Lentil Sowing Lags Behind Last Year's Pace in Canada and the US

01-Jun-2026 08:03 PM

Winnipeg. Due to factors such as high carryover stocks, weak prices, and adverse weather conditions, the pace of lentil sowing in Canada and the United States is currently observed to be somewhat slower than that of the previous year. In the US, farmers are placing relatively greater emphasis on pea cultivation; consequently—despite the conclusion of the month of May—lentil sowing has been completed in only 75 percent of the designated acreage.

In Canada, the sown area has reached 77 percent. In both countries, the area under cultivation remains lower than both last year's figures and the five-year average. Farmers' enthusiasm and interest in sowing this crop appear diminished compared to last year, primarily due to reduced income levels.

In Canada, soil moisture levels are adequate to support average lentil yields, and the region has received beneficial rainfall over recent days and weeks; however, drought-like conditions persist in several key producing regions of the United States.

Lentil cultivation in both countries is concentrated within a limited number of provinces. Sowing operations are also currently underway in Australia; however, the crop there remains at risk due to the potential impact of the El Niño phenomenon.