Commercial Pea Stocks Questioned

VANCOUVER - Jan 31/07 - SNS -- Statistics Canada stocks in all positions report for December 31 points to strong normal disappearance levels for the major specialty crops since the start of the 2006-07 marketing year.

Inferred usage levels for field peas, mustard and sunflower are above the previous five-year average; while canaryseed and lentil disappearance came in significantly better than during the opening five months of the 2005-06 marketing campaign.

However, the numbers are not without issues. The most obvious problem is with the field pea stocks in all position estimate. Statistics Canada reports there were 195,000 metric tons (MT) in commercial hands as of December 31, 2006; whereas the Canadian Grain Commission's (CGC) Grain Statistics Weekly records there were 204,500 MT visible stocks of field peas on that same date.

Visible field pea stocks were comprised of 90,000 MT in primary elevators; 75,400 MT in terminal position in Vancouver; 2,400 MT at Thunder Bay; 1,600 MT in the lower St. Lawrence; 34,600 MT in transit by rail to west coast ports; and 500 MT in railcars bound for eastern Canada. For the field peas in primary elevators, 1,700 MT are located in Manitoba; 62,600 MT in Saskatchewan; 25,600 MT in Alberta; and 100 MT in British Columbia. Another 2,700 MT of peas are in condo storage in Saskatchewan and 100 MT in Alberta.

A quick review of the data for prior years reveals this is the first time such a discrepancy has occurred. Last year, for example, Statistics Canada said there were 250,000 MT in commercial hands, above 172,200 MT of visible stocks reported by the CGC. In 2004, Statistics Canada reported in 120,000 MT in commercial hands and the CGC 83,400; while in 2003, Statistics Canada reported 210,000 MT and the CGC 106,400 MT.

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