Pulse growers have a few things to look forward to this year as trade seems to be opening up in international markets.
Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Executive Director Carl Potts talks about India opening up recently.
"Back in December India removed some restrictions, both quantitative restrictions and tariffs that they have had in place since 2017 related to peas and have allowed really allowed the imports of the peas in since then. Just recently they provided another extension to that policy which will now take us out until October or so, so beginning to to impact new crops as well."
There's also always new research being done into pulses such as soybeans, which the SPG funds.
"Growers will know that SPG made significant investments in pulse crop research like peas and lentils, chickpeas, fava beans, dried beans, things of that nature," said Potts, "But we also have responsibility for soybeans as well. Soybeans are an important crop option to farmers in some areas of the province for the future."
"We want to be able to provide multiple crop options for growers to put maybe a little bit more distance and time in between successive pea and lentil crops. So soybean can be an option in some of those areas, but you know, one of the main constraints really on expanding soybean productions is ensuring that we have well-adapted varieties that are adapted to Western Canada."
Potts says that SPG is very interested in funding all kinds of pulse research.
"Since 2015, we've invested about $10 million of growers' levy dollars in root rot related research and that's been leveraged up to about $25 million of total expenditure on root rot related research, utilizing co-funding from other partners within government and with industry, so it's been a very big focus for us and it really is the top research priority."
Potts says he's hoping growers have a successful season this year.