Updated StatsCan Acreage Eye-Opening
Amid all the other uncertainty about pulse crops in 2025, we now have bit more clarity about seeded area. StatsCan has released updated acreage numbers based on a large survey of farmers and although its estimates are always debatable, they provide a good starting point.
StatsCan estimated 2025 seeded area of peas at 3.50 mln acres, up 9% from last year and the most since 2021/22. Clearly, farmers weren’t scared off by Chinese import tariffs and the prospect (at the time of seeding) of tariffs by India. Green pea area rose to 520,000 acres, 12% more than last year, and yellow pea area expanded to 2.74 mln acres, up 6% from the previous year. The biggest percentage change showed up in the “other” category, which includes maple peas. Seeded area of minor classes was reported at 240,000 acres, 55% more than last year and a new record.
While yields are far from certain, the increased pea acreage has the potential to cause supplies to expand for 2025/26. Larger old-crop carryover and a bigger 2025 crop would mean sizable supplies, which means next year’s export outlook becomes even more important. If exports to China and India are reduced, 2025/26 ending stocks could end up very large.
For lentils, StatsCan added 200,000 acres to its earlier estimate, with seeded area now at 4.38 mln acres, 4% more than last year. That wasn’t really a surprise, but the breakdown by type was much more interesting. According to StatsCan, seeded area of red lentils dropped to 2.15 mln acres, 16% less than last year and the lowest since 2018/19. At the same time, seeded area of green lentils hit 2.23 mln acres, 36% more than last year.
Click here to see more...