Smaller Fall Pulse Harvest

VANCOUVER - Sep 20/06 - SNS -- Fall pulse production levels are expected to be down from last year in the face of smaller crops in Australia, little change in India's summer or kharif season harvest and potential yields losses in southeast Asia because of El Nino related weather problems.

News of smaller than expected harvests in Australia and India come on the heels of reports of problems with China's dry edible bean crops. While this year's black bean harvest is believed to be up over last year, it is generally accepted that China's white and speckled bean harvests are down from last year.

Combined with a quick finish to western Canada's pulse harvest and an end to harvest selling pressure, rising doubts about Asian and Australian crops is giving markets a chance to establish early season lows for most commodities.

Field pea price prospects are helped by the fact Canadian exporters could ship a record quantity of peas during September, which is maintaining upward pressure on spot markets at both the grower and inter-dealer level.

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