Canadian producers will plant more peas, lentils, and sunflowers in 2025, but cut back on other pulse and special crops, according to new Agriculture Canada projections.
Ag Canada’s first round of 2025-26 supply-demand estimates, released Monday, puts expected new-crop dry pea area at 3.27 million acres, up about 2% from last year and the most since 2022. Lentil area is seen creeping just slightly higher as well, rising 1.2% to 4.26 million acres – also the highest since 2022.
With a larger planted area and a small increase in the average expected yield compared to 2024, new-crop dry pea production is estimated at 3.05 million tonnes, up 2% on the year. Exports are forecast steady at 2.4 million tonnes, with the initial outlook for ending stocks at 375,000 tonnes, up 50,000 from 2024-25. The average price is seen at $400/tonne, down $25 from the current year.
At 2.385 million tonnes, 2025 lentil output is forecast to decline from 2.431 million last year as the larger seeded area is offset by a slight drop in average yields. Exports are expected 100,000 tonnes higher on the year at 2.2 million, with ending stocks rising 15,000 tonnes to 365,000. The average price, at $755, is seen down from $835 in 2024-25.
Sunflower planted area is predicted to jump almost 46% on the year to 86,500 acres, due to “higher returns compared to competing crops in the previous year.” Production is expected to rise to 75,000 tonnes, up 47% from a year ago. However, exports are projected just steady at 35,000 and domestic use down slightly at 65,000, leaving ending stocks at 160,000 – up 10,000 from 2024-25. At $590/tonne, the average new-crop sunflower price is down $40 from 2024-25.
Mustard seed is projected to see the sharpest acreage decline among the pulse and special crops, down 25.5% from last year to 445,000 acres, the fewest since 2021. Production is forecast to fall to 130,000 tonnes from 192,000 last year, but ending stocks, at 145,000 tonnes, are expected decrease just 5,000 from 2024-25. At $815, the average mustard price in 2025-26 is estimated down $15 from last year and $465 below the 2023-24 average.
Canary seed area is seen falling 11% to 259,000 acres, with expected production down 45,000 tonnes on the year to 140,000 – still above 112,000 in 2023. Ending stocks are projected steady from 2024-25 at 90,000 tonnes, with the average expected price dropping to $685 from $715.
At 420,000 acres, estimated new-crop chickpea area is forecast 12.3% lower from 2024. Production is expected to fall to 245,000 tonnes from 287,000 last year but ending stocks are nonetheless projected to rise, up 30,000 tonnes to 140,000. The average chickpea price is seen $50 lower in 2025-26 compared to a year earlier at $750/tonne - well off $1,005 seen in 2023-24.
National dry bean planted area is estimated at 371,000 acres, down nearly 8% on the year, with production slipping about 9% to 385,000 tonnes. Ending stocks are expected to build, however, up 5,000 tonnes to 60,000 – three times higher than in 2023-24. The average price is seen at $1,140, up $40 on the year but down from 2023-24.
Flax planted area, at an estimated 511,000 acres, is little changed from 504,000 in 2024, with expected production inching up just 2,000 tonnes to 260,000. Ending stocks, at 70,000 tonnes, are projected down 20,000 on the year. The average flax price for 2025-26 is estimated $5 higher at $575.
