This article appeared in the Winter 2014 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Richard Krikke, APG President

I am a volunteer. I volunteer because it strengthens my community and allows me to provide input into the direction of projects and activities and it keeps me connected.

The agriculture industry is full of opportunities to become engaged and active; some may even say producers can become ‘fatigued’ with all the chances to participate. I’m happy to say that Alberta Pulse Growers is one organization that has not challenged me with this issue. Alberta Pulse Growers has just completed its Zone meetings in November. We had excellent turn out of producers to all of our meetings and an injection of new Advisor members into our Zones.

This system of Zones and Advisors provides Alberta Pulse Growers with a pool of resources that we can tap into for input as well as feedback. This builds a strong network across Alberta, representing all of our membership. This is a natural succession plan for the organization. Our organization configuration is looked upon by others in our industry as highly positive. Geographic representation, pulse crop diversity, and different farming practices all contribute to an interesting discussion that allows us make informed decisions for the industry as a whole. These decisions are what will continue to move us to innovate and grow.

Advisors are volunteers; which makes me proud to know that the Alberta Pulse Growers are in good hands into the future.

Welcome to the new Advisors, and thank you to all Advisors for choosing Alberta Pulse Growers as the organization you are interested in growing into the future.

In preparation for the future, specifically this next year, I’d like to extend an invite to all pulse growers in Alberta to join the provincial organization at our Annual General Meeting (AGM). On January 29th, 2014, from 2:45 – 3:45 PM Alberta Pulse Growers will be conducting our AGM. Registration will open at 2:15 PM. The meeting will be at Hall E of the Edmonton Expo Centre at Northlands in Edmonton. Our AGM is hosted in conjunction with FarmTech 2014, however, you do not need to purchase a registration to attend the AGM. It is open for anyone to join us to hear what is new with our organization.

During our AGM we will be providing an overview of the highlights of last fiscal year, update on the financial health of the organization, and an outlook to some priority areas for the 2013-14 year. In addition, we are pleased to have Mr. Gordon Bacon, CEO of Pulse Canada, report on what they have focused on for the year and what is happening in the future for our national organization.

At the AGM we hold elections for two Commissioner representatives; Bean and Non-Bean, Commissioners at Large. These Commissioners represent growers in their area but also represent growers of those pulse crops across Alberta. The Commissioner-at-Large positions are one year terms and provide an excellent opportunity for producers to participate with the provincial organization and fully understand and contribute to identify opportunity and tackle issues for the industry at the provincial level.

Resolutions are also being accepted by Alberta Pulse Growers until January 15th. All resolutions must be received at the provincial office by either fax 780-980-2570 or email office@pulse.ab.ca or mail (5007B-49 Avenue, Leduc, AB, T9E 6M6) on or before that date. The resolutions committee will review the submission and work with the movers to present it appropriately for discussion at the AGM.

Finally, I wish you a happy, healthy and safe holiday season and I look forward to seeing you at the Alberta Pulse Growers Commission AGM on January 29th, 2014.

This article appeared in the Fall 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Competition at the 2013 Mission ImPULSEible event held in Toronto on August 21, 2013 left Alberta product development team out of the winner’s circle for this year. Despite a terrific presentation and unique video showcasing simple product directions for Chizza, a pourable pizza crust targeted for the gluten-free market, the judges were not on Alberta’s side for the final awards.

Alberta’s offering was created by University of Alberta students Anastaissia Astrakhantseva and Karen Ting. Chizza’s uniqueness catapulted the team to win the Alberta competition in March 2013. Following their win, the students worked with Alberta Pulse Growers and Leduc Food Processing Development Centre staff to further refine their product in preparation for the national competition.

The national competition was to take place in Calgary at the Canadian Special Crops Association conference in June, but the conference was cancelled, and an alternate date enabled students to compete nationally in Toronto. Held in conjunction with a Pulse Canada workshop involving researchers, food companies, and industry looking at functional structural health claims, the competition allowed processing sector research and development staff from companies like General Mills, Sabra, Pepsico, and others to engage students and taste the creativity in their new products.

“It was super to have the R&D staff from large multinationals see the innovation of products and enthusiasm of the students,” said APG Executive Director Leanne Fischbuch. “Presentations were polished, posters were prepared, and the products were available for tasting, which really added to the event.”

There were six teams participating from across Canada: University of British Columbia with Bean n’Butter, a dry bean spread; University of Alberta with Chizza, a pourable pizza dough; University of Saskatchewan with Pummy, a lentil flour and flake fruit cookie; University of Manitoba with “Ice Cream” Sandwich, a lentil cookie with a frozen soy dessert sandwiched in the middle; University of Guelph with NutraSnap, a lentil cracker with three different types of seasoning; and the Culinary Institute of Canada in PEI representatives with VegaMax, a vegan chickpea protein flavoured beverage.

Taking home third prize was Bean n’Butter, second was VegaMax, and finally, the winners of the 2013 competition were NutraSnap, with an almost market-ready lentil cracker. Top teams emphasized the analysis of pricing and how their products would stack up against similar products on the market, discussed sustainability of the packaging choices and through the use of pulse crops in their product, and finally just showcased the best products among a strong field.

Judges included Sherry Casey, Senior Director Regulatory Affairs, Loblaw Companies Ltd.; Subra Balakrishnan, Corporate Chef at Griffith Laboratories; and Pulse Canada’s CEO Gordon Bacon. Winners received cash awards sponsored by the provincial grower groups. Pulse Canada coordinates Mission ImPULSEible on a yearly basis, and this year was the fifth year of the competition.

This article appeared in the Fall 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Canadian pulse growers will face fewer risks this season when using desiccants and other harvest management products thanks to work done by the Canadian pulse industry over the past two years.

But though this work has made international pulse marketing safer and easier for growers, pulse producers should still be aware of international regulations to ensure the residue of the products used remains below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by regulatory agencies, according to the organizations that represent pulse producers across the prairie provinces.

“Understanding the international limits for harvest management tools is critical if growers hope to ensure better marketability of their pulses when it comes time to sell their crops,” says Leanne Fischbuch, Executive Director for Alberta Pulse Growers.

Carl Potts, Executive Director of Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, agrees. “We’ve made great progress in resolving some of the market access issues we’ve had in the past as a result of MRLs, but some gaps remain, and being aware of those gaps now will help growers keep their marketing options open later.”

Producers can minimize the risk that their crops will not be accepted in international markets by following some simple but important steps. In addition to applying the products according to the label, producers should consult with their processors about any maximum residue limits in the countries to which their crops may be exported.

The grower groups have also prepared a chart (which can be found at www.pulse.ab.ca) that shows market considerations when using common desiccants and harvest management tools on pulse crops for the 2013 season, according to Manitoba Pulse Growers Association Executive Director Roxanne Lewko. “While producers should still consult with their processors and follow all product labels, this chart can help producers choose the right desiccant or harvest management tool for acceptance with Canada’s primary trading partners.”

Desiccants, or harvest management tools, are applied late in the crop year to dry the crop and create uniformity of plant material at harvest. Because of the late-season application of these products, some residue may remain on the crop, and as a result, most countries have maximum acceptable levels of residue in place. Over the past several years, the Canadian pulse industry has worked to harmonize these limits internationally to ensure Canadian growers remain competitive in the global marketplace.

“In an industry where over three-quarters of our crops are produced for export markets, developing clear and reasonable maximum residue limits in foreign markets is one of the Canadian pulse industry’s top priorities,” says Erin Morgan, Ontario Bean Growers’ Executive Director. “Together, we’ll continue working to reduce market access issues to make sure we have sustainable, profitable trade partners both domestically and internationally for our growers.”

This article appeared in the Fall 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Dr. Sheri Strydhorst, Research Scientist – Agronomy for Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.

Winter pea and winter lentil can be profitable options to include in southern Alberta crop rotations.

When grown in the appropriate area using the proper variety and agronomic practices, winter pea and lentil can yield up to 39 per cent more than spring types, making it an agronomically and economically sound choice for growers.

Areas of Adaptability

Unlike winter cereals, winter pulses cannot be successfully grown in all areas of Alberta. Field studies conducted throughout south and central Alberta found that winter pea and winter lentil produced yields equal to or better than spring pea and lentil only in Lethbridge and Bow Island.

Due to harsh winter conditions, winter pea and lentil yielded less than 50 per cent of the spring types at Brooks and Lacombe. So although winter pea and lentil can survive at these locations, yields are reduced to the point where they are not an economically feasible option for growers.

Field studies near Edmonton found that winter pea and lentil had absolutely no survivability despite good snow cover.

Winter Pea

Variety Selection

Researchers found there are two winter pea varieties with sufficient winter hardiness for production in southern Alberta. These varieties are Specter and Windham, developed by Drs. Fred Muehlbauer and Kevin McPhee at Washington State University.

Specter is a semi-leafless, tall variety (100 cm vine length), with a yellow cotyledon that has a clear seed coat which is characterized by subtle mottling. Specter seed is small, 131 mg seed-1.

Windham is also a semi-leafless, yellow cotyledon variety with a clear seed coat that has subtle mottling. It is much shorter than Specter (57 cm vine length) and has a small seed size, 150 mg seed-1.

Planting dates

To maximize yields, winter pea should be seeded by the third week of September. Alberta studies found that winter pea yields were reduced by 15 per cent if seeding was delayed until late-September or early October.

Seeding rates

Alberta research found that increasing seeding rates from 75 to 113 plants m-2 had little or no effect on winter pea yield. Other studies found similar trends.

It is recommended that winter pea is seeded at 75 plants m-2 to achieve optimum yields, which is the same recommendation used for spring pea. Given the small seed size of winter pea relative to spring pea, it is essential that actual seeding rates be based on the 1,000 kernel weight of the seed that will be planted.

Survivability

Although a minimum plant stand is necessary to achieve high yields, winter pea survivability (spring plant density expressed as a per cent of target plant density) does not correlate well with yield. This factor may be attributed to winter pea varieties generally having a greater capacity for tillering compared with spring pea varieties. Yields greater than 2,000 kg ha-1 (30 bushels acre-1) were produced with winter pea survivability ranging from 25 to 83 per cent of the target.

High winter pea yields are highly dependent on both the spring plant stand and environmental conditions during the growing season. Alberta research suggests that acceptable winter pea yields can be achieved with at least 40 per cent winter pea survivability (30 plants m-2). If fields have less than 40 per cent winter pea survivability, they should be abandoned and re-seeded to another crop.

Flowering and disease

On average, winter pea cultivars flowered 16 days earlier than spring pea cultivars.

Winter pea trials conducted in Alberta had very little disease. However, it is important to remember that unlike spring pea varieties; these winter pea varieties do not have genetic resistance to powdery mildew.

In early spring, Asoschyta was observed more frequently on the winter pea cultivars than on the spring pea cultivars. Although Ascochyta tends to infect the winter pea varieties first, later in the growing season, infection rates between winter and spring pea varieties are negligible.

Yield and harvest

Although winter pea types flowered 16 days earlier than spring pea types, that situation does not translate into a two-week earlier harvest. Winter pea varieties were harvested only 1 week earlier than spring types, and that occurs only 50 per cent of the time. The other half of the time, winter peas matured at the same time as the spring pea varieties, regardless of the fall planting date.

At Lethbridge, winter pea yields were 39 per cent higher than spring pea yields, representing a 1,087 kg ha-1 (16 bushel acre-1) increase in yield. At Bow Island, yields of winter and spring pea varieties were the same.

Winter Lentil

Variety selection

Only one winter lentil variety, Morton, had sufficient winter hardiness for production in southern Alberta. Morton was developed by Drs. Fred Muehlbauer and Kevin McPhee at Washington State University. It has an upright growth habit, and plants are 31 cm tall. Morton seeds have a beige seed coat with a red cotyledon. Seeds are small with a seed weight of 33 mg seed-1.

Planting dates

To achieve maximum yields, winter lentil should be planted during the second and third weeks of September. While seeding can be completed in the first week of September, researchers occasionally observed a 10 to 12 per cent yield reduction.

Seeding rates

If growers choose to seed in early September, higher seeding rates should be used as yields increased by 22 to 68 per cent as seeding rates increased from 110 to 220 plants m-2.

However, when seeding was completed in the second and third weeks of September, there was no increase in yield as seeding rate increased. Given that seeding is recommended in the second and third weeks of September, winter lentil can be seeded at 110 plants m-2, which is the same recommendation used for spring lentil.

Since winter lentil seed can be smaller than spring lentil seed, it is essential that actual seeding rates be based on the 1,000 kernel weight of the seed that will be planted.

Survivability

Like the trends observed with pea, lentil winter survivability did not strongly correlate with yield.

Yields greater than 2,000 kg ha-1 (1,784 lbs acre-1) were produced with winter lentil survivability ranging from 56 to 84 per cent. High yields are also highly dependent upon environmental conditions during the growing season.

Based on Alberta research, it is recommended that fields with less than 55 per cent (60 plants m-2) winter lentil survivability be abandoned and reseeded to another crop.

Flowering and disease

Winter lentil tends to flower 11 days earlier than spring lentil.

Very little disease was found on winter lentils in Alberta field trials. There were low level infections of Ascochyta sp., Alternaria sp. and Fusarium sp.. Sclerotinia has been observed later in the growing season where the canopy was thick; however, it was not thought to affect yield.

Yield and harvest

Winter lentil planting date had no effect on harvest date. However, in approximately two out of every three years, the winter lentils were harvested eight days earlier than the spring lentils.

At Lethbridge and Bow Island, winter lentil yields were 15 to 39 per cent greater (430 to 1,521 kg ha-1; 384 to 1,357 bushels acre-1) than the spring lentil yields.

Winter Pea and Lentil Markets

Winter pea varieties grown in the United States have been marketed as feed. However, cooking quality and seed compositional analysis have shown that there is no quality disadvantage associated with the winter types, and therefore, winter cultivars may be acceptable for human consumption markets.

Summary

Winter pea and winter lentil can be good options for producers in the Lethbridge and Bow Island areas of Alberta. When using a winter hardy variety such as Specter, Windham or Morton, yields were up to 39 per cent more than spring pea and lentil yields.

Winter pea should be seeded by the third week of September and winter lentil during the second and third weeks of September. Recommended seeding rates for winter pea and lentil are 75 and 110 plants m-2, respectively, which are the same as spring pea and lentil seeding rate recommendations.

This article appeared in the Fall 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Neil Whatley, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

Following a few storage and handling guidelines will ensure pulse crops retain their quality and maximize their marketability. Downgrading of pulse crops can occur when cracked seed coats or split seeds are present in the sample, or if a significant amount of seeds are heated or have a musty odor.

Monitoring stored pulses begins shortly after harvest, with grain spoilage risk increasing if the crop was harvested after an early frost or wet weather. To avoid heating in the bin, green seeds and dockage material should be cleaned out prior to storage.

To achieve optimal grades, long-term storage of pulse crops requires seeds to contain a moisture content of 14 per cent or less and be cooled to 15 degrees Celsius or less. Pulses having a temperature of 10 degrees C will store much longer. Lentil growers need to be aware that some buyers prefer red lentil to have a moisture content of 13 per cent to improve their dehulling and splitting processes.

The following table indicates the number of weeks recommended for safe storage of field pea at various grain moisture contents and storage temperatures. Other pulse crops are similar.

Source: Sokhansanj, 1995

Even if moisture content is low, field pea seeds should be cooled soon after binning if the seed is warm. Pulses with large seeds (field pea and chickpea) continue to breathe or respire after being harvested as moisture equalizes throughout these large seeds. This causes them to go through a sweat period for several weeks after harvest, which raises the temperature and moisture content of the stored grain, producing favourable conditions for mould growth.

Usage of aeration bins is the most effective method to control this situation. When monitoring, one should not rely on readings of average moisture content throughout the bin because there may be hot spots in isolated locations where moisture is high and mould can occur. To avoid spoilage when this respiration occurs, bins should be routinely monitored via probing, and aeration applied as required.

While aeration fans can cool pulses in a matter of days, drying via aeration can take three to four weeks and requires adequate power to provide air flow through the grain. If a grain dryer is required for supplemental heat, air temperatures should not exceed 45 degrees C to prevent seed germination problems with seed destined to be re-planted, or to prevent quality losses due to hardening or cracking of seed destined for food use. Additionally, the sample should not be dried more than four to five percentage points per pass through the drier. For feed pea, dryer temperatures up to 70 degrees C can be applied.

When moving pulse crops, grain augers operated full and at low speeds reduce seed coat cracking and seed splitting. Pulse seeds at 12 per cent moisture content and lower are more susceptible to chipping and peeling when handled.

This article appeared in the Fall 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Charlie Pearson, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development

International crop prices have come dramatically over the past summer from the historically high prices of the 2012/13 crop year. The main driver pushing prices lower has been better crop production conditions around the world in 2013 after the major production problems in several regions around the world but mainly in the US mid-west during 2012. The market responded to the later crop and dry conditions in the mid-west during August but the crop still promises to be larger than in 2012. The overall declines in international crop values will set the tone for Alberta pulse prices.

What factors are influencing world pulse markets?

India will again be a key factor in determining the direction of Alberta pulse prices and export volumes. The value of the Indian currency (the rupee) has declined relative to other world currencies reflecting problems in their general economy. The lower valued rupee impacts the cost of pulse imports in their currency and the affordability/ability to import pulses. This factor has potential to slow pea and lentil exports this fall. The results of the Indian rabi season crop (crop harvested in February and March) will be the factor determining import needs in 2014. China will remain a bright spot in the field pea market as exports to this region continue to grow.

Canadian situation.

Canadian pulse crops in general and more specifically peas and lentils had relatively small carryovers as a result of the larger than anticipated export volumes in 2012/13. Canadian lentil and pea production is estimated by Statistics Canada to be 1.6 million tonnes and 3.3 million tonnes respectively in their first crop production estimate of 2013.

Current prices in late August for green human consumption peas are about $10 per bushel ($360 per tonne) and $7 per bushel ($250 per tonne) for yellow human consumption peas. Given the increases in green pea acreage, the premium over yellow peas is expected to decline this fall.

Prices for all classes of top grade lentils are running about 20 cents per pound ($440 per tonne). Supplies of green lentils are expected to be more than adequate to meet export needs and this will limit price gains. Red lentils reflect opportunities in a larger and more diverse world market and therefore, more opportunity for price improvement.

Marketing strategies for pulses

Early in October, western Canadian pulse will have good estimates of field pea and lentil production numbers and equally as important, quality. The next steps will be to evaluate your marketing plan based on the volume of peas and lentils you have already sold, the marketing plans for your other crops and finally your planned sales for the coming winter.

Marketing crop in the coming year could be a challenge for all crops but pulses in particular given the potential size of this year’s western Canadian crop production and what should be an extremely large export program for all crops off the west coast. Port capacity (particularly west coast) is likely to be challenged by the volume of crops that will be exported in the coming year. Setting realistic price targets and arranging delivery periods for your pulse crop will be critical over the next nine months.

This article appeared in the Fall 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

Sarah Weigum

Tracking down Curtis Hoffman for an interview in late August posed a challenge. He had hay to bale, a new hopper-bottom arriving soon, and peas almost ready to combine. While these are typical late-summer jobs for an Alberta farmer, harvesting peas is a fairly new item on Hoffman’s to-do list. This is only the second year that the Oyen-area farmer has produced the pulse crop.

“This is traditionally a cereal area,” said Hoffman. “Up until 2008, it was pretty much wheat, oats, and barley. Now with price increases, people are trying new things.”

Hoffman tried peas in a big way last year, planting 75 per cent of his 2,000 acres to Golden and Meadow yellow peas. In the past, Hoffman had a third of his land in three-year alfalfa stands.

“The biggest thing we’re trying to do here is improve the soil health on our farm,” explained Hoffman. While alfalfa, also a legume crop, fixed nitrogen in the soil and gave the land a break from cereals, it did not always provide consistent cash flow, prompting Hoffman to look for alternatives.

“The alfalfa market can be up and down, but peas are a little more stable.” He marketed his peas through the Battle River Railway at Forestburg and Prairie West Terminal in Kindersley, SK, earning $8-9 per bushel. Hoffman appreciates having another grain to market, giving him more diversity and risk-management in the fluctuating grain trade.

After growing only peas and canola last year, Hoffman put his own land back into cereal production for 2013, but he planted peas on 240 acres of land he rented from a neighbour who normally grows cereals. Instead of chemfallow, the neighbour turned the land over to Hoffman for a year to produce peas.

“Hoffman is looking forward to reaping the rewards of growing cereals on his own pea stubble.”

“My landlord loves it,” said Hoffman. “He doesn’t have to spend the time doing chemfallow and gets the benefit of the nitrogen next year.” He added that other neighbours have expressed interest in having him seed peas onto their stubble. He has seen the number of regular pea growers in the area increase from two to about a dozen in the last few years.

This year, Hoffman is looking forward to reaping the rewards of growing cereals on his own pea stubble. He has a 400-acre field that he split into three sections last year with peas on the ends and canola in the middle. This year, the entire field is in wheat, giving him evidence of the better plant stand that follows pea production.

“Visually, it’s incomparable. You can look down the middle and see exactly where the peas were grown,” said Hoffman. While the final wheat yield will complete the picture of the benefits provided by rotating peas into his crop plan, other advantages have already been apparent to Hoffman.

“[The peas] really mellow the soil out,” said Hoffman. “We typically have a lot of solonetzic soil, and the one field we grew peas on last year broke up like a dream.”

He also values the early maturity of peas, which spreads out his harvest work load. The new hopper bottom bins he bought for this harvest will aid in his harvest management of peas this year. They come complete with aeration, and Hoffman plans to take some of his peas off one to two per cent tough and dry them.

“With the amount of pea acres we had last year, it all came ripe at the same time,” Hoffman said. “At the end of the harvest, some peas came off at 12 per cent, and we had a lot of cracking.”

With experience gained, Hoffman is looking into other potential pulse crops. This year, he cooperated with the Chinook Applied Research Area (CARA), providing them with some land to plant trial strips of Snowbird and FB 9-4 faba beans and a numbered variety of soybeans. He said he was skeptical of the soybeans for most of the spring and summer because they looked so poor, but they have surprised him as the season progressed.

“The soybeans are starting to impress me now. The pods are actually filling out,” he said. The faba beans also look promising. Along with the strip trials on his land, CARA had plot trials nearby. The Imposa faba beans grew the tallest, and that piqued Hoffman’s interest, as he is always trying to add biomass to his heavy soil. Snowbirds are a more common variety and are also an option for planting next year, provided that harvest goes well on the trials. Hoffman sees CARA as one of his greatest resources for sound agriculture knowledge that directly applies to his growing conditions.

“The CARA trials are probably the biggest determinant for what I grow out here when I switch varieties,” said Hoffman. “The best thing about it is that the trials are on your land, on your soil. What might do great at Lacombe might not do well at all out here.”

If Hoffman had a wish list for improving the pea varieties currently available, better standability would definitely be at the top. For now, he relies on his Honeybee header’s ability to shave the ground close enough to get lower lying pods. He’s even considering planting lentils in the future, so he is clearly not cowed by a harvest challenge.

Over one million acres of pulses are planted in Alberta each year. This number is steadily rising, thanks in part to producers like Hoffman who are changing the crop landscape in east central Alberta. To track Hoffman’s adventures in farming, follow him on Twitter at @freedom_speech1.

This article appeared in the Fall 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

When it comes to grain handling in western Canada, it’s pretty much business as usual for Viterra Inc., says Kyle Jeworski, Viterra’s President and CEO for North America. Following Glencore’s recent acquisition of the company in December 2012, very little has changed in the day-to-day operations for Viterra’s farm customers.

“It’s still very much a regional model,” says Jeworski, who has been with the organization since 1996. “Within that, we continue to operate as Viterra Inc. and have ultimate regional autonomy within that structure.”

And while the regional business model remains virtually unchanged, growers are already benefiting from the international reach Viterra has gained through its merger with Glencore.

“Glencore on the grain side is represented in all major destinations in which Canadian grain is sold,” Jeworski says. “As a part of the larger Glencore entity, we’ve really been able to utilize that international expertise, that international risk management. We’ve been able to both build upon our regional model while also tapping into that international exposure.”

Drawing on Glencore’s well-developed international marketing network, financial strength, and supply-chain management efficiencies is allowing Viterra to expand delivery opportunities for all major crops here in Canada – and pulses are no exception, according to Jeworski.

“Our goal is to provide that important link between the producer and the end-user,” he says. “Because of our increased international reach, we’re able to offer growers a financially dependable world-wide market outlook for every major pulse that’s grown in Alberta.”

Viterra has been actively involved in the Canadian pulse industry for decades, providing support to provincial grower groups like Alberta Pulse Growers and national bodies like Pulse Canada. Jeworski feels that the entire industry has benefitted from this active collaboration.

“Given the nature of our export of pulse crops, our job is really more than just handling of pulses in Alberta,” says Jeworski. “It’s also marketing those pulses worldwide, and we’re better able to do that because of Pulse Canada’s market access work and our involvement in all aspects of the trade.”

Jeworski believes that Viterra’s international exposure and marketing expertise will continue to enhance growth opportunities within the pulse industry. “We’ve got very good connections in all major pulse destinations globally, and we’ll use that information to continue to connect with pulse growers in western Canada and look for new ways to service those producers.”

For Viterra, that means both expanding delivery opportunities at Viterra’s high throughputs and increasing inland processing capacity. With this renewed focus on grain marketing and handling, Viterra is in the process of divesting its agri-products group, which will allow the company to reinvest further in its grain handling infrastructure. With Viterra’s recent announcement of over $20 million in upgrades to four facilities in Saskatchewan – at White Star, Humboldt, Waldron, and Ituna – growers can expect to see further plans to reinvest in regional plants in its Alberta asset network going forward.

“Our continued focus on operational excellence means that we’ve got a first-class network within Alberta, from high throughput facilities to specialty plants, but we’re always looking for ways to create value for our farm customers at the local level,” Jeworski says. “That goes beyond the day-to-day business. We take pride in being part of every community that we’re involved in, and seeing how we can best continue to build on that strong tradition is important to us.”

This commitment to serving rural communities will continue to play a major role in Viterra’s future development plans.

“We have almost a hundred years of history in Alberta, and for a hundred years, we’ve had to earn farmers’ business day in and day out. That’s something we don’t take for granted,” said Jeworski. “And we’re committed to expanding our expertise and our service to continue to earn that business each day.”

This article appeared in the Fall 2013 issue of Pulse Crop News.

On July 29th, 2013, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Gerry Ritz showed strong support for Canada’s pulse industry when he announced an investment of up to $15 million in funding for strategic pulse-based research through the federal government’s AgriInnovation Program.

Alberta Pulse Growers’ President Richard Krikke feels this funding sends a clear message about the important role of pulses in the future of Canada’s agriculture and food industry.

“As one of the world’s largest producers of pulses, Canada relies on growers to produce top-quality pulse crops, and in turn, we as growers rely on research to make pulse crops easier to grow and market,” says Krikke. “We are pleased that the important research we undertake on behalf of our growers will continue thanks to this generous funding.”

A Canada-wide partnership between all pulse organizations, the five-year Pulse Science Cluster supports a variety of projects, with an emphasis on improving pulse variety development; disease and pest management; new crop agronomy and management; processing and utilization of pulses and pulse fractions in food products; and health knowledge for increased pulse consumption.

Each project has been carefully selected by the pulse industry to increase the sustainability, profitability, and competitiveness of Canadian pulse producers, according to Krikke.

“By investing in this research, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada has truly invested in our growers – the men and women in the field feeding the world with their high-quality pulse crops,” Krikke says. “With that in mind, Alberta Pulse Growers will work closely with our industry partners over the next five years to ensure our growers receive the best possible return on that investment, through new varieties, new production best practices, and new marketing opportunities.”