Signs of a Sharp Decline in Canadian Lentil Production

10-Sep-2026 04:36 PM

Winnipeg. Adverse weather conditions this year in Saskatchewan and Alberta—the two top-producing provinces in Western Canada's prairie region—point to a decline in lentil yields and total output, with concerns that quality may also be compromised.

Harvesting operations are currently underway in Canada. Early trends estimate an average yield of 30 bushels per acre, which is below the normal average. Major lentil-producing areas experienced torrential rains during the spring, followed by intense heat during the summer. Furthermore, unseasonal rainfall during the harvest period has compounded difficulties for farmers, raising fears of significant crop damage. The pace of harvesting has been slow.

Compared to last year, production of red lentils in Canada is projected to fall by approximately 10%, while green lentil output is expected to drop by more than 50%. However, substantial carryover stocks of green lentils mean that the overall availability will not see a drastic reduction; total supply is likely to decline by 8% to 1.66 million tonnes. Stocks of red lentils are estimated to fall by about 12%, dropping below 2 million tonnes. Stocks of small green lentils are expected to exceed those of large (bold) green lentils.

Demand for lentils is not waiting for the harvest to conclude. Since January, India's monthly lentil imports have consistently exceeded the five-year average. During the first quarter of the marketing season, India recorded lentil imports of 391,000 tonnes—more than double the volume imported during the same period last year. Given the 13 percent deficit in monsoon rainfall and the drought conditions observed in some key *tur* (pigeon pea) producing regions, efforts could be made to increase the import of green lentils.