STAT Communications Ag Market News

Better Than Expected Quality

WINNIPEG - Oct 12/16 - SNS -- Samples submitted by farmers to the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) suggest a higher percentage of this year's lentil crop is grading No 2 Canada or better than estimated by crop reporters in Saskatchewan.

Of 416 lentil samples sent to the CGC by farmers, 28% graded No 1 Canada, 35% No 2 Canada, 26% Extra 3 Canada, and 11% No 3 Canada. By contrast, crop reporters in Saskatchewan thought just 4% of the crop would grade No 1 Canada, 42% No 2, 46% No 3 and Extra 3 Canada, and 11% would end up as sample grade.

It is important to note that the CGC combined data for red and green lentils in its preliminary quality analysis. At the same time, farmers may not have submitted samples of product they believed would not grade at least No 3 Canada. It is also not possible to tell if participation in the voluntary program is proportionately greater among experienced growers.

Only 28 samples were sent to the CGC by farmers in Alberta, with 64% grading No 1 Canada and 36% No 2 Canada. Of samples submitted by Saskatchewan farmers, 26% graded No 1 Canada, 35% No 2, 38% extra 3, and 11% No 3 Canada.

Alberta is believed to account for 13% of this year's lentil crop, but only 7% of the samples sent to the CGC were from that province. Saskatchewan, which will account for 87% of the crop, accounted, for 93% of all samples submitted.

The mean protein content of this year's crop appears to be 27%, up from 25.9% last year, with protein levels ranging between 21.9% and 30.2%. As was the case last year, protein levels are slightly higher for Extra 3 and No 3 grade lentils than for No 1 and No 2 grade product. Also, protein levels tend to be higher in Saskatchewan than in Alberta, averaging 27% across all grades in Saskatchewan and 26.5% in Alberta.

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