Soaring cereal prices and the late harvest in many areas had pushed pulse crops to the back of the harvesting queue, but they are starting to come in, and are looking for offers. Prices are just as strong in pulses with feed peas and beans well over £150/tonne, and more for micronising.

The extraordinary volatility of the commodities markets generally is creating a dangerous vacuum in pulse trading between growers and buyers. The risk being that imports will take up the slack.

New season contracts in UK are already available for marrowfat, blue, and yellow peas.

Feed Beans

Bean harvest is delayed as growers catch up with other crops first. However the feed market is also very firm.

Export Beans

Bruchid damage reports are variable as is the overall quality. Shrivelling and staining of beans is higher than usual, possibly the result of the early season drought. Smaller sized samples are more

frequent too and not suited to export markets. Those crops which received a second or later spray for rust control are of better sized beans. Many spring beans have yet to be harvested, but some crops generally appear to have a reasonable yield potential.

Harvesting has just begun in France. So far, indications are that bean yields are very good although again the rain has delayed maturity of crops in the north of France and this increases the risk of staining and blemishing.

The export market opportunity is still unfolding so little activity from the Middle East as yet.

Marrowfats

Overall quality reports are good with little bleaching this year, although yields are lower. The wet weather disrupted the harvest of the later maturing crops in the north and this has affected quality with some sprouting in the pod and shelling out. Pea moth damage seems to be very light this season because of the poor weather conditions

during the egg hatching period. Buyers are offering up to £200 per tonne for the good colour samples. Growers need to be wary off missing out to foreign suppliers who will also be in the market this Autumn.

Blue Peas

As predicted in June, there is again great demand, especially for micronising. Samples are trading for £150-170 per tonne ex-farm. With growers still holding off there are already imports evident.

The recent cool, wet spell of weather in East Anglia has not helped, and bleaching due to delays may become more evident.

Yellow Peas

The reduced crop means little has yet appeared in the market from this year, but with stocks low and poor weather reports from Canada, the prospects remain excellent.

Overall, remember first wheat crops need a good break crop to maximise performance. Pulses are ideal!