Little Change in AgCan Chickpea Forecast

VANCOUVER - May 30/08 - SNS -- In its latest monthly review of Canadian field peas Agriculture Canada's market analysis branch in Winnipeg predicted this year's seeded area will total 175,000 acres, unchanged from last month. It also forecast production for 2008 will total 90,000 MT, unchanged from last month's prediction.

Agriculture Canada is forecasting exports for 2008-09 at 105,000 MT, unchanged on the month. This season's exports are forecast at 90,000 MT, down 20,000 from the last report. Domestic use in 2007-08 is forecast at 57,000 MT, up 2,000 on the month; while domestic use in 2008-09 is forecast at 55,000 MT, unchanged from last month.

Season ending stocks are expected to total 65,000 MT at the end of the 2007-08 marketing year, down 10,000 from last month's forecast. They are forecast at 30,000 MT by the close of the 2008-09 marketing year, up 20,000 on the month.

Agriculture Canada estimates grower bids average between $525 and $555 across all classes and sizes of chickpeas in 2007-08, compared to last month's prediction between $525 and $555. Bids are forecast at between $550 and $580 for 2008-09, versus between $550 and $580 in last month's report.

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