Peter Smith, President of BEPA gives an update of the pulse market.

UK wheat and soybean import prices remain firm after some dramatic falls in June/July. Global vegetable oil stock-to-use ratios continue to decline, shoring up oilseed rape values and persuading many UK growers to continue planting the crop this autumn closing off some opportunities for winter beans.

Pulse trading is very quiet as growers take stock of their yields and quality. French reports of low average yields around 3.7t/ha for peas and 3.45t/ha for beans – only a little above 2010. The French pulse acreage is also lower than forecast at 92,000 ha beans, 192,000 peas and 4,000 lupins. Overall, pulses are 29% down on 2010.

UK Peas have ridden the spring drought very well in most areas with yields averaging 4.5-5.0t/ha, but beans from both seasons have been very variable with yields from 2-7t/ha depending on rainfall and little difference between winters and springs. The Wizard/Sultan crop we featured in the last Pulse Magazine near Abington (Oxon) yielded at the top end of this. UK quality is also very variable but, overall, the UK crop is expected to be 500-550,000 tonnes.

The huge focus in the farming press on the successful oilseed rape harvest and high yields is a further concern for winter bean planting.  But, paradoxically, winter bean seed sales have been very brisk, perhaps reflecting growers’ anxiety about over-planting rape in the rotation and the rising costs of inputs such as fertiliser.

Feed Beans

There has been little trade in feed beans as strong wheat prices are not allowing any premium, and there are many protein source alternatives at the moment. Prices are about £190-200/t ex Farm. Some interest is, however, returning from European buyers.

Human Consumption Beans

French Bean exports to Egypt (July-June) were 246,000 tonnes, about the same as the previous 12-month period, and equally restricted by a successful Australian campaign last spring.

The Middle East is in the early part of the Eid holidays so buyers are scarce at present. Prices are £205-210/t so a £15-20 premium over feed.

Quality is mixed with some of the south-east crops showing heavy Bruchid damage. Splitting and staining have also been noted

Marrowfats

The carryover from 2010 is still an issue for another three to four months, but new crop is of better colour, grain size is larger, insect damage lower and yields have been good. Buying interest is coming from the Far East.

Canadian crops have been low-yielding, so prices are remaining strong. 

Blue Peas

Yields have been in the 5t/ha region and prices are up around £240-250/t ex-farm, around £50-60 over feed. Combine this with low disease this year and it will have been a very profitable crop for the few growers left in this category. Colour and grain size too are generally much improved on last year.

Micronising peas are at £205-210/t. Less positive are the reports of some crops being too dry and not taking up moisture in soaking tests.

White Peas

The French exporters have cashed in on a poor and late Canadian crop with an 82% increase in exports – much of it for feed into EU.