Peas Steady As Harvest Advances

PANAMA - Aug 24/18 - SNS -- Field pea markets were unchanged to easier as exporters worked to accumulate stocks for cover late August and September shipments.

Enough peas are in Canadian ports to cover one or two bulk cargoes, with markets expecting a good quantity to continue flowing into China's livestock feed industry.

Canada's harvest started the week at over 55% complete, compared to 54% by the third week of August last year and the recent average of just almost 40%. Saskatchewan Agriculture reporting another 18% was ready to straight combine and 3% in swath.

Markets are paying little attention to reports of progress resolving phytosanitary issues with India.

In a press statement, the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers reported that "the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has conducted a science-based risk assessment of India's pest concerns that showed that Canadian pulse exports to India pose no risk to India's plant health concerns.

"The Government of Canada has provided Indian Government and technical officials with an invite, including two specific times, for an Indian delegation to travel to Canada to review our systems based approach to grain handling throughout the supply chain.

"A review of Canada's systems based approach by Indian officials is deemed by the Government of Canada as a necessary step in both a) demonstrating that Canadian pulses do not pose a phytosanitary risk to India and b) finalizing an agreement on plant protection prior to the end of 2018.

"The review of Canada's systems based approach by a delegation of Indian officials would include technical presentations from the CFIA, Canadian Grain Commission (CGC), and pulse industry that illustrates how Canada prepares shipments of pulses for export to India and mitigates the risk of introducing regulated pests to India without mandatory fumigation."