Pulse of the Prairies

Hosted by Saskatchewan Pulse Growers

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Jul 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Saskatchewan Pulse Growers' monthly podcast, Pulse of the Prairies, where each month we tackle the topics that are important to pulse crop farmers including market opportunities for your crop, market access and trade policy developments, innovative agronomic approaches, transportation for Canadian crops, and a whole lot more.

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September 4, 202629 min

Pulse Market Update with Chuck Penner

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 .

July 3, 202627 min

Pulse Market Update with Marlene Boersch

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.

June 17, 202618 min

Keep It Clean: Protecting Export Markets One Decision at a Time

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 Subscribe to Keep it Clean's email newsletter

June 1, 202621 min

Hear From Current SPG Board Members on Getting Involved

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.

April 20, 202622 min

From tariffs to partnership: Canada and India's evolving pulse relationship

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.

March 17, 202631 min

Pulse Market Update with Chuck Penner

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.

January 14, 202637 min

2025 Pulse Promoter

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.

December 11, 202536 min

GGC's Advocacy Work for Saskatchewan Growers

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.

December 8, 20258 min

2026 Winter Event Roundup

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]

December 2, 202534 min

Seed Growers Discuss New Pea and Lentil Varieties for 2026

In this episode, SPG's Seed Program Manager Laurie Friesen chats with Justin Ritco from Condie Seeds and Thomas Winny from Winny Seeds. They discuss exciting new pea and lentil varieties for the 2026 growing season including AAC Beyond, AAC Julius, CDC Monarch, CDC 6928, CDC Lima, and a preview of CDC 6964. Learn about yield advantages, disease resistance packages, and how these varieties fit into your crop rotation and agronomic planning.