Pulse of the Prairies

Early September rains have resulted in delayed harvest and additional challenges across much of the province, right as pulse crops were on their way into the bin. In this episode SPG Agronomy Managers discuss what producers need to keep in mind when it comes to grain storage and drying, post-harvest weed control, and testing for soil- and seed-borne pathogens going into 2027.

Additional resources:

Harvest Losses & Yield Estimations  

Lentil Harvest Quality & Storage 

Post-Harvest and Long-Term Storage of Pulses 

Why Invest in a Seed Test?  

Track Early Aphanomyces Infection Now 

Testing for Aphanomyces & Other Root Rot Pathogens  

Post-Harvest Weed Control 

Herbicides for Post-Harvest Weed Control Prior to Pulses 

Soil Residual Herbicides in Pulse Crops  

It has been another year of weather extremes across the prairies, as excess moisture in spring gave way to summer heat, and now harvest rains are slowing the combines. That said, large old-crop carryovers will cushion some of the declines in total supplies, so the impact varies considerably from one crop to the next. In this episode Jim Hale, SPG Board member speaks with Chuck Penner of LeftField Commodity Research to hear how pulse crop supply given this year’s harvest will contend with current international demand. ⁠Read Chuck's latest pulse market report here.

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 these latest numbers and the state of pulse markets today. ⁠Read Marlene's latest pulse market report here.

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 market access for Canadian pulses. The conversation covers maximum residue limits, glyphosate pre-harvest use, glufosinate on pulses, pre-harvest interval considerations, and why Saskatchewan’s reputation matters to international buyers.

If you want a practical reminder of what growers need to get right each season to protect crop value and support the broader pulse industry, this episode is worth a listen.

Additional Resources:

Maximum Residue Limits Produce Advisory

Pre-Harvest Interval Calculator

Pre-Harvest Glyphosate Staging Guide

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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 their experiences on the board. They share what surprised them most about joining the board, what they have gained from the experience, and why farmer voices at the table truly matter.

If you have ever thought "maybe someday" or simply wondered how decisions at SPG are shaped, this episode offers an honest, grower‑to‑grower perspective you will not find in a policy document.

If you would like more information about SPG board nominations, official details are available on the SPG website.

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 share what can only be learned by being on the ground, from reading real-time market dynamics to building the government-to-government relationships that directly influence import policy. They also discuss the newly announced Canada-India Pulse Protein Centre of Excellence, a concrete example of the growing partnership between two of the world's leading pulse nations.
With India's pulse demand projected to nearly double by 2050, and Canada and India actively negotiating a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, there is good reason for optimism.

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 episode, hear market analyst Chuck Penner explain how pulse acreage is expected to shift in 2026 and what factors could be influencing producers' cropping decisions. 

Read Chuck's written report here.

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) review, and the infrastructure gaps affecting grain movement across the country.
Learn about the priorities GGC tackled in 2025 and how its advocacy efforts in Ottawa and Washington are working to protect market access and improve conditions for growers. Do not miss this important conversation about the work being done on your behalf. Listen now on our website or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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 & Think Wheat | SaskWheat's Winter Extension Events

FEB: Winter Pulse Meetings | SPG's Winter Extension Events

MAR 25-27: Learn to Lead | Personal & Professional Development for Farmers [Apply by Jan 31]