Pulse Atlas data in focus/
The green/red split across Canada’s reduced lentil acres and the impact on markets

The June 30 Stats Can numbers estimates a 15% decrease in total lentil planting but does not discriminate between lentil types. Exclusive Pulse Atlas Data confirms the 15% drop as well as providing key insight into the split between reds and greens. Although green hectares are up on 2022, the 23% decrease in red lentil hectares is making up the majority of the decline. 

Elsewhere in the Stats Can numbers, chickpea planting saw a projected 35% increase to 127,000 hectares and dry beans a 6.8% increase to 129,000 hectares while dry peas are expected to drop 10% to 1.2 million hectares. With Canada’s wheat area hitting the highest levels in decades, it’s not difficult to understand where else the lost red lentil acres are being made up, especially taking into account modest increases across soy, corn and canola. 

With the country already facing tight red lentil supplies, the data raises questions around how export potential will be impacted. In the shorter term, however, the pressing issue remains what the weather over the next few weeks will look like and the subsequent effect on yields.      

The Pulse Atlas: Canadian numbers

• With the exception of the drought year in 2021, Canada’s red lentil production has shown steady increases from 2018-2022.
• Pulse Atlas data predicts 1.3 million tons of red lentil production in 2023, a significant decrease from last year’s 1.8 million. 
• Following a drought-stricken 2021, acreages peaked and began to drop off in 2022, which saw 1.2 million acres planted. This year’s expected 933 thousand hectares represents a significant decrease, returning to just above 2018’s total of 846 thousand hectares.

Insider insights

Will Watchorn, Global Head of Pulses, Viterra

• “It’s all to play for in the coming 4-5 weeks. We’re looking at a smaller area in Canada and a low gross margin for the farmer versus other products. Conditions are not ideal currently. The crop can be made or broken depending on weather cycles.”
• “We’re looking at potential production issues in Canada and Australia but currently Canada is more concerned with the here and now. 
• “We’ve shipped the crop in Canada and Australia and if we don’t produce more, we’ll have to consume less. There are no heavy inventories at destinations outside of India but India is consuming more than it’s ever consumed.”
• “Just in time inventory and buyers not buying forward means if we have production hiccups it could spike quite quickly.”
  
  

VIEW ALL PULSE ATLAS CHARTS FOR CANADA