Weather Concerns Boost Feed Peas

VANCOUVER - Jul 27/07 - SNS -- European feed pea markets finished the week on a strong note, with grower bid levels rising sharply in France and the United Kingdom and most traders withdrawing from markets in Holland and Belgium.

Weather problems in France, England and Hungary have combined with a strong export program for human consumption peas to boost values. A heat wave in France and Hungary is forcing crops to maturity, resulting in expectations of lower average yields.

By contrast, exceptionally wet weather has caused widespread flooding in England, damaging a portion of this year's field pea and field bean crops. There is some optimism some fields will be salvaged, but there is a general belief yields and quality will be affected.

While feed pea markets are gaining strength on crop production problems in Europe and what is expected to be record demand for food grade peas through December, soybean meal and corn values have declined, hurting the competitive position of feed peas in livestock feed rations.

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