Australia Expects Large Pulse Area

VANCOUVER - Apr 14/06 - SNS -- Total pulse seedings could expand this year in Australia despite relatively weak international markets for the sector, according to the latest outlook report from Pulse Australia.

Basing its forecasts on input from state agriculture departments and the trade, the industry association is forecasting pulse seedings in the country will expand from 1.71 million hectares last year to a forecast 1.82 million hectares this year.

Despite the increase, it is not as optimistic about yield prospects, predicting that output of all classes of pulses grown in the country could slip from 2.31 million metric tons (MT) to just under 2.09 million. Most of the decrease is accounted for by lupins, while crops such as peas, which are expected to show a massive jump in seeded area, are not helping to offset the decline in lupin production.

A big part of the reason Pulse Australia is not expecting this to happen is field pea yields were a record 1,707 kilograms per hectare in 2005; whereas forecast yields for 1006 are just above the previous five-year average for the crop.

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