Special Crops Intentions Mixed; Lentils, Peas both Lower

Apr 26, 2023

Canadian pulse and special crop planting intentions for 2023 are mixed versus last year, but both lentils and peas are expected to see declines.

Statistics Canada’s first acreage report for the 2023 growing season on Wednesday estimated national dry pea intentions at 3.21 million acres, down 4.6% from 2022 and potentially the lowest since just 2.43 million were planted in 2011. Lentil intentions were reported at 3.97 million acres, a fall of 8% from last year and the lowest since 3.78 million acres went into the ground in 2019.

Amid much softer prices, national flax acres are anticipated to decline in 2023 as well, falling 11.5% to 688,900 acres. If accurate, this year would mark the smallest flax area since 1950, when just 584,000 acres were reported planted.

At 257,200 acres, intended dry bean area is down 13.5% from last year, and potentially the lowest since just under 198,000 in 2011. Fewer sunflower acres are also expected this year, down 4.5% to an estimated 89,800 acres, the lowest since 2019 when 76,300 acres were planted.

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.