AgCanada Concurs on Chickpea Area Hike

VANCOUVER - Jul 4/08 - SNS -- In its latest monthly review of Canadian chickpeas Agriculture Canada's market analysis branch in Winnipeg reports this year's seeded area will total 205,000 acres, up 30,000 from last month. Harvested area is forecast at 198,000 acres. It also forecast production for 2008 will total 105,000 MT, up 15,000 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, unchanged from the last report. Domestic use in 2007-08 is forecast at 59,000 MT, up 2,000 on the month; while domestic use in 2008-09 is forecast at 60,000 MT, up 5,000 from last month.

Season ending stocks are expected to total 64,000 MT at the end of the 2007-08 marketing year, down 1,000 from last month's forecast. They are forecast at 40,000 MT by the close of the 2008-09 marketing year, up 10,000 on the month.

Agriculture Canada estimates grower bids average between $535 and $565 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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