Lentils flowering in the Strathalbyn district south-east of Adelaide. Photo: James Stacey

AUSTRALIA’S winter-crop harvest has kicked off in recent days with chickpeas in Central Queensland, and recent rain has bolstered production prospects for chickpeas in key northern New South Wales growing areas.

Production prospects for faba beans and lentils are consolidating, based on consecutive rains for South Australia and Victoria, and a mild winter which officially ends today.

On the export front, modest demand and measured selling by growers has seen mixed and moderate price movements over the past month for chickpeas, faba beans and lentils.

The market is now watching for ABARES’ quarterly revision of production forecasts due out tomorrow in the Australian Crop Report.

All prices are in Australian dollars per tonne unless stated otherwise.

Chickpeas

Chickpeas delivered up-country packer are trading at around $740/t, up $20/t on late July values, and $810/t delivered Brisbane port, as harvest kicks off in Central Queensland.

The lift is due to Australian growers selling modest amounts, and expectations of smaller crop this year than last, based on dry conditions in southern Qld and northern New South Wales.

In NSW, a very dry winter closed out with 30-40mm of rain in key growing areas including Moree, Mungindi and Narrabri.

AMPS Moree-based agronomist Tony Lockrey said recent rain in north-west NSW was most welcome, and has consolidated yield prospects for chickpeas, planted into fallow, at around 2t/ha.

Mr Lockrey said double-cropped chickpeas which were planted later, in the second half of June, can now be expected to yield 1t/ha at least, and could weigh in at 1.5t/ha.

“Double-cropped ones aren’t flowering yet, but the ones into fallow have started; they’ll all be flowering in two weeks.”

“That rain in NSW last week came at a really good time to generate further flowering and podding, and with temperatures being mild, that is are absolutely helping the yield,” broker Peter Wilson said.

“The market has rallied offshore, but it is largely because of a lack of farmer selling,” Mr Wilson said.

That extends to the Canadian farmer, who is concentrating on selling wheat and canola into firming markets off the header.

Canada is currently harvesting yellow peas, while China is a volume buyer of yellow peas being harvested in Russia.

Bulk exports of Australian chickpeas have ticked away in the closing months of the marketing year, with Pakistan believed to be the destination.

“We’re not seeing the Indian market driving this.”

Faba beans

Faba beans have traded sideways in the past month at A$440-$450/t delivered in Vic’s Western District, and up to $425/t delivered port.

Bulk business into Egypt on current crop has helped to support values, as has demand from the stockfeed sector, where faba beans are more attractively priced than lupins at around $580-$590/t.

The Vic and SA faba bean crop has high yield potential thanks to an early start and the kindest of growing seasons.

Reid Stockfeed commodity manager Justin Fay said growers have been willing sellers throughout the year, wherever the market.

“Lupins grow well in Mallee, but they’re difficult to grow further south, and faba beans’ agronomic return seems to be more desirable for the grower.”

Reid Stockfeeds head nutritionist Hugh Archibald said faba beans for finished feed are in demand from the lamb market.

“Clients are doing contracts for their summer season, and we will see feed demand go up before we get into November and December,” Mr Archibald said.

“Beans do pencil in because they bring in starch.”

“People are investing in their infrastructure for lambs; the leading producers know where their margin  is, and they’re buying finished feed to go with local inputs.”

Those mixing their own lamb feed are also using fabas, either bought in, or stored on farm, in combination with barley.

ABARES on June 2 forecast Australia’s 2026-27 faba bean crop at 875,000t from 443,000ha versus the 441,000ha planting that produced a record 1.02Mt in 2025-26.

Lentils

Lentils for prompt delivery Wimmera packer are trading at around $550-$560/t, down around $10/t on late July values.

The SA and Vic lentil crop is still piling on yield potential, and ETG Horsham-based trader Todd Krahe said some farmers are emptying silos to make room for “a big crop coming.”

He said forward sales have started in SA, but are yet to start in Vic.

Mr Krahe concurs with Mr Wilson’s take that Canadian growers are prioritising cereals and canola over pulses, but he does expect lentil selling from the Prairie farmer to pick up in the next week or two.

“They’re preferring to sell other crops, but they can’t keep tipping [lentils] in the same silo,” Mr Krahe said.

Logistics are expected to keep a lid on new-crop supply, as growers are expected to prioritise canola and cereals for delivery off the header during the bumper harvest.

ABARES on June 2 forecast Australia’s 2026-27 lentil crop and area at 2.21Mt from 1.23Mha to break the 2025-26 records of 2.15Mt from 1.2Mha.

Trade sources are expecting an upward revision of the production figure.

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