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Except for corn for grain and oats, total stocks of major grains and oilseeds, including commercial and on-farm inventories, had declined as of March 31, 2008, compared with the same date in 2007, according to a survey of grain farmers and commercial grain holders.
Total corn for grain stocks hit a record high, and total oat storage levels remained well above the five-year average.
| Total stocks of major and special crops at March 31 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crop | 2007 | 2008 | Five-year average | 2007 to 2008 |
| thousands of tonnes | % change | |||
| Total wheat | 15,977 | 10,825 | 15,010 | -32.2 |
| Wheat excluding durum | 12,802 | 8,766 | 11,247 | -31.5 |
| Durum wheat | 3,175 | 2,058 | 3,763 | -35.2 |
| Corn for grain | 5,451 | 5,998 | 5,204 | 10.0 |
| Barley | 4,572 | 4,460 | 5,426 | -2.4 |
| Canola | 4,755 | 3,699 | 3,689 | -22.2 |
| Oats | 1,548 | 2,017 | 1,567 | 30.3 |
| Soybeans | 1,886 | 940 | 1,347 | -50.2 |
| Dry field peas | 1,010 | 820 | 1,189 | -18.8 |
| Flaxseed | 736 | 342 | 460 | -53.5 |
| Lentils | 501 | 187 | 419 | -62.7 |
| Canary seed | 198 | 147 | 185 | -25.8 |
| Chick peas | 69 | 134 | 93 | 94.2 |
| Mustard seed | 172 | 72 | 186 | -58.1 |
| Sunflower seed | 81 | 38 | 62 | -53.1 |
Stocks of wheat tumble
Total stocks of wheat excluding durum amounted to an estimated 8.8 million tonnes, down 4.0 million tonnes from March 2007. The decline was mainly the result of a 25.3% drop in production in 2007. Prairie on-farm stocks alone were down 36.6% to 5.6 million tonnes, well below the five-year average of 7.6 million tonnes.
Commercially held stocks and on-farm stocks in all Prairie provinces tumbled to levels below the five-year average.
Total stocks of durum wheat fell 35.2% to 2.1 million tonnes, an estimate below the five-year average of 3.8 million tonnes. Just two years ago, a record 5.2 million tonnes of durum was reported.
Note to readersThe March Farm Survey of 16,000 farm operators was conducted by telephone interviews during the last two weeks of March. 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 survey of grain elevators in Eastern Canada. Commercial stocks of special crops originate from a survey of handlers and agents of special crops. |
On-farm durum stock amounts in the Prairie provinces tumbled to levels not seen since 1989. On-farm stocks of durum were down in all Prairie provinces and in commercial positions to estimates dramatically below the five-year average.
Stocks of canola down
Total stocks of canola were 3.7 million tonnes, 22.2% below March 2007. On-farm stock levels in the Prairie provinces, where the majority of Canadian canola is grown, were all down.
Total Prairie province on-farm stocks of canola were 2.5 million tonnes, compared with the five-year average of 2.8 million tonnes. Lower production in 2007, as well as increased exports and record crushings, led to the draw-down in total stocks.
Oats stocks rise
Total stocks of oats at the end of March were the highest since the year 2000, primarily as a result of very strong production levels in 2007. The total stock estimate for oats was 2.0 million tonnes, an increase of 30.3% from 2007 and substantially above the five-year average of 1.6 million tonnes.
Total stocks of barley down marginally
Total stocks of barley were down just 2.4% from March 2007 to 4.5 million tonnes. The five-year average is 5.4 million tonnes.
Stock levels remained unchanged in Manitoba, but declined in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Record stocks of grain corn
Despite increasing demand for ethanol and animal feed, record high supplies from imports and production have kept total stocks of grain corn at 6.0 million tonnes, 10.0% higher than March 2007. This level easily exceeds the previous record of 5.8 million tonnes set in 2006.
In Ontario, on-farm stocks of corn for grain rose 18.2% to a record 2.7 million tonnes, surpassing the record of 2.5 million tonnes set in March 2006. Quebec farmers reported a robust increase of 40.7% to 1.9 million 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 March 31, 2008, Vol. 87, no. 3 (22-002-XWE, free) is now available from the Publications 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.
