Net Drop in Canadian Pulse Inventories

VANCOUVER - May 5/14 - SNS -- Statistics Canada reported an overall increase in on-farm stocks of grains and oilseeds compared to March 31 last year, but reported a net decline in pulse and special crop inventories from last year.

Its is important to note that Statistics Canada performs the only official surveys of farmers for grain stocks, seeding intentions and area, and production. The latest stocks estimate was based on a survey of 11,500 farmers between March 24 to 31. Data on commercial stocks of western major crops originate from the Canadian Grain Commission. Data on commercial stocks of special crops originate from a survey of handlers and agents of special crops.

Specialty crop markets were disappointed with the report because Statistics Canada dropped coverage of chickpeas and mustard. Data for the crops was suppressed for reasons of confidentiality.

With the change, Statistics Canada only looked at March 31 stocks for field peas, lentils, canary, and sunflower seed. The combined total was down 16% from last year at 2.116 million metric tons (MT). It is worth noting that field pea inventories were up over March 31 of 2013, while lentil, sunflower and canaryseed inventories were down.

The biggest percentage change was in canaryseed, with stocks in all positions down 54% at 39,000 MT. The biggest volume change was in lentils, with stocks in all positions down 456,000 MT at 648,000; while field pea inventories were up 122,000 at 1.404 million MT.