Sharp Decline Projected in Canadian Lentil Production Due to Adverse Weather

Saskatoon. Statistics Canada (StatsCan) has projected a sharp decline in domestic lentil production for the 2026-27 season, citing a reduction in planted area and adverse weather conditions; this forecast is based on data received from major producing regions. According to the StatsCan report, Canada’s lentil production stood at an impressive 3.63 million tonnes in the 2025-26 season but is expected to drop to 2.47 million tonnes in the current 2026-27 season.

Industry analysts are not particularly surprised by this production forecast from StatsCan. They believe that adverse weather conditions in certain regions have significantly impacted the lentil crop. Unseasonal rains continue to hinder harvesting operations and pose a risk of grain quality deterioration. Provincial-level data also projects total lentil production at 2.44 million tonnes, aligning with the estimate derived from the StatsCan model.

According to the StatsCan report, the lentil yield in Canada for the 2026-27 season is estimated at 1,394 pounds per acre. While this exceeds the five-year average productivity of 1,222 pounds per acre, it falls well short of the record yield of 1,693 pounds per acre achieved in the 2025-26 season.

Canada is the world's leading producer and exporter of lentils. The country saw robust production of this vital pulse crop last season, and a significant portion of that stock remains available. Due to these carryover stocks, the total availability of lentils will not see a drastic decline, although the inventory of high-quality, export-grade produce is expected to decrease somewhat.