Statistics Canada this morning said its 2011 all wheat crop was up from 2010 at 25.261 million metric tons (MMT) -- coming in above traders’ expectations. Meanwhile, the canola hit a new record of 14.165 MMT. In its third production report of the year, the agency reports a decline in the size of the corn and soybean crops.
“In the West, farmers reported that hot, sunny weather during the summer helped them recover from a damp and late spring in certain areas. Similarly, weather patterns in the East returned to normal after a particularly wet spring, especially in Quebec’s Richelieu river valley,” states Stats Canada.
| 2009 (final) | 2010 (final) | November 2011 (final) | 2009 to 2010 | 2010 to November 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| thousands of tonnes | % change | ||||
| Total wheat | 26 848 | 23 167 | 25 261 | -13.7 | 9.0 |
| Spring wheat | 18 452 | 17 485 | 18 031 | -5.2 | 3.1 |
| Durum wheat | 5 400 | 3 025 | 4 172 | -44.0 | 37.9 |
| Winter wheat | 2 996 | 2 657 | 3 058 | -11.3 | 15.1 |
| Canola | 12 889 | 12 773 | 14 165 | -0.9 | 10.9 |
| Corn for grain | 9 561 | 11 715 | 10 689 | 22.5 | -8.8 |
| Barley | 9 517 | 7 605 | 7 756 | -20.1 | 2.0 |
| Soybeans | 3 507 | 4 345 | 4 246 | 23.9 | -2.3 |
| Oats | 2 906 | 2 480 | 2 997 | -14.7 | 20.9 |
| Dry field peas | 3 379 | 3 018 | 2 116 | -10.7 | -29.9 |
| Flaxseed | 930 | 423 | 368 | -54.5 | -12.9 |
| Fall rye | 281 | 232 | 195 | -17.1 | -16.2 |
| Total dry beans | 224 | 254 | 145 | 13.4 | -43.0 |
Prairie canola production hits record high
Prairie farmers reported that canola production increased 10.7% from 2010 to a record 14.0 MMT. This was the result of a 9.1% increase in harvested acres to a high of 18.3 million acres, and a 1.5% increase in average yield.
Canola production reached new highs in both Alberta (5.3 MMT) and Saskatchewan (7.0 MMT), driven by record levels of harvested acres in both provinces and a record yield in Alberta.
On the other hand, canola production declined 25.3% in Manitoba, where farmers were unable to recover from early season flooding. This was the province’s second consecutive decline in canola production.
Total wheat production increases
Nationally, total wheat production was up 9.0% or 2.1 MMT from 2010 to 25.3 MMT. Reported yield was 44.0 bushels per acre, up 5.5% from 2010.
Farmers reported record yields for wheat in both Alberta (49.1 bushels per acre) and Saskatchewan (38.6 bushels per acre). This drove total production up 9.0% to 8.9 million tonnes in Alberta and up 20.5% to 11.5 million tonnes in Saskatchewan.
A significant contributor to the overall production increase was durum wheat. Durum wheat production increased 36.4% in Saskatchewan to 3.6 MMT and 47.1% in Alberta to 620,500 metric tons (MT). These increases followed substantial declines from 2009 to 2010.
Decline in soybeans and corn
Soybean production in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba declined from record levels in 2010, primarily the result of lower yields. This occurred despite record harvested areas in both Manitoba and Quebec.
Ontario soybean production amounted to 3.0 million tonnes, a decline of 2.7% or 81,600 MT from the all-time high set in 2010. The decrease was the result of a 2.4% decline in yield to 44.9 bushels per acre.
In Quebec, soybean production declined 0.9% to 800,000 MT despite a record harvested area of 738 800 acres. The drop was the result of a 13.5% decline in average yield to 39.8 bushels per acre, compared with the record high of 46.0 bushels in 2010.
In Manitoba, farmers reported a record harvested area of soybeans for 2011. However, lower yields had an impact on production, which fell 5.0% to 413,700 MT.
With respect to corn for grain, Ontario production was down 6.6% or 508 100 tonnes from 2010 to 7.2 MMT. Quebec production was down 14.1% or 480,000 MT from 2010 to 2.9 MMT.
