Overall Jump in Canadian Pulse Output

VANCOUVER - Aug 15/13 - SNS -- Canada is looking at an overall, increase in pulse production this year, with gains in field peas and lentils offsetting decreases in prospective edible bean and chickpea harvests.

Unofficial yield forecasts from Saskatchewan Agriculture combined with crop updates from Alberta's and Manitoba's provincial agriculture departments suggests yields for most special crops will be above their recent five-year averages, resulting in higher output levels.

The first official yield estimates will contained in Statistics Canada's August 21 production estimate. Since the survey methodology and timing behind the various estimates are completely different, preliminary provincial forecasts should only be used to develop an idea of the overall direction of change.

Statistics Canada will also update this year's seeded area estimates in the coming crop report. In recent years, seeded area for peas averaged 3% lower in the August crop report than in the June seeded area estimates. Lentil area also averaged 3% less in August, while chickpeas were down 2%, edible beans were 1% higher on average, canaryseed 4% lower, and mustard seed averaged 1% lower.