Statistics Canada Worries Pea Users

VANCOUVER - Oct 4/12 - SNS -- Mixed weather conditions throughout the growing season had a clear impact on yields for some pulse and specialty crops grown in western Canada, judging from the latest crop production estimates released by Statistics Canada.

The effect was most obvious on field peas. Since they are grown in more areas than other pulses and specialty crops, the crop was affected by all the weather anomalies which occurred in western Canada this year. This is also true of grains and oilseeds.

"With the harvest well underway, weather conditions in the last few weeks may have had an impact on yields for certain crops," Statistics Canada noted. "For example, disease may have contributed to lower canola yields in parts of the Prairies, and drought may have affected corn for grain yields in Eastern Ontario."

It is important to note that the production estimates were based on a telephone survey of about 11,700 Canadian farmers from September 4 to 11. As the survey was getting underway, farmers in Saskatchewan reported their lentil harvest was 73% complete, peas 86%, mustard seed 65%, chickpeas 33% and canaryseed 7%. By the end of the survey, Saskatchewan's lentil harvest was 83% complete, peas 94%, mustard 76%, chickpeas 61% and canaryseed 12%.

The implication is that the yield estimates for peas, lentils and mustard seed should be closer to the actual number than was the case in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Even so, there can be significant variation between this crop report and the final production estimate, which is due for release on December 5.

In recent years, the final lentil production number has tended to larger than the September estimate; while production numbers for peas have tended to decline. The edible beans and chickpea estimates have tended to increase; while final production numbers for canaryseed, mustard and sunflower have tended to be smaller. It is important to remember that this is not always the case every year.