Stocks of principal field crops

As of March 31, total stocks of principal field crops such as canola, wheat excluding durum, barley and oats were lower compared with the same date in 2009. Stocks fell mostly as a result of reduced crop production in 2009. By contrast, total soybean stocks were above levels observed one year earlier because of a production increase in 2009.

Total stocks of canola stood at 5.4 million metric tonnes, down 11.6% or 711 000 tonnes from March 31, 2009. Canola supplies were down as a result of a 6.5% production decline in 2009. Total on-farm stocks were down by 9.8% to 4.5 million tonnes, while commercial stocks declined 19.1% to 932 000 tonnes.

Total stocks of wheat excluding durum fell by 11.5% to 11.1 million tonnes, the result of an 8.6% drop in production in the fall of 2009. On-farm stocks decreased by 20.6% to 7.3 million tonnes compared with March 31, 2009, while commercial stocks rose by 13.3% to 3.8 million tonnes.

Total stocks of soybeans reached 1.4 million tonnes, up 14.5% from March 31, 2009. The increase in stocks was due to a record 3.5 million tonnes production in 2009.

In Ontario, on-farm stocks of soybeans rose 34.6% to 525 000 tonnes, while Quebec stocks decreased 7.4% to 125 000 tonnes.

Note: The December farm survey of 13,800 Canadian farmers is a survey of stocks of principal field crops conducted from March 24 to March 31, 2010. Farmers were asked to report the amounts of grain, oilseeds and special crops in on-farm storage. Data on 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. Data on commercial stocks of special crops originate from a survey of handlers and agents of special crops.

National supply-disposition tables for the major grains and special crops are included in this report and will be included in future production and stock reports. Methodology details are published annually in the Cereals and Oilseeds Review (22-007-X, free).

Stocks data are subject to revision during the two years following their initial publication. Revisions are published in the July stocks report, which is released in September.

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 numbers, including related surveys, 3401, 3403, 3443, 3464 and 3476.

The publication Field Crop Reporting Series: "Stocks of principal field crops at March 31, 2010," Vol. 89, no. 3 (22-002-X, free), is now available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications.

Preliminary data of principal field crops areas will be released on June 23.

For more 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), Yves Gilbert (613-951-2577; yves.gilbert@statcan.gc.ca), Faye Price (204-983-2856; faye.price@statcan.gc.ca) or Dave Roeske (613-951-0572; dave.roeske@statcan.gc.ca), Agriculture Division.