Crop Profile for Field Peas in Canada - March 2008 (42 pp) - Synopsis

Field peas (Pisum sativum) belong to the family of cool season legume crops (Leguminosae) commonly referred to as pulses, which includes lentils, fababeans, kidney beans and chickpeas. Both yellow and green cotyledon pea cultivars are grown and most varieties have a white flower. Field pea production in Western Canada has been consistently increasing since 1977. The opening of the European feed pea market in 1985 and the resulting high prices for peas stimulated field pea production in Canada and increased the pea acreage 17 fold from 74,400 ha in 1985 to 1,261,000 ha in 2007. Field peas are currently grown in Saskatchewan (79%), Alberta (18%) and Manitoba (2%) (2006).

The Crop Profile for Field Pea provides an overview of production and pest management practices for field pea in Canada. Information is provided on abiotic factors affecting its growth. The biology of key disease, insect and mite and weed problems is presented as well as cultural, chemical and alternative methods of control. Detailed information is provided in tabular form on pest occurrence, integrated pest management options and registered pesticides available to growers.

Grower issues/ gaps in pest management, identified through stakeholder consultations are described in each of the three main sections (disease, insect and mite and weed) and under each pest description. Key resource personnel, including provincial extension specialists and research scientists are listed in the resources section at the end of the profile. Links are also provided to national and provincial grower organizations and provincial ministry of agriculture websites, sources of additional information on field pea production.

Limited crop production and market statistics are provided in the profile to give context to the economic importance of the commodity. For more detailed statistics pertaining to the crop, the reader is referred to Statistics Canada.

The Crop Profile for Field Pea is not intended for use as a crop production guide. Please refer to provincial ministry of agriculture websites and crop specialists for detailed information on crop production and pest management in a specific region.

This profile is based on a report prepared under contract (01B68-3-0043) by:

Mark Goodwin, Mark Goodwin Consulting Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba

Pest management data was collected by focus groups through the Canadian Expert Poll on Crop Protection conducted in Alberta and Saskatchewan in 2007.

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