Canadian farmers planted fewer lentils and dry peas than they intended in March.
Thursday’s Statistics Canada acreage report pegged 2026 national lentil planted area at 3.902 million acres, down about 235,000 acres, or 5.7%, from March intentions of 4.137 million acres. Plantings were also 10.9% below the 4.38 million acres seeded in 2025.
Dry pea area was revised more modestly lower, falling about 48,000 acres, or 1.6%, from the March estimate of 3.078 million acres to 3.030 million. However, the latest figure was 13.7% below last year and represented the smallest Canadian dry pea area since 2011.
Among the other specialty crops, dry bean area was revised sharply higher from March. Farmers reported planting 337,200 acres, up 14.3% from the earlier estimate of 295,000 acres. Despite the increase, area remained 20.8% below the 425,900 acres seeded last year.
Sunflower plantings reached 76,500 acres, up 15.7% from March intentions of 66,100 acres and 1.2% above 2025.
Canary seed recorded one of the largest downward revisions. Area fell to 235,600 acres, down 21.7% from the March estimate of 300,800 acres and 26.2% below last year’s 319,400 acres.
Mustard area was also well below initial intentions. Producers planted 377,800 acres, down 22.6% from the 488,300 acres projected in March. However, plantings were still 4.5% higher than the 361,400 acres seeded in 2025.
Flax area was estimated at 649,900 acres, down 13.7% from March intentions of 753,200 acres but 4.8% above last year.
Chickpea plantings totalled 532,700 acres, a reduction of 7.4% from the March estimate of 575,000 acres and 1.5% below the 541,000 acres planted in 2025.
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