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=Green field peas (Pisum sativum L.)=

Field peas (Pisum sativum L.) are a legume pulse crop that is grown in many regions They are an excellent source of livestock feed with the leaves and stems being fed as hay and the peas being fed as a grain ration. Since they are a cool season crop they are fairly hardy and are able to withstand small amounts of cold, heat and drought stress . Additionally, they are an annual vine usually planted in the early spring .  As a vine, the pea plant has the ability to climb if given the means.

Field preparation
There are several steps required to ensure the best possible yield from a crop. The first step is to determine when it is the best time to plant. Field peas prefer well drained soil that is not excessively packed.  If there are a considerable number of large stones in the field, they should be removed so they do not hinder growth.  Once the average temperature of the soil is around five degrees Celsius, the seeds can be safely planted and can withstand a slight frost if it occurs.  However, just before planting a fungicide and inoculants should be applied to help avoid disease and improve nitrogen fixing of the pea plant.  A common inoculate used is the rhizobium bacteria which promotes the formation of nodules on the pea root and aids in nitrogen fixation.

Fertilization
Fertilization is not always necessary but it does improve the overall quality of the plant. In order to develop extensive root systems and better seedlings, field peas require phosphorus. This is also important for nitrogen fixing and should be applied at a maximum rate of 17 kg/ha with a 2.5 cm spread and 15-18 cm between rows.  In order to improve yields and overall crop performance, fertilizer application should be considered.

Weed control
A major problem in many agricultural productions is the control of weeds. Field peas are not very competitive against weeds and therefore need some help. There are many methods that can be used to prevent weeds, including chemical and mechanical control. One method is crop rotation which works well with field peas when a competitive cereal crop is planted the year prior to the peas. With the cereal crop, the weeds cannot establish themselves as well resulting in fewer weeds the following year. Similarly, if the field peas are planted early enough and at a reasonable density they will stand a better chance of crowding out weeds. Glyphosate can be sprayed before the weeds emerge as a burn-off treatment and can also be sprayed before harvested if the peas are not being used as seed.  For mechanical weed control there is rod-weeding, tillage, and harrowing. Rod-weeding can be done shortly after planting and after tillage to control the growth of weeds. Before planting, tillage can be performed to encourage the growth of weeds which will be removed during rod-weeding.  Finally, harrowing can be done just before the peas emerge to control any new weeds.  The control of weeds is also important for improved crop production and quality.

Pest control
Another major concern with crops is insect pests which damage the plants and result in a poor yield. Many of the pests that target field peas are not severe enough to cause any significant loss. The pea aphid is a long, green insect that weakens the stem by feeding on the sap.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  These aphids are also hosts for viruses that can be transmitted the plant and cause further damage.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  However, insecticide should only be applied if there are more than ten aphids per plant and after flowering.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  Pea weevils can also cause serious damage through the destruction of leaves and the larvae that feed on the root nodules.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  In order to protect crops, fields should be monitored to ensure that insect pests do not become a serious problem.

Common diseases
A more prominent concern is diseases, which are more prevalent, and can result in significant economic loss. Field peas can be affected by many diseases which greatly reduce their yields.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture"> The most concerning disease is Mycosphaerella blight which causes the lower leaves to develop purplish-black spots.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  If the season is wet the disease is more likely to occur and is usually in the form of airborne spores.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  Although most new pea varieties are resistant to Powdery Mildew it can still be a problem.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  It occurs during a warm and dry season and causes white powdery areas to form first on the leaves and stem and then eventually the entire plant.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  Finally, there are two kinds of rot that can occur, Sclerotinia rot and Root rot.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  The former is more vigorous and is capable of living for up to 3-5 years with no registered fungicidal treatment.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  The latter is prevented through the treatment of the seed and causes damage to the roots of the plant.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  Overall, it is important to be vigilant in regards to monitoring your crop so no economic loss is experienced. It also prevents the diseases and pests from becoming a serious problem and affecting other crops as well.

Harvesting
Harvesting peas is similar to many other crops except it does require a little more care. Peas that are harvested for feed do not need to be at the same standards as those for the food market.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture"> The crop can be either swathed or combined depending on the stage of maturity, but both machine headers need to have vine lifters.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  The best time of day to harvest the peas is when it is humid as it lessens the chance of the pods cracking.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  Following the harvest of the peas the residue can be used as hay or straw.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  Following good harvest practices ensures that waste of seed does not occur.

Storage
Storage of peas is important to prevent spoilage and needs to be completed properly to avoid heating. They are typically stored in silos or bins with a temperature at or below fifteen degrees Celsius and sixteen percent moisture.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture"> If a heater is needed for further drying then the maximum temperature that can be reached while still remaining safe is forty-five degrees Celsius.<ref name= "Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture">  Proper care is necessary to ensure that heating does not occur which could start a fire and destroy the crop and property. If all of the above mentioned steps are followed a reasonable to excellent crop yield should be expected, permitting that the weather is also favourable.

Nutrition Information
Field peas are a nutritious source of livestock feed with high amounts of energy and protein. Starch is the main source of energy available from the peas which contributes to animal wellbeing. The peas can be ground into a grain and integrated into the feed ration as a mix with other grains.<ref name= "Anderson et al. 2007"> After the peas have been harvested the remainder of the plant can be used as hay which is a reliable feed source in the winter when other food is scarce. . Refer to Table 1 for a summary of the important nutrient contents of field peas.

Table 1: Nutrients in field peas.<ref name= "Anderson et al. 2007">

Canadian Companies
There are several companies in Canada that sell and process field pea seeds with the major growing regions being Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The first company is DL Seeds located in Morden, Manitoba where they develop peas that are sold at FP Genetics. Trawin Seeds, a company located in Melfort, Saskatchewan produces high quality seed which is sold throughout Canada and United States. They currently have 9 full-time employees and hire close to 30 seasonal workers throughout the year. They also have a processing facility that prepares the product for shipment in bags ranging from 25kg to 1000kg. A buyer can also purchase seed that has not been processed at $20/25kg and $8/25kg for high and low quality respectivel.<ref name= "Klempnauer, 2014"> Refer to table 2 for the contact information for the Canadian companies. The Saskatchewan Pulse Growers website (www.saskpulse.com) is a helpful resource for information on other companies and the pulse industry in Canada.

Table 2: Contact information for Canadian companies.

Benefits to Canada
There are many benefits that could be experienced by Canada if a new trade agreement were created with Nepal. Countries that export have been proven to be more productive than countries that do not due to global competition. This competition promotes incentive to increase efficiency within the company.<ref name= "Baldwin and Gu, 2004"> This would most likely have a greater effect on smaller companies who are not as prominent on the global market. With an increase in production there would be a need for more employees to meet the high demand. With an increase in demand for the peas there would probably need to be a higher acreage planted. This would hopefully benefit the agricultural industry through the increase in production. Established farmers could enter a new crop into rotation, hopefully resulting in more income. This could also open doors for people who are looking to become involved in farming but could not enter the market in the past.