Gerard Oosterhuis examines one of his lentil plants at his Winnifred-area farm Thursday afternoon. (CHAT News photo)

By Alex McCuaig

Positive outlook

Crop, market conditions right for big year for lentil farmers

Jul 30, 2020 | 4:38 PM

WINNIFRED, AB – The past three years have been a bit difficult for southeastern Alberta lentil farmers with weather hitting the crops and tariffs on the product from Canada’s biggest importer took a swipe at prices.

This year is different, says Winnifred-area farmer Gerard Oosterhuis.

“For us, this is as nice as a lentil crop we get,” he said on a sun-drenched Thursday morning.

The conditions have been favourable this year – moisture and the latest hot spell see many lentil crops doing well.

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Oosterhuis says plants that last year were producing a half-dozen lentils are now yielding 60.

But market conditions can take a bite out of profits.

Increasing tariffs by a more protectionist India over the past few years resulted in just such a situation. But with India facing a shortage of lentils demand increasing due to the pandemic coupled with that country’s government supplementing food supplies, prices are up.

That has translated into good market conditions dove-tailing with equally positive crop outlooks, says Oosterhuis.

“The returns can be pretty good – it’s actually one of the better crops on my farm,” he said, highlighting the difference between lentils and his alfalfa and canola seed fields as well as hemp. “The price has strengthened 40 to 50 per cent since last year because India now accepting our lentils into that market again.”

It’s not just southeastern Alberta lentils that are benefiting this year but pulse crops like dry beans and peas across the southern portion of the province, said Alberta Pulse Growers’ Greg Stamp.

“Basically, this year is the last three years of rainfall combined into one,” said Stamp, Zone 1 director for the pulse growers.

It’s not just the amount of moisture, but the timing with the rain coming early in the year followed by the recent stretch of hot, dry weather finishing off many of the dry land pulse crops.

Lentils have been a growing crop in Western Canada over the past 25 years and Stamp says there is potential for greater growth.

“Farmers are going to respond to price so when the market dictates the price is more attractive per acre versus other crops, farmers will respond quickly,” said Stamp.

But while Stamp says things are going well for lentils, Canadian exports may still be exposed to market protections by India, a situation he says Alberta and Canada are hoping to address by diversification of markets over the next five years.