Ag Canada raises pulse, special crop carryout forecasts

Canadian ending stocks of the major pulse and special crops are expected to be slightly larger than originally forecast in both the current 2009-10 crop year and the upcoming 2010-11 crop year, the market analysis division of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said.

Ending stocks of these seven major special and pulse crops for 2010-11 were forecast by Agriculture Canada at 1.146 million tonnes, which compares to the January 28 estimate of 780,000 tonnes. The 2009-10 ending stocks forecast was also revised higher to 1.080 million tonnes, from 748,000. In 2008-09 there was a carryover of 698,000 tonnes.

Production of the seven major pulses and special crops in Canada for 2010-11 was pegged at 5.450 million tonnes, which compares with the previous estimate of 5.560 million, and the 2009-10 level of 5.629 million. Canada grew 5.416 million tons of the major pulse and special crops in 2008-09, said the report.

Exports of Canada's special and pulse crops for 2010-11 were projected at 4.515 million tonnes, which compares to the January estimate of 4.623 million and the 2009-10 forecasted level of 4.400 million tonnes.

Domestic usage in 2010-11 was pegged at 958,000 tonnes, which compares with the previous estimate of 995,000 tonnes, and the projected 2009-10 level of 960,000 tonnes.