News > Day Two > Finding the limit with lentils
What's the limit of where you can successfully grow lentils in Alberta? That's one of the big questions Alberta Pulse Growers (APG) hope field trials will begin to answer in 2010, according to Tammy Jones.

Pulse grower Don Shepert, who farms at St. Brides in northeastern Alberta, talks with Tammy Jones about the potential for lentils. — Lee Hart photo

With lentil prices running in the 35-38 cents per pound range, there has been a lot of interest among pulse crop producers about the potential to grown lentils, says Jones, APG's grower relations and communications director.

"We have been fielding a lot of calls from growers wanting more information on lentils," says Jones during an interview at Farm Tech 2010 in Edmonton.

"It has been a limited crop in Alberta at this point, primarily produced in the southeast corner of the province, but with newer varieties there may be opportunities to expand the area as well."

APG is looking to establish field trials, particularly for red lentils, in non-traditional areas ranging from Oyen (southeast) and Provost (east-central) up to St. Paul in the province's northeast.

With improved crop protection systems such as Clearfield lentils now available, weed control may not be as much of an issue. Jones also notes the crop is best suited in areas where there is little or no rainfall in August to stop growth of the indeterminate crop.

Another option, of course, is to desiccate the crop in late summer, and then let it mature.

"The higher prices for lentils right now (are) what is driving the interest, but it is a question worth answering, and we won't really know until we try," she says.

-- Lee Hart is a field editor with Grainews in Calgary.