Pea Markets Tense Before StatsCan Report

VANCOUVER - Jun 22/13 - SNS -- Field pea markets were little changed during the past week as shippers filled in outstanding sales commitments and markets readied themselves for the contents of Tuesday's seeded area estimates from Statistics Canada.

Area is expected to be higher than the intentions, with green peas rising proportionately more than yellow peas.

Estimated increases range between 15% and 37%, with most market participants expecting the increase to be at the upper end of the range.

Weather remains an underlying concern, This was underscored by the cancellation of the CSCA's June 23-25 convention in Calgary because of significant flooding in that city and surrounding areas. Power in the downtown area is out and is not expected to be restored until early in the coming week.

It is not known how many international delegates were enroute to, or already in Calgary by the time the convention was cancelled.

However, the CSCA board and executive were faced by an unusual situation because the city flooded faster than during past events.

While the rivers peaked on Friday, water levels had not receeded by Saturday morning, and there was a tangible risk the rivers could rise further. As a result, much of Calgary's downtown core and other low-lieing areas were still on an evacuation order on Satruday.