In Alberta pulse acreage has increased from 1.2 million acres in 2013 to 2.3 million acres in 2017 with an all time high of 2.4 million acres in 2016. This represents a substantial increase in the amount of pulses grown and is indicative of the increased interest in pulses as a highly profitable and valuable crop for Alberta rotations. Field pea continues to dominate the pulse acres accounting for over 1.8 million acres in 2017. Faba bean is another, higher protein pulse crop contributing to these totals increasing from 20,000 acres to 100,000 over the course of this project. Both crops are impacting the face of Alberta agriculture and will continue to do so as world-wide demand for plant protein increases. It is important to support the Alberta pulse industry for continued success by providing the best and latest varieties of field pea and faba bean suited to our climate and soil characteristics from around the world.

The best field pea and faba bean lines were considered, voted on and recommended for registration each year at the Prairie Grain Development Committee (PGDC), Pulse and Special Crops Recommending Sub-committee (PSCRSC) meetings. During the course of this project 30 field pea lines and 13 faba bean lines were recommended and forwarded to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for potential commercialization. This is a result of over 18,000 plots being grown over five years in five climatic areas of Alberta. Of the lines recommended, 23 varieties of field pea and 6 varieties of faba bean have been commercialized for broad scale industry production. In addition there were 8 field pea and faba bean lines tested and commercialized through private company contracts for niche market use.

Including all the new varieties registered as a result of this project, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) has reported there were 188,000 acres insured for production across Alberta in 2017.  It has been established throughout the industry that only 75% of acres planted are insured. Given that, the number of acres actually grown representing these new varieties is estimated to be over 250,000. Prior to the initiation of this project none of those varieties were available. The result is a quarter of a million acres of field pea and faba bean being replaced with better varieties that are higher yielding, lodge less and are of better quality. This improvement in genetics has had a significant effect on the productivity of these crops, greatly improved the rotation of crops on Alberta farms and increased the value of the pulse industry

In Alberta pulse acreage has increased from 1.2 million acres in 2013 to 2.3 million acres in 2017 with an all time high of 2.4 million acres in 2016. This represents a substantial increase in the amount of pulses grown and is indicative of the increased interest in pulses as a highly profitable and valuable crop for Alberta rotations. Field pea continues to dominate the pulse acres accounting for over 1.8 million acres in 2017. Faba bean is another, higher protein pulse crop contributing to these totals increasing from 20,000 acres to 100,000 over the course of this project. Both crops are impacting the face of Alberta agriculture and will continue to do so as world-wide demand for plant protein increases. It is important to support the Alberta pulse industry for continued success by providing the best and latest varieties of field pea and faba bean suited to our climate and soil characteristics from around the world.

The best field pea and faba bean lines were considered, voted on and recommended for registration each year at the Prairie Grain Development Committee (PGDC), Pulse and Special Crops Recommending Sub-committee (PSCRSC) meetings. During the course of this project 30 field pea lines and 13 faba bean lines were recommended and forwarded to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for potential commercialization. This is a result of over 18,000 plots being grown over five years in five climatic areas of Alberta. Of the lines recommended, 23 varieties of field pea and 6 varieties of faba bean have been commercialized for broad scale industry production. In addition there were 8 field pea and faba bean lines tested and commercialized through private company contracts for niche market use.

Including all the new varieties registered as a result of this project, Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) has reported there were 188,000 acres insured for production across Alberta in 2017.  It has been established throughout the industry that only 75% of acres planted are insured. Given that, the number of acres actually grown representing these new varieties is estimated to be over 250,000. Prior to the initiation of this project none of those varieties were available. The result is a quarter of a million acres of field pea and faba bean being replaced with better varieties that are higher yielding, lodge less and are of better quality. This improvement in genetics has had a significant effect on the productivity of these crops, greatly improved the rotation of crops on Alberta farms and increased the value of the pulse industry