Study: The soybean, a Canadian agricultural success story

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Since successful breeding efforts in the 1970s made it possible to grow soybeans beyond southern Ontario, soybean area has increased eightfold, and this crop has become an economic success for farmers. Today's inaugural release from the 2006 edition of Canadian Agriculture at a Glance reviews the progress of this crop.

The online analytical article, "The soybean, agriculture's jack-of-all-trades, gains ground across Canada", is the first in a series that will eventually appear in the 2006 print edition of Canadian Agriculture at a Glance. Statistics Canada publishes Canadian Agriculture at a Glance every five years to showcase Census of Agriculture data. When the 2006 print publication is released in 2009, it will contain more than 30 analytical articles.

Farmers reported to the 2006 Census of Agriculture that they grew soybeans on just over 1.2 million hectares, a nearly eightfold increase since 1976. That was the year that varieties were introduced that could perform well in Canada's shorter-season growing areas. Until then, climate restricted soybeans primarily to southern Ontario.

In spite of a 4.1% drop in area between the 2001 and 2006 Censuses of Agriculture, Ontario was still by far the leader in soybean production in 2006, accounting for nearly three-quarters (73%) of Canada's soybean area, just over 872,400 hectares. Quebec placed second in terms of planted area, with 178,161 hectares.

However, it was the growth in soybean area between 2001 and 2006 in the Prairie Provinces that was particularly notable, according to today's report. Manitoba's soybean area increased sevenfold to just over 141,800 hectares, while Saskatchewan's increased sixfold to just over 2,200 hectares. Area in Alberta was about half that in Saskatchewan.

Although soybeans remain far behind canola and wheat as Canada's top cash field crop, in Ontario they were the most valuable field crop in 2006, generating $547 million and eclipsing the receipts from corn ($449 million) and wheat ($275 million).

Nationally, farmers' cash receipts from canola amounted to $2.5 billion in 2006, about 3.5 times the $680 million soybean crop. In comparison, farm cash receipts for wheat (excluding durum) amounted to $1.8 billion, potatoes, $899 million, and corn, $753 million.

The report chronicles the multitude of uses driving the demand for this versatile crop, from livestock feed to food-grade oils and soy foods such as soy milk, tofu and natto. It also highlights the crop's industrial uses, from plastics, fibres, lubricants and chemicals to biodiesel. Part of the Canadian soybean breeding program has focused on premium-priced beans tailored for the human food market.

In spite of placing seventh in world soybean production, Canada is a vigorous participant in soybean trade. Of the estimated 3.5 million tonnes of soybeans grown in Canada in the 2006 crop year, over 40%, or 1.5 million tonnes, were exported.

Japan led the list of overseas buyers in 2006, importing $138 million in Canadian soybeans. Malaysia was a distant second ($52 million), followed by the Netherlands ($49 million) and Iran ($43 million).

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3438.

The analytical article, "The soybean, agriculture's jack-of-all-trades, is gaining ground across Canada" (96-325-XWE, free), part of the 2006 edition of Canadian Agriculture at a Glance, is now available from the Publications module of our website.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods, or data quality of this release, contact Erik Dorff (613-951-2818), Agriculture Division.

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