Cattle analysts are beginning to wonder if the industry may be moving out of the frying pan and into the fire. In an attempt to address a chronic shortcoming in Canadian slaughter capacity, producers and processors have hatched a long list of projects that could be steering the industry to a new kind of problem. […] Read more
Sean Pratt
Stories by Sean Pratt
Marrowfat peas buck trend in pea markets
While most edible pea prices have declined in recent years, one niche market has performed nicely. “There has been good demand for marrowfats,” said Wes Walker, merchandiser for Walker Seeds Ltd., a large special crops processor in Tisdale, Sask. The crop has returned higher values than green and yellow peas for the past three or […] Read more
Beans: the more you eat, the better you feel, says USDA
The United States government is telling its citizens to eat more pulses. Contained in the 2005 version of the federal government’s dietary guidelines is a suggestion that the average person should be eating three cups of legumes a week. “This is the first time that they’ve talked specifically of legumes,” said Stacey Zawel, executive director […] Read more
Canadian special crops to receive own brand
Special crops exporters should have access to a made-in-Canada brand within the next 12 months. Industry representatives are developing a national branding strategy to play up product attributes like quality, reliability and trustworthiness. It is part of an agriculture-wide initiative to boost Canada’s reputation as a supplier of safe and superior products. In 2003 the […] Read more
U.S. pulse industry hits production milestone
Not that long ago, the U.S. pulse industry could barely muster a heartbeat. These days it is thumping along at a healthy clip. For the first time in history, American pea, lentil and chickpea growers are expected to crest the one million acre threshold. Stat Publishing estimates U.S. farmers will seed 1.1 million acres of […] Read more
Gopher problem less prominent: rodent experts
Gopher heads are popping out of holes across the Prairies but two rodent experts say it is unlikely farmers will face a Caddyshack-sized problem in 2005. “There is a residual population still there that needs to be dealt with but I don’t think we’re looking at the same population and the same intensity of the […] Read more
Backlash erupts against push for red lentils
Some processors and growers are choking on the red lentils they say are being crammed down their throats. They object to the concerted effort by the pulse industry to convince growers to plant more reds, claiming the growth will come at the expense of the well-established green lentil sector. Maurice Coupal, manager of Sedley Seeds […] Read more
Biodiesel goes south
Minot, North Dakota, is getting a $50 million biodiesel plant that could have been built somewhere on the Canadian Prairies, say the project developers. The plant, which will consume an estimated 250,000 tonnes of canola seed, should be under construction this summer and fully operational by fall 2006. Funding for what will be North America’s […] Read more
Sunflower expectations high
The market forecast for sunflowers calls for lots of sunshine. Prices are up and so are acreage expectations. American growers plan to increase plantings by 47 percent, according to the United States Department of Agriculture March 31 seeding intentions report. The projected 2.75 million acres will be the biggest crop of sunflowers the country has […] Read more
India expected to be in market for pulses
India has been a lackluster buyer of Canadian pulses in the last half of this marketing year but several sources expect strong demand ahead. According to an estimate from the United States Department of Agriculture, India will produce 14 million tonnes of pulses in the 2005-06 crop year, down from the record 15.2 million tonnes […] Read more
