Production of principal field crops

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Prairie farmers reported they expect to produce less wheat and canola in 2010 compared with 2009, while farmers in Ontario and Quebec could produce more soybeans. Summerfallow (land on which no crop will be grown during the year) increased in the Prairies to the highest level since 1999, mostly because of flooding in many regions during the 2010 planting season.

In the West, farmers reported that crop production will decline from 2009 levels, the result of persistent wet conditions in many areas.

Total wheat production down

Total wheat production in the Prairies is expected to reach 20.5 million metric tonnes, a drop of 15.5% from 2009. Harvested area is expected to decline by 3.3 million acres.

Manitoba and Saskatchewan farmers estimate respective decreases of 20.5% and 25.7% in production, while Alberta production is expected to rise 4.9%, the result of stronger anticipated yields.

Canola production down

Prairie farmers reported that they expect to harvest 10.7 million tonnes of canola, down by 977 400 tonnes from the 11.7 million tonnes reported in 2009. The decline would be due to a drop in yield from an estimated 34.6 bushels per acre to 30.7 bushels per acre.

Provincially, farmers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan reported potential declines in area harvested, yield and production. Alberta farmers reported a rise in production, up 30.6% to 4.1 million tonnes, the result of predicted increases in yield and harvested area.

Soybean production expected to increase

Farmers in Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba predict increases in soybean production to record levels, due to an expected new high in harvested area and robust yields in all three provinces.

Soybean production in Quebec is anticipated to reach a new high of 730 000 tonnes. This optimism is based on an increase in harvested area, up 12.2% to an estimated 659,800 acres.

Ontario farmers expect soybean production to rise 8.1% to 2.8 million tonnes, the result of an increase of 45,000 harvested acres to 2.4 million acres.

Manitoba farmers anticipate producing 342 900 tonnes of soybeans, an increase of 6.8% from 2009. Farmers expect to harvest an additional 35,000 acres of soybeans in 2010.

Summerfallow at the highest level since 1999

Summerfallow, namely land on which no crop will be grown during the year, was estimated at 12.1 million acres, an increase of 93.9% from the 6.2 million acres reported in 2009. Summerfallow area has not been this high since 1999, when it was 15.0 million acres.

In Saskatchewan, 9.7 million acres were reported, an increase of 135.9% compared with 4.1 million acres in 2009. Much of the increase occurred in the East and East-central districts, where respondents reported severe flooding during the May and June seeding period. Manitoba reported 760,000 acres, an increase of 60.0% from 475,000 acres in 2009. Alberta remained unchanged at 1.6 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: July 31 Estimate of Production of Principal Field Crops, Vol. 89, no. 5 (22-002-X, free), is now available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications.

The stocks of principal field crops at July 31 will be released on September 8.

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