The key words for September have been shortages, high prices and imports - mainly French. Growers seeking to empty stores for the Spring may get caught by a reluctance to sell their crop.

Peas have been particularly difficult this year with beans faring much better in terms of yield and quality – particularly Spring sown crops. Growers who were diligent with spray programmes were repaid with returns of over £400 an acre for export quality beans. These are excellent low input crop returns to compete with 2^nd and 3^rd crop wheats.

The winter bean seed campaign was surprisingly strong with shortages of some varieties noted. This seed shortage is likely to carry over into spring sown peas as well.

Feed Beans

To quote one source the market has been “On fire”. Prices of £185+ have been too rich for compounders, and some have substituted imported yellow peas as a result. Odd samples have been rejected on

the basis of Bruchid adult emergence.

Export Beans

Bruchid damage reports are down on 2006: perhaps weather related, but also possibly due to much higher reports of natural parasites: something we’ve noted at PGRO. The high feed prices have driven export prices up to £220 and Middle East demand is strong. Ramadan will end in a couple of weeks but the French are very active there too, and UK growers are advised to take advantage of the current high prices. No premium is available for bagged beans so bulk shipments are required.

Australian crops remain severely drought affected.

Marrowfats

£200 per tonne is being paid for average quality but the market is still slow. With the carryover from 2006 there is less likelihood of shortages than for other pulses, so growers should be realistic. After another poor year, the risk is that growers pull out of marrowfats - £220-230 per tonne contract prices are needed to ensure UK supplies in 2008.

Blue Peas

Micronisers have sufficient cover and prices have reached £200 for better quality blues. The high ex-farm prices are preventing the UK from competing effectively in the export markets, except where pre-season contracts were placed. Traders will be unwilling to risk stock at these price levels. The Canadian crop has suffered some drought this year.

Yellow Peas

Recent imports from France have eased the pressure on UK trade and prices are fragile. Yellows from France have been making £195-200 per tonne at UK port.

Overall, the main area of concern is that we may not have sufficient pulse crops in the ground to cover markets in 2008. With this in mind the British Edible Pulse Association, supported by its sponsors, is offering a one-off prize of £1000 to a charity of their choice, to the grower who achieves the highest gross output from the 2007 harvest crop. See BEPA website for details.