An aerial photo of a crop of peas showing some yellow areas where the crop is diseased.

Some peas already root rot resistant

Researchers need to conduct more field testing to determine which varieties have increased resistance to the disease

WINNIPEG — Tests of field pea varieties conducted this summer in plot trials suggest that some commercial varieties have more genetic resistance to root rot than others. It’s not a huge amount of additional resistance, but some are marginally better. “Based on the field results, it doesn’t look like massive differences, but I think there […] Read more

Man. crop almost harvested

Harvest operations across Manitoba are nearly complete, with only sunflowers and corn left to come off the fields, according to the latest provincial crop report for the week ended Oct. 22. The total harvest hit 95 per cent complete, with the majority of fall field work also finished. Of the major crops, an estimated one […] Read more

In 2023 more than 1,200 products from around the world had chickpea flour on the ingredients label. | Getty Images

Pulse ingredients boom, but competition looms

Industry official wonders if the expansion of pulse processing that has been seen in Western Canada is outpacing demand

WINNIPEG — Every year, food companies in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia launch thousands of new products. Peas, lentils, pea protein and chickpea flour made from pulse crops grown in Western Canada are becoming common ingredients in those novel foods. In 2023, for instance, more than 1,200 products from around the […] Read more


Louis Dreyfus breaks ground on Sask. pea protein facility

The province’s producers grow half of Canada’s pea acres — 1.7 million of the nation’s 3.2 million acres planted this year


The pea protein industry in Western Canada is about to have a new player. Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) broke ground on its Yorkton pea plant June 25. The facility will focus on pea protein isolate and represents an effort from the company to gain market share in pulse products. Healthy demand for pea protein has […] Read more

China produces 200,000 tonnes of yellow pea protein annually, half of which is shipped to the U.S. | File photo

Anti-dumping case may affect pea flow

SASKATOON — A U.S. antidumping investigation regarding Chinese pea protein could change trade flows for Canadian yellow peas in 2024-25, say traders of the commodity. In a preliminary determination handed down Feb. 8, the U.S. Department of Commerce hit two Chinese manufacturers with an anti-dumping duty of 280 percent and the remainder with a 122 […] Read more


An official with a large farmer co-operative from France is spending three months in Canada trying to form short-term partnerships aimed at importing knowledge, technologies and new pea varieties from this country.  |  File photo

French co-op turns to Canada for pea assistance

Co-operative hopes signing deals with Canadian companies will help it restore country’s pea sector to its former glory

SASKATOON — The success of Canada’s pea sector has attracted the attention of a large French co-operative. Axereal is exploring the idea of signing short- and long-term agreements with Canadian companies to help expand pea production in France. Related stories: Container rates soar on concerns of prolonged Red Sea disruption, inflation Analysts predict larger canola […] Read more

Newer varieties of fababeans are now smaller and rounder, which is better fit for the food industry. They are also low in vicine, a chemical compound in fababeans. A percentage of the population cannot tolerate vicine, but the new varieties of faba have mostly resolved that issue. | Robert Arnason photo

Fababeans attractive option for 2024

BRANDON — A shift toward pulse crops could be the seeding trend of 2024. Agriculture Canada is forecasting more acres of peas, lentils and other pulses this spring because those crops may steal acres from canola. “Peas will be up five percent, lentils eight percent and chickpeas 17 percent compared to last year,” The Western […] Read more

Murad Al-Katib, president and chief executive officer of AGT Food and Ingredients, is feeling especially bullish about oats. | File photo

Sask. oat processors optimistic

WINNIPEG — Murad Al-Katib built his business on lentils, peas and other pulse crops. However, the president and chief executive officer of AGT Food and Ingredients is feeling especially bullish about oats. Last year AGT opened an oat milling plant in Aberdeen, Sask., with the capacity to process 36,000 tonnes of oat groats. Al-Katib is […] Read more


Saskatchewan agriculture minister David Marit announced today $2.5 million in provincial and federal funding to find solutions for root rot in peas and lentils. | File photo

Gov’t and grower groups commit $4.2 million for root rot research

WINNIPEG — Serious dollars have been committed to a serious problem for pulse growers — root rot. Saskatchewan agriculture minister David Marit announced today $2.5 million in provincial and federal funding to find solutions for root rot in peas and lentils. In addition, Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, Western Grains Research Foundation, Alberta Pulse Growers Commission, Results […] Read more

"This is the first time in roughly six years that India has truly opened up to pea imports," Greg Cherewyk, president of Pulse Canada, said in an email. "As a long time supplier to the market, it's great to see India open for business again."  | File photo

India is back in business on peas

SASKATOON — India has temporarily dropped all pea import restrictions and that is breathing life into yellow pea prices. The restrictions have been lifted from Dec. 8, 2023, through March 31, 2024. “This is the first time in roughly six years that India has truly opened up to pea imports,” Greg Cherewyk, president of Pulse […] Read more