Rainfall is a threat to the early lentil crop in Canada

14-Aug-2025 05:39 PM

Saskatoon. Lentil producing farmers of western Canada are extremely worried and troubled by the untimely rains as the risk of damage to the crop is increasing.

According to agricultural experts, this rain is causing damage to the early lentil crop but the late sown crop is benefiting.

Due to the rain, there is a lot of difficulty in harvesting the ripe lentil crop and there is a possibility of the quality of its grain getting spoiled. However, the rain will not have much adverse effect on the total production.

Farmers of top producing states like Saskatchewan and Alberta are praying for the rain to stop. This rain is not only causing inconvenience in harvesting the ripe lentil crop and there is a possibility of the quality of the grain getting affected but the risk of spread of diseases and insect infestation is also increasing.

Not only this, but this unseasonal rain can cause the lentil grain to become discoloured and split and small grains can fall down from the lentil plant and get absorbed in water or mud.

The risk is higher in those fields where the plants were desiccated before the rain. There is a possibility of weeds growing in the fields of late sown crops. If the infection of diseases and insects increases, the lentil crop can suffer heavy damage. This has increased the concern of the farmers a lot.

According to trade analysts, it will be necessary to keep an eye on the production and market price of big (thick) green lentils of good quality because in case of decrease in production, the price may increase.

In such a situation, buyers can try to stock up by purchasing some poor quality goods. The difference between the prices of thick green lentils and red lentils is likely to increase.

However, since it is the time of harvesting and preparation of the new crop, it is difficult to accurately predict the fluctuations in prices at the moment because its demand remains weak.

The market is currently following the policy of 'wait and watch'. If there is improvement in the production of small green lentils, the shortage of large green lentils can be partially compensated.

At present, the price of large green lentils is 31-33 cents per pound and the price of small green lentils is 27-28 cents per pound while the price of red lentils is being reported to be 28-28.5 cents.