The market for peas (and pulses generally) can be quite volatile and is heavily influenced by rainfall. Years with high rainfall typically produce solid yields while drier years can dramatically reduce yield and revenue. Moreover, the monsoon season is also a factor for Australian exporters as a poor monsoon season can reduce the output of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, all major growers of peas.
Australia is the seventh largest producer of peas (339 kt) in the world.
Australia’s total production of pulses increased by 140% by volume between 2018–19 and 2022–23 to reach 4.4 million tonnes (ABARES/ABS 2023). However, the 2023–24 crop is likely to decrease due to drier conditions.
Updated daily, price in US Cents/Bushel.
Peas are the green seed pods or small spheres inside the pod of the pea plant (Pisum sativum). While often eaten as a vegetable, botanically, the pod is a fruit since it comes from a flower and contains seeds. The whole pods and the seeds inside them are eaten of some varieties, such as snow and snap peas. For garden peas (also called sweet peas), the seeds are removed from the pod, which is discarded.
Peas are a type of legume native to the Middle East, specifically to the area around what is now Turkey and Iraq.
From the Middle East, the legume spread rapidly to Europe. These early forms of peas, now called field peas, were probably cultivated to be eaten like a legume (that is, dried).
The farming of wild pea plants probably began at the very beginning of agriculture itself. Records show carbonized pea remains in Neolithic archaeological sites in Turkey and Iraq (around 7,000 to 6,000 BCE).
Peas are grown in most states of Australia, with the largest volume of production occurring in Victoria and Queensland. The major production areas are North-West Tasmania; Bundaberg and the Lockyer Valley in Queensland; the Goulburn Valley in Victoria; and the Perth region in Western Australia.
Australia is expected to produce 138,860 metric tons of peas by 2026, down 5.3% from 2021. This is a decrease of 14.4% compared to figures from 1966.
Peas are a natural cool-climate crop so seeds are best sown in winter or early spring, ensuring that frosts are avoided.
Peas grow best in areas with full sun and deep, well-draining, organic soils with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0. Add horticultural limestone to ‘sweeten’ acidic soils before planting. Sow seed in double rows spaced 25 cm apart with the seed 6.5 cm apart within the row and 1.25 – 2.5 cm deep. Space each set of double rows 75 cm apart.
Peas can also be sown in blocks 120 cm square with the seeds spaced 6.5 cm apart within the block. Sow successive crops 10 – 14 days apart for extended harvests.
Keep the soil evenly moist during the germination period or the emergence of the plant will be spotty. You can stake or support row-planted bush varieties for easier picking. Climbing varieties need to be supported. Avoid the use of high-nitrogen fertilisers.
If you’d like to learn more about other pulses or grains explore other pages on this site or you can read our articles.
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