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Lower tariffs on the horizon for pulse producers: Cropsphere researcher

Jan 16, 2019 | 12:00 PM

Market outlooks are always popular events for farmers at the Cropsphere conference, and one researcher had some positive news to share regarding tariffs facing pulse producers.

Chuck Penner with Left Field Commodity research told producers when it comes to pulse crops, the market news is more positive for peas than lentils.

The first topic he dealt with were the steep tariffs placed by India on all pulse crop imports in November 2017. Penner said the government is trying to control the market in advance of a spring election, but very dry weather is starting to become a factor.

“What’s happening now is that it seems that the weather is actually taking the issue out of their hands so they are not able to deal with it quite the same way as before so the weather may force them into some decisions they may not want to do including or could include lowering tariffs in the next number of months,” he said.

With peas, Penner said China made up for the loss of the Indian market this past year.

 

Feedback sought on crop research models

Producers, industry and farm groups have been asked for input this week on two proposals that will change the way crop research and variety development is funded. 

Consultation hearings took place last fall and there will be an open session in Saskatoon Wednesday afternoon at TCU Place to discuss the two options.

Agriculture Canada’s Carla St Croix said one of the options being considered is a royalty collection model or contract where producers would agree to a certain set of conditions on their farm saved seed use. The other proposal is an end point royalty model.

“It’s really a royalty payable on harvested material so in this case grain, that’s collected where grain is sold or delivered in Canada,” she said.

Croix noted they are still in phase one of the consultations and no decision has been made regarding the seed royalty proposals. 

 

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