Production of principal field crops

The final crop report for 2009 revealed that Prairie farmers harvested a lesser amount of major crops including barley, oats, canola, spring wheat, durum wheat and field peas relative to 2008. In Eastern Canada, soybean production rose in Ontario to 2.6 million metric tonnes in 2009.

Drought in many western areas during the germination period and excess moisture in eastern regions held back crop development. Throughout the summer, cool conditions held back crop growth, leading to harvest delays in many areas. However, late-season sunny and dry weather allowed most crops to reach maturity, with a substantial improvement in yield for most major grains compared with the mid-harvest survey results reported in September 2009.

Canola production down

On the Prairies, canola production fell 6.5% to 11.7 million tonnes in 2009, the result of a decline in harvested area. Provincially, Alberta farmers reported a strong decline with production down 26.9% to 3.2 million tonnes, due to reduced yield and harvest area. Production gains were reported in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, mostly the result of new highs for yield. Manitoba farmers harvested a record 2.8 million tonnes of canola, up 9.8% from the previous high set in 2008. Saskatchewan producers reported harvesting 5.7 million tonnes, an increase of 1.7% from 2008.

Prairie feed grain production declines

Production of barley, oats and dry field peas was down across the Prairies, mostly the result of declines in harvested area.

Prairie production of barley fell 20.5% to 8.9 million tonnes, while oat production dropped 37.9% to 2.4 million tonnes. Field pea production declined 5.4% to 3.4 million tonnes.

More soybeans in Ontario

Soybean production in Ontario rose by 142 900 tonnes to 2.6 million tonnes, up 5.8% from 2008, the result of an increase in harvested area to 2.4 million acres.

Available on CANSIM: tables 001-0004, 001-0010, 001-0017 to 001-0020 and 001-0040 to 001-0043.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3401.

The publication Field Crop Reporting Series: "November Estimate of Production of Principal Field Crops", Vol. 88, no. 8 (22-002-X, free), is now available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications.

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), Dave Roeske (613-951-0572; dave.roeske@statcan.gc.ca) or Karen Gray (204-983-2856; karen.gray@statcan.gc.ca), Agriculture Division.