STAT Communications Ag Market News

Lentil Flirt With Bullish Zeason

PANAMA - Jul 18/17 - SNS -- Drought across most of the North American production zone created a lot of tension in red and green lentil markets during the growing period.

Lentils are relatively drought hardy, but high heat during flowering causes them to abort. If high heat and drought persists while pods are filling, yields will be further reduced, with some research suggesting crops can lose half their yield potential.

It is worth noting that in its last crop report for 2016, Saskatchewan Agriculture said topsoil moisture was adequate in half the province and surplus in the other half. By the time of the first crop report for 2017, the provincial agriculture department complained that "Adverse weather has delayed spring field work. . . . Many fields remain wet. Warm and dry weather will be needed in the coming weeks before seeding can get fully under way.

"Much of the province received large amounts of precipitation (in April), and fields remain wet in many areas. Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 30% surplus, 69% adequate and 1% short."

By the middle of July, high temperatures and limited rainfall since April had reduced top soil moisture reserves to the point where 41% was considered adequate, 46% short and 11% very short. Conditions are worst in areas which mainly grow lentils and chickpeas, extending from the southern crop districts in Saskatchewan through North Dakota and Montana.

Forecasters expected little break in conditions through July, with some forecasts looking for conditions to return closer to normal in August and September, with a risk of a wetter than normal harvest.

Only active subscribers can read all of this article.

If you are a subscriber, please log into the website.

If you are not a subscriber, click here to subscribe to this edition of the STAT website and to learn more about becoming a subscriber.