Seeding Chickpeas: A Producer's Perspective

Mike Kirk

Climax, SK

Thank you for the opportunity to address this direct seeding conference. I have enjoyed the thoughts and ideas expressed by all.

I farm in the southwest part of the province, deep in the corner, in an area referred to as the dry south where nothing grows and drought is always a concern. It is truly a concern but we have had interesting times of late, say the last ten years. My wife is an active partner along with three sons. I have grown chickpeas for six crops beginning with Tyson desi and five years of Sanford kabuli variety. I must add that in those years I have learned a lot. Thus, my topic "Seeding Chickpeas: A Grower's Perspective."

• Two questions I asked myself before I attempted to grow chickpeas were:
  1. Will they grow under my environmental conditions???
  2. Will they bring Profit to my farming operation????

The answers to these questions were a resounding Yes. They are droughty plants grown in some of the driest areas of the world. Chickpeas are a pulse crop so they will re-crop in a rotation and they have brought profit to my farm without a shred of doubt.

For me, chickpea production has boiled down to a checklist. A list that you have to make sure that you are right about and I want to share that with you.

Seeding

1. 1. Seed selection and seed treatments - Apron fl, Vitaflo, Crown or a combination.
   2. Seed rate - depends on seed size. You need so many seeds per square meter or square yard, etc.
   3. Seed date - as soon as ground temp hits 8⁰ C and is getting warmer.
   4. Seed depth - into moisture not just to moisture, with good packing.

Weed Control

1. 1. Control of weeds in crop - chickpeas are really non-competitive, so a pre-emergent product is needed.
   2. pre-plant weed control needed

Disease Issues

1. 1. This is a very huge area of concern with this crop. Crop monitoring is critical.

Harvesting Concerns

1. Combine modifications - desi, kabuli, B90.

2. Cutter bar problems- the type of reel you choose could be important.

3. Good to see the odd pod in the grain tank.

Storage

1. 1. Need aeration - even though they test dry, be careful.

Marketing

1. 1. Canadian Grain Commission standards.
   2. Kabuli marketing - you need to know what sizes and the percentages.
   3. Seed market - hard to find new seed disease free.

I see an opportunity on my farm with the chickpeas for a crop in the future. I don't feel current prices will be maintained but certainly still a great crop if you can grow it. My focus on the kabuli market is to encourage value added industry to do something more than size and bag for export. We are still handing off too much profit. There is opportunity to in Saskatchewan to add more profit to this crop. We simply have to identify what it is we can do and get at it!

I would like to thank you for your time and attention this afternoon.