Canadian lentil and dry pea production is expected to fall sharply in 2026, with smaller harvested area and lower average yields weighing on both crops.
Statistics Canada’s first production estimates for the 2026 growing season on Wednesday put national lentil production at 2.467 million tonnes, down 26.7% from 3.363 million tonnes in 2025. Harvested area is estimated at 3.844 million acres, down from 4.307 million acres last year, while the average yield is forecast at 1,415 lbs/acre, compared with 1,722 lbs in 2025.
Meanwhile, dry pea production is forecast at 3.26 million tonnes, a decline of 17.1% from 3.934 million last year. Harvested area is projected at 2.951 million acres, down from 3.416 million acres, while average yield is expected to ease to 40.6 bu/acre from 42.3 bu.
Both the lentil and pea crop crops remain up from the 2024 crops of 2.431 million and 2.997 million, respectively.
In its August supply-demand estimates, Agriculture Canada projected the 2026 lentil and dry pea crops at 2.5 million and 3.15 million tonnes.
Among other pulse crops, chickpea production is projected at 400,100 tonnes, down almost 17% from 2025. Harvested area is expected to fall to 521,700 acres from 538,900, while the average yield declines to 1,691 lbs/acre from 1,970.
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