Lentil Inventory Soars, Peas Sink

VANCOUVER - May 6/11 - SNS -- Available supplies of specialty crops in Canada on March 31 were little changed from last year as massive declines in field pea stocks were offset by soaring lentil inventories, according to Statistics Canada's stocks in all positions estimates.

Stocks of all special crops slipped 62,000 metric tons (MT) to 2.825 million. Inventories in commercial hands jumped from 339,000 to 540,000 MT; while stocks on farms dropped from 2.558 to 2.285 million MT. Inferred use of all specialty crops was up 300,000 MT at 3.5 million MT for the August through March period, mainly because of record field pea disappearance.

As it turns out, lentils are the only crop in Canada showing a significant increase in March 31 stock levels. Most were down. Statistics Canada said total stocks of canola and barley fell significantly compared with the same date in 2010. Meanwhile, total stocks of corn for grain rose slightly above March 2010 levels, the result of increased production in 2010.

Total stocks of canola stood at 4.9 million MT as of March 31, down 22.8% or 1.4 million MT from the same date in 2010. Overall, total stocks at March 31 were approaching 2007 and 2008 levels, after having increased substantially in 2009 and 2010. Prairie on-farm stocks fell 34.9% to 3.4 million MT, with large declines reported in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Commercial stocks of canola rose 38.4% to 1.4 million MT. Prairie production of canola fell in 2010 as a result of a lower yield.

Total stocks of barley fell to 3.5 million MT as of March 31, down 31.0% from 5.1 million MT reported in March 2010. Barley production fell significantly in 2010, the result of a large decline in harvested area. This was the second annual decrease since 2009. On-farm barley stocks fell 33.4% to 3.0 million MT, and declines were noted in all three Prairie provinces. Commercial stocks of barley declined 12.4% to 510 000 MT.

Total stocks of corn for grain at the national level reached 5.9 million MT as of March 31, up 1.9% from the same date in 2010, and remained near the record high of 6.0 million MT set in 2009. There was a strong increase in crop production in 2010, the result of large increases in crop yield. Over the last four years, the total stocks of corn for grain have been close to the 2009 record high. Commercial stocks of corn for grain rose 226 000 MT to 1.8 million MT, a 14.3% increase.

Statistics Canada bases its on-farm stock estimates on telephone and internet interview of roughly 12,600 Canadian farmers, down from 13,800 last year. The interviews were done between March 24 to March 31. Farmers were asked to report the amounts of grain, oilseeds and special crops in on-farm storage. Data on commercial stocks of western major crops originate from the Canadian Grain Commission. Commercial stocks of corn and soybeans are estimated by a Statistics Canada sample of grain elevators in Eastern Canada. Data on commercial stocks of special crops originate from a survey of handlers and agents of special crops.