Quality of western Canadian lentils 2025

Growing and harvesting conditions

Figure 1 and Figure 2 show the monthly mean temperature differences from normal in the Prairie region during the 2025 growing season (June and July). Figure 3 shows the total precipitation in the Prairie region from April 1 to October 31, 2025.

Source

Map compiled using the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Map Archive.

Source

Map compiled using the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Map Archive.

Source

Map compiled using the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Map Archive.

In Alberta, seeding started in early May and was completed by early June. Warm temperatures advanced plant growth, but cool temperatures later in the season delayed crop maturity in northern areas and the Peace region (Figure 1 and Figure 2). Rainfall was also limited throughout the growing season in these areas (Figure 3). Overall, crop growing conditions were below the 5-year-average in the Peace region but were above average for other areas. The lentil harvest began in early August and was completed by mid-September under good conditions.

In Saskatchewan, seeding started between late April and early May and was completed by mid-June. Conditions were dry early in the growing season, but later in the season timely rains helped crops develop. The lentil harvest began in late July and early August and was finished by early October. Due to low moisture levels (Figure 3) and agronomic challenges, crop yields in the southwest and northwest were lower than average. In other areas, yields were average to above average. Many lentils were in the top two grades.

Production

Lentil production in 2025 was estimated to be 3.4 million tonnes, which is 38.2 % higher than in 2024 and 40.6% higher than the 10-year average of 2.4 million tonnes (Table 1). The higher production is due to a 34.3% increase in yield and a 2.9% increase in harvested area compared to 2024. Saskatchewan continues to dominate lentil production in western Canada, accounting for 86.2% of production, while Alberta accounts for 13.8%.

Harvest samples

Samples were submitted to the Canadian Grain Commission’s Harvest Sample Program by lentil producers and grain companies across western Canada (Figure 4). The program received 382 lentil samples, consisting of 222 green lentil samples and 160 red lentil samples.

All samples were graded and analyzed for protein content and seed size distribution. Seed size (small, medium and large) was determined using image analysis. Composites prepared for green lentils (No. 1 and No. 2 Canada combined) were based on seed size and crop region. Composites prepared for red lentils (No. 1 and No. 2 Canada combined) were based on crop region and variety.

The composite samples were tested for:

• moisture content
• protein content
• starch content
• total dietary fiber content
• crude fat content
• ash content
• mineral content
• 100-seed weight
• water absorption per gram of seed

The dehulling quality characteristics of red lentils were also evaluated.

The reported number of samples by grade does not necessarily represent the actual distribution of grades across western Canada.

Protein content

The protein content for green lentils (Table 2) ranged from 20.8% to 29.6% and for red lentils (Table 3) it ranged from 24.2% to 29.4%. The mean protein content was lower for green lentils (26.0%) and red lentils (26.9%) compared to 2024. The mean protein content for green and red lentils combined was lower than the 10-year mean of 27.0% (Figure 5). Table 4 and Table 5 contain the mean protein and starch values for green and red lentils, respectively, according to the applicable crop region (Figure 6).

Graph data

Mean protein content

Crop year	Protein content (%, dry basis)
2015	25.9
2016	27.1
2017	25.6
2018	26.5
2019	27.2
2020	27.7
2021	27.5
2022	27.5
2023	27.5
2024	27.7
2025	26.4
10-year mean (2015-2024)	27.0

Description

Manitoba crop regions: 1 (Southwest Manitoba), 2 (Northwest Manitoba), and 3 (Eastern Manitoba); Saskatchewan crop regions: 4 (Southeast Saskatchewan), 5 (Southwest Saskatchewan), 6 (Northeast Saskatchewan), and 7 (Northwest Saskatchewan); Alberta crop regions: 8 (Southern Alberta), 9 (Central Alberta), and 10 (Northern Alberta).

Green lentils

Table 6 contains the 2025 quality data for green lentil composites according to seed size. Compared to 2024, small green lentils were lower in protein (26.3%) and total dietary fiber (13.0%) but higher in crude fat (0.83%) starch (45.2%). Large green lentils showed similar trends in protein (26.0%), starch (45.8%), total dietary fiber (12.7%) and crude fat (0.96%) when compared to 2024. The values for ash content in small and large green lentils were similar to those in 2024.

Potassium was the most abundant macroelement present in green lentils, followed by phosphorus, magnesium and calcium. Among the microelements, iron was the most abundant, followed by zinc, manganese and copper. Compared to 2024, calcium and manganese increased while phosphorus and zinc decreased in small and large green lentils. Iron also decreased in large green lentils in 2025.

For small green lentils, the 100-seed weight was greater and the water absorption per gram of seeds was lower than in 2024. For large green lentils, the 100-seed weight was greater than in 2024, but the seed water absorption had a similar value.

Image analysis was used to determine the seed size distribution of green lentils (Table 7). The reported results may differ from those obtained by conventional sieving techniques. For small green lentils, 68.4% were 4.5 millimetres (mm) or larger in diameter, which is higher than in 2024 (24.6%). For large green lentils, 72.6% were 6.0 mm or more in diameter, which is higher than 2024 (58.9%).

Red lentils

Table 8 contains the 2025 quality data for red lentils. Compared to 2024, red lentils were lower in protein (27.0%), total dietary fiber (14.4%) and crude fat (0.67%) but similar in starch (44.5%). Ash content showed little change from 2024. The calcium, iron and manganese contents of red lentils were higher, while other elements were lower than in 2024. The 100-seed weight (3.8 grams per 100 seeds) was higher, but the water absorption (0.89 grams water per gram of seeds) was lower than in 2024.

Compared to 2024, the dehulling efficiency (76.1%) was lower but the percentages of powder (5.0%), un-dehulled whole seeds (2.9%) and broken seeds (3.3%) were higher (Table 8). The colour of dehulled red lentils was measured using a Hunterlab LabScan XE spectrocolorimeter with the CIE L*, a* and b* colour scale. Whole red lentils and splits had a higher brightness (L*) value but lower redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) values than in 2024. A higher portion of red lentils (38.6%) were 5.0 mm or greater in diameter compared to 2024 (26.8%) (Table 9).

Acknowledgements

The Grain Research Laboratory acknowledges the cooperation of western Canadian pulse processors, producers and grain companies in supplying the samples of newly harvested lentils. We also are grateful to the following groups within the Canadian Grain Commission: Industry Services for assistance with grading samples; the Pulse Research Program staff for technical assistance; the staff of the trace elements unit for mineral analysis; and Digital and Creative Communications for their assistance in the publication of this document.