/Wendy’s Restaurants of Canada photo)

Wendy’s launches Canadian-made plant-based burger

Pea protein patty developed 'in-house,' company says

Burger chain Wendy’s has set out to meet what it says is now an “expectation” in the Canadian quick-service dining sector, with a new pulse crop-based burger. The U.S. chain’s Canadian arm on Thursday announced it has launched a plant-based burger it calls the Plantiful at its 380-plus Canadian stores, using a patty it described […] Read more

Photo: File

Five tips to help get your best pulse crop yields

At this year’s CropSphere in Saskatoon, the Saskatchewan Pulse Grower’s agronomy manager, Sherrilyn Phelps, talked to growers about optimizing pea and lentil yields.The biggest factor that determines yield, weather, is out of our control. However, there are some factors we can manage. Phelps’s presentation focused on factors that we can control.For Saskatchewan, the SPG has […] Read more