ABARE Lifts Aussie Pulses 11%

VANCOUVER - Feb 13/06 - SNS -- Australia's pulse crop is bigger than initially expected, with output rising 222,700 metric tons (MT) to an estimated 2.226 million since the early December forecasts were released.

In its latest crop report, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) reports chickpea production levels have declined since the December estimates were released; while the lupin, field pea, lentil and fababean numbers have been increased account for better than expected yields because of good soil moisture conditions.

ABARE had little to say about pulse crops, only noting that in South Australia, yields for lentils, lupins and field peas, yields "have been variable, ranging from below average to well above average. Field peas in some areas were affected by black spot, and lentils had some staining and weed contamination. Pulse production in the state is estimated at 548,000 in 2005-06."

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