In addition, the expansion has resulted in increased employment opportunities in Western Canada through the expansion of the handling, marketing and processing facilities. This issue of the Bi-weekly Bulletin examines the situation and outlook for dry peas. They were an important crop in Eastern Canada during the period 1850-1950, with as much as 300,000 hectares seeded annually. The crop was gradually replaced by soybeans and had largely disappeared in Eastern Canada by the 1970s. In Western Canada, production started during the 1930s in Manitoba, but grew slowly until the 1990s when most of the production shifted to Saskatchewan.
Dry peas are a cool season crop with a restricted root system.
They cannot tolerate hot weather or drought stress during flowering. Peas take about 90-105 days to reach maturity, depending on the variety grown. The crop is best suited to the black soil zone, with well drained, clay loam soils being ideal for dry pea production. However, peas have performed well in all areas of the Prairies, especially in summers with cool and moist conditions. Poorly drained, cold soils can favour the development of seedling diseases and root rots.