Australia Pulse Area Up 10%

VANCOUVER - May 4/09 - SNS -- Australia is looking at a 10% increase in total pulse plantings this year, with growers in the states of New South Wales (NSW) and Western Australia (WA) showing the greatest enthusiasm for the crop this year.

In its first seeded estimate for 2009, Pulse Australia said land in the five major pulse categories will end up just under 1.36 million hectares if growers stick with their current seeding intentions.

The biggest increases are forecast for lupins, which could jump 20%, and for fababeans, which are expected to jump 17%. Field pea plantings should be little changed from last year, while desi chickpea and lentil area could rise 6% and 5% respectively.

Pulse Australia says that while growers believe the outlook for pulses is positive, there are "being restricted to the more reliable areas and farming systems where they have performed best. Risk and cash-flow considerations are paramount, and cereal production is generally more favored than pulses."

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