SPG Lashes U.S. Pea, Lentil Industry

VANCOUVER - Sep 27/05 - SNS -- Current and future increases in pea and lentil production levels in the United States was bound to result in a collision between political interests in the Canadian and U.S. industries. The question was who would blink first.

Perhaps, not surprisingly, Canadians are blinking first. The Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) says it is launching an investigation into rising imports of U.S. origin peas and lentils by Canada.

"Growers are telling us that they are fed up with truck load after truck load of low priced U.S. peas and lentils coming into Saskatchewan this fall. They are telling this product is coming in at prices lower than out cost of production," SPG chairman Dean Corbett said in a prepared statement.

Executive director Garth Paterson added, "Since peas and lentils were included in the (2002) Farm Bill, acreage in the U.S. has increased from 400,000 in 2001 to 1.25 million in 2005. Our investigation will determine how much of this product is coming into Canada, how much is subsidized, and the extent of the damage it is causing our industry. Based on this information, we will then consider our options."

The press statement again quoted Corbett: "I understand that margins are tight for both farmers and processors, however I would like to take this opportunity to express our board's appreciation top those Canadian processors who continue to have a 'buy Canadian' philosophy.

"Pulses have been a bright light for our farmers, and the continued flow of U.S. product into Canada could result in the permanent loss of our production and processing capacity with a corresponding reduction in the value of our industry."

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