Pulse of the Prairies

Statistics Canada published their 2026 seeded acreage report on June 30. In this report pulse acres were even smaller than in their March estimate, although most people involved in the trade had been using somewhat smaller numbers than StatCan all along. In this episode Winston van Staveren, SPG Board member speaks with Marlene Boersch of Mercantile Consulting Venture to learn her thoughts on thes...

Pulse growers depend on export markets, and one decision on one farm can impact the entire industry. That is why this episode matters. In the latest Pulse of the Prairies episode Robyn Henry, a Board member with Saskatchewan Pulse Growers, speaks with Mike Hutton, Director of Crop Protection with Pulse Canada about the Keep it Clean initiative and the crop protection decisions that help protect ma...

Thinking about getting more involved in Boards?  Serving on a producer board could feel intimidating from the outside — unclear expectations, unknown time commitments, and plenty of questions that never quite get answered. This episode will shed light on those unknowns and digs into why current Board members got involved. In the latest Pulse of the Prairies , two current SPG board members discuss...

In the latest Pulse of the Prairies episode, SPG Director and Pulse Canada Chair Terry Youzwa sits down with Greg Cherewyk, President of Pulse Canada, to discuss a  recent trade mission to India —Canada's single most important pulse export market. In 2024 alone, Canada shipped 1.4 million tonnes of peas and 600,000 tonnes of lentils to India, valued at $1.4 billion dollars. Greg and Terry shar...

Statistics Canada’s first look at acreage for the upcoming season is based on a farmer survey conducted in mid-December to mid-January. While it is true that farmers can change plans and shift acres from one crop to another, a lot of the crop rotation is already decided at that point. This means some changes will show up in the final acreage estimates in June, but they will not be huge. In this ep...

In this episode, SPG Board Member Robyn Henry interviews Elyce Simpson Fraser, the 2025 Pulse Promoter Award winner and CEO of Simpson Seeds. Elyce shares her journey as a third-generation leader, discusses Simpson Seeds' new lentil flour manufacturing facility in Moose Jaw, and talks about her hands-on approach to promoting pulses through community cooking classes.

In the latest Pulse of the Prairies episode, SPG Board Director Gerrid Gust sits down with Kyle Larkin from Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) to discuss the critical advocacy work happening on behalf of Saskatchewan pulse growers. Kyle shares insights from the recent Grains Week in Ottawa, GGC's mission to Washington, D.C., on tariffs and the upcoming Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)...

Winter is upon us, and SPG and SaskWheat have several education and networking opportunities available to producers and agronomists in the coming months. In this episode, get a sneak peak of what to expect at this winter's events: JAN 13-14: Sask Crops Forum | Commission AGMs JAN 20: Pulse Variety Seminar | Virtual Breeding & Commercialization Update JAN - MAR: Coffee Shop Talks & Thin...

In this episode, SPG's Seed Program Manager Laurie Friesen chats with Justin Ritco from Condie Seeds and Thomas Winny from Winny Seeds. They discuss exciting new pea and lentil varieties for the 2026 growing season including AAC Beyond, AAC Julius, CDC Monarch, CDC 6928, CDC Lima, and a preview of CDC 6964. Learn about yield advantages, disease resistance packages, and how these varieties fit...

Voting has opened for SPG’s Board of Directors election. In this special podcast episode, we are airing interviews held with all four nominees so you can learn more about the candidates before casting your vote. Interviews were conducted by Neil Billinger, Agriculture Director of CJWW Radio on SPG's behalf. Tune in to learn more about the candidates and don't forget to cast your vote by No...

Despite the late rains, pulse harvest is underway in several areas across Saskatchewan. Producers are also contending with variable weather conditions which can affect storage needs and the risk of grain spoilage in the bin. In this episode, hear from SPG Agronomists on how this year’s pulse crop is coming off the field so far and what to keep in mind to ensure a successful harvest and maintain pu...

When combined with a larger old crop carry-in from the previous season, supplies coming off this year's pulse harvest are set up to be the largest in several years. In this episode, Jon Driedger, Vice President of Leftfield Commodity Research explains how this supply will contend with global demand. Read Jon's report here.

2025 is shaping up to be a decent year for pulse production in Saskatchewan, but environmental conditions have been conducive for disease development. Learn what SPG Agronomists have been seeing in the fields so far and what producers should be keeping in mind when it comes to field scouting and harvest preparation. Learn more about Fusarium Root Rot in Pulse Crops Review Harvest Aid Options for P...

Statistics Canada published their 2025 seeded acreage report on June 27. For both lentils and peas, the June seeded acreage numbers represent a significant change from their earlier estimates. In this episode Carl Potts, SPG’s Executive Director speaks with Marlene Boersch of Mercantile Consulting Venture to learn her thoughts on these latest numbers and the state of pulse markets today. Read Marl...

Trade-related uncertainty is more prominent than ever in theCanadian pulse industry. These challenges underscore the ongoing need to prioritize market development and diversification of Canadian pulses and pulse ingredients into new uses and new markets around the world. In this episode, learn about recent shifts within the national pulse market development strategy in response to recent trade unc...

In this latest podcast episode, SPG's Stuart Lawrence and Clinton Monchuk from Farm & Food Care Saskatchewan dive into why trust in Canada's food system matters—not just for consumers, but for the people behind the food: the farmers. Why transparency matters How misinformation can hurt farms What farmers are doing to earn and keep your trust Whether you are a consumer or part of the ag...

In this episode, SPG Director Gerrid Gust is joined by Kyle Larkin from Grain Growers of Canada (GGC). Kyle breaks down the priority issues facing Canadian farmers during the federal election including what the future holds for the carbon tax, capital gains tax, and trade uncertainty. ⁠Learn More About GGC's Efforts Read the latest issue of GGC on The Hill

Seeding is just around the corner, but market uncertainties are in full swing. Between threats of U.S. import tariffs swirling about, Indian tariffs on lentils and possible tariffs on peas, and surprise Chinese tariffs on peas, the magnitude of these unstable markets is causing more farmers to reevaluate planting decisions. In this episode, SPG Board Member Shaun Dyrland talks to Chuck Penner, Pre...

The 2025 winter pulse meetings have come to a close and we learned lots from leading industry experts on the latest developments in the pulse industry and what growers need to know.  In this episode, SPG Agronomy Managers discuss their key takeaways from winter meeting presentations including research in advancing solutions for root rot, the state of herbicide-resistant weeds in Saskatchewan, and...

In this episode, SPG Board Member Terry Youzwa interviews Vicki Dutton, the 2024 Pulse Promoter Award winner and a trailblazer in the pulse industry, to discuss her passion for pulses. She discusses the early days of growing pulses in Saskatchewan and offers insight into her vision for the future of sustainable food.

Winter is upon us, and Saskatchewan Pulse Growers has several education and networking opportunities available to producers and agronomists in the coming months. In this episode, SPG Agronomy Managers give you a sneak peak of what to expect at the upcoming Pulse Variety Seminar, Winter Pulse Meetings, and Annual General Meeting. To learn more about these events and register, visit SPG's event page...

In this episode SPG's Seed Program Manager chats with Lynnell Pomedli from Seed Source and Ken McDougall from McDougall Acres. They discuss new pulse varieties including chickpeas, lentils, and peas. Are you aware of the regulatory changes coming to the faba bean market? This episode provides essential information for growers about low vicine/convicine (LVC) faba beans and considerations for produ...

In this episode, SPG’s Executive Director is joined by Kyle Larkin from Grain Growers Canada (GGC) and Brad Blackwell, SPG Director. Their discussion highlights many recent accomplishments and ongoing policy initiatives that GGC focuses on. From the Canada Entrepreneurs' Incentive Program to follow up on the rail strike, learn how GGC is working to advocate for Canadian farmers. Learn more about G...

In this episode, SPG’s Director of Research & Development is joined by a panel of experts: SPG Agronomy Manager, Research and Extension Manager with Alberta Pulse Growers, and Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers Executive Director. They discuss new developments in the fight against root rot in pulses, including the Root Rot Task Force, collaboration and new initiatives, significant investments...

Pulse harvest is underway in some areas of the province, while others are expected to begin soon. In this episode, SPG’s Agronomy Managers, Meagen Reed and Mike Brown, along with SPG summer student Emily Wudrick, discuss how pulses are faring as they make their way to the bin. Additional Resources: Review Harvest Aid Options for Pulses Check the 2024 Product Advisory Try the Pre-Harvest Interval C...