Principal field crops

As of June 3, Prairie farmers had either planted, or intended to plant, record areas of canola and lentils during the 2010 crop season. In the East, Ontario and Quebec farmers reported they had seeded more soybeans than in 2009.

As a result of continued inclement weather in Western Canada, estimates of planted areas may change considerably in the July farm survey, the results of which will be released on August 20.

This spring, the Prairie provinces have experienced above normal amounts of precipitation. Producers in the northeast and central regions of Saskatchewan reported in the June survey that their crops were less than 60% seeded, and that areas which had been seeded earlier were under water.

Many reported that it would be too late in the season to finish seeding by time the fields dry out enough to get the seeding equipment back on the land.

Canola seeded acreage a potential new record

Results from the June farm survey show that Prairie farmers intended to increase their plantings of canola to a record area of 17.7 million acres, up by 1.7 million acres (+10.3%) over 2009.

This would be the fourth annual increase in canola area in the Prairies, and it would exceed the previous high of 16.1 million acres set in 2009.

Increases were reported in each Prairie province. Saskatchewan farmers led the way with an increase of 1.2 million acres (+15.7%) to 9.1 million acres. Manitoba farmers planted 3.4 million acres, up 7.2%, and in Alberta, 5.2 million acres were seeded, up 4.0% from 2009.

Area seeded to lentils increases again

Prairie farmers, mainly from Saskatchewan and Alberta, reported their intentions to seed 3.4 million acres of lentils, up 40.0% from the 2.4 million acres seeded in 2009. It would be the fourth consecutive increase in intended acres.

More soybeans planted

Nationally, the total soybean seeded area reported by farmers has increased 8.0% from 2009 to 3.7 million acres.

In Quebec, the area seeded to soybeans increased to a new high of 659,800 acres. In Ontario, soybean acreage rose 1.7% to 2.4 million acres.

Farmers in Manitoba reported a record high 580,000 acres planted in soybeans this spring, a 39.8% increase. The province's soybean area has increased each year since 2007 when it was 230,000 acres.

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

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3401.

The publication Field Crop Reporting Series: "Preliminary Estimates of Principal Field Crop Areas", Vol. 89, no. 4 (22-002-X, free), is now available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications.

July 31 estimate of production of principal field crops will be released on August 20.

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), Yves Gilbert (613-951-2577; yves.gilbert@statcan.gc.ca) or Dave Roeske (613-951-0572; dave.roeske@statcan.gc.ca), Agriculture Division.