Pea Numbers Surprise in Stocks Report

VANCOUVER -- May 10/06 - SNS -- Statistics Canada's stocks in all positions report for specialty crops did not come in as expected for all crops covered.

While the March 31 stocks estimates for lentils, canaryseed and sunflower are in line with projected ending stocks; the numbers for field peas are higher than expected, while the mustard seed estimate is smaller than expected.

In fact, the field pea estimate points to a disastrous decline in the size of the domestic feed pea market. Unless, the previous season's ending stocks and/or last summer's harvest are bigger than thought.

Statistics Canada said based on a survey of 17,100 farmers across the country during the last two weeks of March, there were 1.2 million MT of peas on farms, down 253,000 MT from last year. Surveys of specialty crop companies and data available from the Canadian Grain Commission revealed the industry was holding 340,000 MT, unchanged from last year.

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