It seems an age ago now, but back at winter crop planting time, there were all sorts of decisions being made around rising fertiliser and energy costs, and winter crop plantings. The data from the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) shows us that the move to pulses could have been overstated.
When energy costs rocketed and nitrogen became scarce in March there was a theory that this would push winter croppers into pulses. Pulse crops tend to have a lower nitrogen requirement and can put nitrogen into the soil for the following crop.
Figure 1 shows that for east coast croppers the incentive wasn’t strong enough to see faba bean or lentil plantings push higher. Lentils, the nations largest pulse crop, has taken a pause from it’s seven-year run of increasing plantings.
Victoria and South Australia dominate lentil plantings, and both are relatively steady this year, with total lentil plantings up 2%. With yields forecast to be steady, we get a marginal rise in total production.
The dry autumn in northern NSW and southern Queensland has seen chickpea plantings dive 35%. NSW was the main driver, and with lower yields expected, chickpea production is forecast to be down 50%.
In WA they did show more of a move to lupins. Lupin plantings are up 23% nationally, and 25% in WA, where 82% of the crop is planted. Lupin yields are forecast to average 1.78t/ha, down from 2.05t, but production is still expected to reach a record.
Faba bean plantings are forecast to hit a new record, but only by 2,000ha. Southern states resisted the urge to plant more beans, but the crop has taken plenty of ground in recent years. Weakening yields are forecast to see faba bean production ease.
The heavy decline in chickpea plantings will see total pulse production fall 16.6% from the record highs of 2025-26, but the 5.6 million tonnes will still be the second largest on record.
What does it mean?
The continued strong production of pulses in the south and west is good for livestock producers who like to use the high protein feedstuffs. Pulse prices are generally governed by export prices, but the strong production of the last two years has seen pulses work into feed rations.
Key Points
- Pulse plantings are stronger in WA, but well down in the east due to the season.
- Southern pulse production is forecast to remain strong.
- Pulse prices are set by export markets, but strong supply will likely see pulses work into feed rations.
Click on figure to expand
Click on figure to expand
Data sources: ABS, ABARES, Mecardo
