Statistics Canada estimates growers planted 503,200 acres of flax, the smallest crop since 1949. It is forecasting an average yield of 21.5 bushels per acre, which is very close to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s forecast of 22 bu. per acre for that province. Some industry observers think both those estimates are too low. | File photo

Flax production expected to be more than first anticipated

SASKATOON — Canadian farmers produced more flax than initially anticipated this year, says a trader of the crop. Statistics Canada estimates growers planted 503,200 acres of the oilseed, the smallest crop since 1949. Related stories: It is forecasting an average yield of 21.5 bushels per acre, which is very close to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s forecast of […] Read more

Russia’s Union of Grain Exporters said the country shipped 1.13 million tonnes of peas to China in 2023-24, according to a Reuters story. | File photo

Russia now sells more peas to China than Canada

Canada once had a 95 to 97 per cent market share but has dropped to 44.6 per cent, compared to Russia’s 49.1 per cent

SASKATOON — Russia has officially displaced Canada as the top exporter of peas to China. Russia’s Union of Grain Exporters said the country shipped 1.13 million tonnes of the crop to that market in 2023-24, according to a Reuters story. That gave it a 49.1 per cent market share compared to Canada’s 44.6 per cent. […] Read more

Flax acreage is expected to be up in Russia, although there are no official numbers yet, said Sergey Pluzhnikov, head of the pulses desk with DM Agro Trade and founder of Russian Pulses Analytics. | File photo

Black Sea region expected to produce more flax

The crop is faring better than others in Russia's drought-hit regions, and acreage is anticipated to be higher than last year

SASKATOON — Black Sea flax growers are hoping for a rebound year. Acreage is expected to be up in Russia, although there are no official numbers yet, said Sergey Pluzhnikov, head of sales for Temporia Capital Company and founder of Russian Pulses Analytics. Related stories: Russian farmers planted 3.46 million acres of the oilseed last […] Read more


Russia has become a huge pea competitor to Canada. Farmers in that country produced about 4.7 million tonnes of the crop last year, compared to 2.6 million tonnes in Canada. | File photo

Major pulse competitor may face trouble with pea crop

While dry conditions worry Russia's pea growers, the country prepares to become a major threat in global lentil markets

SASKATOON — There are some early-season problems with Russia’s yellow pea crop, according to analysts. “Because of frost and low precipitation in southern regions, conditions are far from brilliant,” Sergey Pluzhnikov, chief executive officer of Russian Pulses Analytics, said in a text message. Related stories: There are also problems in Siberia. Chickpeas and lentils have […] Read more