While dry conditions persist across the Prairies, the current situation for pulses is not as bad as during the two previous springs.

That’s according to Pulse Canada’s director of market access and trade policy.

Mac Ross says dryness is largely evident across Western Canada and many crops are still below their five-year averages for planting progress.

However, conditions this year are still better than the wet, cool ones in 2022 and those fueled by drought in 2021.

He says recent rains in northern Alberta have not only helped alleviate ongoing wildfires in the area, but have also reduced potential damage to the region’s pulse crops.

Lentils and dry peas, the two largest crops under Pulse Canada’s umbrella, are expected to see small shifts in production for 2023-24 at 2.4 million and 3.25 million tonnes, respectively, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s May principal field crop estimates.