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Stocks of grains and oilseeds in the Prairie provinces were down as of December 31, 2007, compared with the same date in 2006, but in Eastern Canada, stocks of corn for grain hit a record high.
Results from the December 31 survey of Canadian grain farmers and commercial grain holders show that on the Prairies, stock estimates for all major grains and oilseeds were down, except for oats. The largest declines occurred in wheat, canola and flaxseed.
In the East, farm stocks of corn for grain in Ontario and Quebec easily passed the previous records, the result of a record corn harvest in 2007. The previous record was set in Ontario in 2006 and in Quebec in 2005.
Soybean stocks fell to below the five-year average.
| Total stocks of major and special crops at December 31 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crop | 2006 | 2007 | Five-year average | 2006 to 2007 |
| thousands of tonnes | % change | |||
| Total wheat | 21,573 | 15,147 | 19,627 | -29.8 |
| Wheat excluding durum | 17,501 | 12,278 | 15,053 | -29.8 |
| Durum wheat | 4,072 | 2,870 | 4,574 | -29.5 |
| Corn for grain | 8,365 | 9,599 | 7,956 | 14.8 |
| Barley | 7,473 | 7,105 | 8,046 | -4.9 |
| Canola | 7,166 | 6,502 | 5,437 | -9.3 |
| Oats | 2,372 | 2,703 | 2,282 | 14.0 |
| Soybeans | 2,657 | 1,729 | 2,009 | -34.9 |
| Dry field peas | 1,561 | 1,460 | 1,586 | -6.5 |
| Flaxseed | 870 | 482 | 550 | -44.7 |
| Lentils | 700 | 365 | 566 | -47.9 |
| Canary seed | 232 | 191 | 227 | -17.7 |
| Chick peas | 103 | 175 | 115 | 69.9 |
| Mustard seed | 219 | 107 | 231 | -51.1 |
| Sunflower seed | 128 | 81 | 92 | -36.7 |
Wheat stocks tumble
Total stocks of wheat, which include on-farm and commercial stocks, were estimated at 15.1 million tonnes, a decrease of 29.8% or 6.4 million tonnes from December 2006. The decline was mainly the result of a 20.6% drop in wheat production in 2007.
Total inventories of wheat excluding durum tumbled 29.8% from December 2006 to 12.3 million tonnes. The five-year average is 15.1 million tonnes. The decline in commercial stocks was not as large, falling 14.4% to 3.1 million tonnes.
Farmers reported decreases of on-farm stocks in all three Prairie provinces. The largest decline was reported in Saskatchewan, where stocks were estimated at 3.4 million tonnes, down by 2.6 million tonnes. The five-year average is 4.9 million tonnes.
In addition, total stocks of durum wheat fell 29.5% to 2.9 million tonnes, well below the five-year average of 4.6 million tonnes. Despite the increase in durum production in 2007, the lower stock number in December was due to much lower carry-in stocks at the beginning of the 2007/2008 crop year. Commercial stocks of durum were more buoyant, slipping only 5.4% to 920,000 tonnes.
Durum producers in Saskatchewan and Alberta reported they held much less durum on their farms this year. In Saskatchewan, where the majority of Canadian durum wheat is grown, stocks fell 34.0% to 1.6 million tonnes.
Alberta farmers reported a 47.0% decrease to 400,000 tonnes.
General decline in feed grain stocks
Total stocks of barley as of December 31, 2007, declined a slight 4.9% to 7.1 million tonnes, a level well below the five-year average of 8.0 million tonnes. On the other hand, commercial stock levels were up 50.4% to 768,100 tonnes.
Note to readersThe December Farm Survey of 11,800 farm operators was conducted from January 2 to January 9, 2008. Farmers were asked to report the amounts of grain, oilseeds and special crops in on-farm storage. Commercial stocks of western major crops originate from the Canadian Grain Commission. Commercial stocks of corn and soybeans are estimated by a Statistics Canada sample of grain elevators in Eastern Canada. Commercial stocks of special crops originate from a survey of handlers and agents of special crops. |
On-farm stocks in all three Prairie provinces fell, with declines ranging from 3.8% in Alberta to 14.8% in Saskatchewan. Estimates in each province were below the five-year average.
Total stocks of field peas dropped 6.5% to 1.5 million tonnes, an estimate below the five-year average of 1.6 million tonnes. Commercial stocks rose 195,000 tonnes to 270,000 tonnes.
On-farm stocks of field peas declined in all three Prairie provinces to levels below the corresponding five-year average.
Total stocks of oats rose 14.0% to an estimated 2.7 million tonnes, well above the five-year average of 2.3 million tonnes. This increase mirrors a 21.9% gain in oat production in 2007. Commercial stocks were also strong, rising 9.4% to 255,000 tonnes.
Prairie on-farm stocks rose 17.8% to 2.2 million tonnes, just short of the record of 2.5 million tonnes set in 1999. Stock levels fell a slight 6.6% in Alberta to 560,000 tonnes, while levels rose in Saskatchewan and reached record territory in Manitoba.
Slight dip in canola stocks
Total stocks of canola were 6.5 million tonnes as of December 31, 2007, off 9.3% from December 2006, but still well above the five-year average of 5.4 million tonnes. Canola production in 2007 dropped by 2.8% compared with 2006; in part explaining the decrease.
Declines were reported for on-farm stocks in all three Prairie provinces. The largest decline was reported in Manitoba, where they fell 27.0% to 875,000 tonnes. Levels in Saskatchewan and Alberta were down, but remained above the five-year average.
Prairie on-farm stocks of canola were off 15.2% to 5.0 million tonnes. The five-year average is 4.5 million tonnes.
Commercial stocks rebounded from 2006, rising 18.8% to 1.5 million tonnes.
Flaxseed stocks well below five-year average
Total stocks of flaxseed fell 44.7% to 482,000 tonnes, well below the five-year average of 550,000 tonnes, the result of a 35.9% decrease in production in 2007.
Declines in provincial on-farm stocks as well as stocks in commercial operations were reported.
In Saskatchewan, where most Canadian flaxseed is grown, on-farm stocks fell by 45.0% to 275,000 tonnes.
Ontario and Quebec: Corn stocks hit a record high while soybeans fall
Stocks of corn for grain were a record, the result of record production in Ontario and Quebec in 2007. Total stocks rose 14.8% to 9.6 million tonnes, easily passing the record of 8.5 million tonnes set in 2005.
On-farm stocks of corn for grain set records in both Ontario and Quebec. Ontario stocks were up 13.6% to 4.2 million tonnes, while in Quebec, stocks surged 42.0% to 3.1 million tonnes.
Total stocks of soybeans fell, the result of a drop in 2007 production. Total soybean stocks amounted to 1.7 million tonnes, down 34.9% or 928,000 tonnes.
On-farm stocks were lower in both Quebec and Ontario, falling to well below the five-year average. Commercial stocks fell 26.6% to 810,000 tonnes, also well below the five-year average of 859,000 tonnes.
Available on CANSIM: tables 001-0040 to 001-0043.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 3401, 3403, 3443, 3464 and 3476.
The publication Field Crop Reporting Series: Stocks of Canadian Grain at December 31, 2007, Vol. 87, no. 1 (22-002-XIE, free) is now available from the Publication module of our website.
For further information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact David Burroughs (613-951-5138; dave.burroughs@statcan.gc.ca) or Dave Roeske (613-951-0572; dave.roeske@statcan.gc.ca), Agriculture Division.
