Pro Farmer Editors
Statistics Canada has released their September crop production report. Farmers,
in mid-harvest, reported they expect to produce 10.9 million metric tons of
canola, exceeding the previous record of 9.5 million tons produced in 2007.
Wheat excluding durum production is reported to be up 35.6% over 2007. In Eastern
Canada, Quebec farmers anticipate a record production of 615 000 tons of soybeans.
At the time of the September Farm Survey, crop maturity and the fall harvest
in the West were delayed by cool conditions and excess moisture. Harvest conditions
were most advanced in southern regions but they improved considerably in most
areas after the survey had taken place.
Canola production up
Canola production is expected to rise to 10.9 million tons, 1.4 million tons
above the previous high of 9.5 million tons reported in 2007. This exceeds the
pre-harvest July estimate by 495 000 tons Production should increase mainly
as a result of an above-average yield of 30.6 bushels per acre.
On the Prairies, where 99% of canola is grown, farmers expect to exceed the
previous record production in each province. The mid-harvest yields reported
in the September survey showed an improvement over the pre-harvest yields
from the July survey in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Wheat excluding durum production expected to exceed five-year average
Farmers expect to harvest 22.2 million tons of wheat excluding durum, up 35.6%
from 16.4 million tons in 2007 and easily exceeding the previous five-year average
(2003 to 2007) production of 19.4 million tons A 15.0% increase in harvested
area and a yield of 42.8 bushels per acre account for this increase.
Production in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta is expected to increase
over 2007, exceeding their previous five-year provincial averages.
Mid-harvest yields showed improvement in all Prairie provinces compared with
the pre-harvest yields reported in July.
|
September production estimates
|
| Crop |
2007 |
July 2008 |
September 2008 |
2007 to September 2008 |
| |
Actual |
Expected |
|
| |
thousands of metric tons |
% change |
| Total wheat |
20 054
|
25 426
|
27 266
|
36.0
|
| Wheat excluding durum |
16 373
|
20 516
|
22 195
|
35.6
|
| Durum wheat |
3 681
|
4 910
|
5 070
|
37.7
|
| Barley |
10 984
|
10 876
|
11 219
|
2.1
|
| Canola |
9 529
|
10 375
|
10 870
|
14.1
|
| Grain corn |
11 649
|
9 892
|
9 893
|
-15.1
|
| Oats |
4 696
|
4 061
|
4 321
|
-8.0
|
| Dry field peas |
2 935
|
3 272
|
3 527
|
20.2
|
| Soybeans |
2 696
|
3 167
|
3 240
|
20.2
|
| Flaxseed |
634
|
765
|
768
|
21.2
|
| Total dry beans |
277
|
281
|
266
|
-3.8
|
Soybean production expected to rise in the East
Total soybean production is expected to reach 3.2 million tons, just short
of the highest level of 3.5 million tons produced in 2006. Production should
rise in both Quebec and Ontario, where 90% of soybeans are grown.
Production in Quebec is anticipated to increase 30.3% to 615 000 tons, a
value exceeding the previous high of 535 000 tons set in 2006. The production
increase is the result of a 31.6% rise in harvested area from 2007.
Soybean production in Ontario is expected to rise to 2.3 million tons, up 16.3%
from 2007, due to a yield increase. Farmers reported a yield of 40.8 bushels
per acre, up 7.8 bushels per acre over 2007.
