Special Crops Intentions Mixed; Lentils, Peas both Lower

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.