Farmers across the province are talking about seeding more pulses this year.
Weather related production issues in the Indian subcontinent earlier this year and low carryover here at home is pushing the discussion.
At meetings over the winter Market Analysts have been predicting an increase of up to 5.5 million acres for lentils and between 4.2 and 4.5 million acres for peas.
Marlene Boersch with Mercantile Consulting Venture says producers have seen stronger prices in the markets:
"If you compare to last year we are anywhere from 150-200% higher than last year on new crop pricing and that shows you that there were concerns over supplies and that sales were already made and laid off back into the farm level," she said
Boersch says at this point there’s only a small percent of last year’s pea and lentil crop left to move.
Producers looking at bumping up their acreage need to remember the importance of crop rotation to avoid insect and disease concerns as well as the importance of using the right innoculant
Source : Discoverestevan