December 16, 2009

Ag Canada cuts 2009-10 ending stock estimates for pulse crops

Ending stocks of the seven major pulse and special crops in Canada for the 2009-10 crop year are expected to be slightly lower than earlier estimates, the market analysis division of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said Monday (December14).

Ending stocks of the seven major special and pulse crops for the 2009-10 (August-July) crop year were forecast at 1.010 million tonnes, which is below the Oct. 8 estimate of 1.070 million tonnes but above the 2008-09 level of 704,000 tonnes.

The seven major specialty and pulse crops are dry peas, lentils, dry beans, chick peas, mustard seed, canary seed and sunflower seed.

Production of the seven major pulses and special crops in Canada for 2009-10 was pegged at 5.629 million tonnes. This was up from the October forecast of 5.382 million tonnes and above the 2008-09 level of 5.416 million.

Exports of Canada's special and pulse crops for 2009-10 were projected at 4.440 million tonnes, above the October estimate of 4.165 million tonnes but below the 2008-09 level of 4.502 million.

Domestic usage in 2009-10 was pegged at 985,000 tonnes. This was up from October projection of 953,000 tonnes and the 2008-09 level of 834,000 tonnes.