Relatively Quiet on Lentil Front

VANCOUVER - Apr 7/06 - SNS -- Lentil markets were relatively quiet during the past week, with most market participants worrying about the split between large green and red lentils in Canada this year.

Significantly higher prices for red lentils is expected to result in a shift in the color of lentils grown. However, the shift is expected to prevent total lentil seedings in Canada from changing much. They could slip from almost 2.2 to just under 2.1 million acres.

By contrast, lentil seedings in the United States are expected to gain at least another 115,000 acres this year, rising from 450,000 to 566,000. Average yields would see production in the United States jump from 234,192 metric tons (MT) to a forecast 312,000. Interestingly, the same sort of color shift is not expected in the United States because most growers did not see premiums for red versus green lentils this season.

There is no official break down of lentil area by class in Canada. But, processors believe last year's crop was 40% Laird type; 15% Richlea type; 15% Eston type; 25% red lentils; and 5% French grain, Pardina and other classes. In the coming year, this could shift to 33% Laird; 12% Richlea; 12% Eston; 40% red; and 3% other classes.

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