Stocks of principal field crops, December 31, 2012

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As of December 31, total stocks of most principal field crops were down compared with the same date in 2011.

Canola stocks amounted to 7.4 million tonnes, a 23.6% drop from December 31, 2011. It was the third consecutive decline and the lowest level at December 31 for total canola stocks since the same date in 2006. Production of canola fell from 14.6 million tonnes in 2011 to 13.3 million tonnes in 2012.

Total stocks of wheat edged down 0.7% from December 31, 2011, to just under 20.7 million tonnes. This occurred despite a 7.6% increase in wheat production in 2012. Total stocks of durum wheat, down 4.1%, accounted for most of this decline. On-farm stocks for all types of wheat rose 1.7% to 16.5 million tonnes compared with the same period in 2011. However, commercial stocks fell 9.1% to 4.2 million tonnes.

Stocks of oats recorded a 19.8% decline to 1.9 million tonnes nationally, primarily due to a 21.2% decrease in on-farm stocks. This decline mirrored a 15.0% decrease in oat production in 2012.

Total stocks of barley fell 7.2% to 5.1 million tonnes, mainly as a result of a 6.2% decline in volumes kept on farms. Stocks were down despite a 1.5% rise in barley production in 2012. Barley stocks have been declining for the last four years.

On-farm stocks of soybeans decreased 25.6% to 1.3 million tonnes nationally, while commercial stocks rose 36.5% to 1.1 million tonnes, their highest level since 2006. Consequently, total stocks of soybeans fell 6.7% to 2.4 million tonnes. This occurred despite a 14.7% production increase in 2012.

Total stocks of corn for grain, on the other hand, set a record high of 10.4 million tonnes, a 9.8% rise over December 2011. This followed record production of 13.1 million tonnes in 2012. The biggest contribution came from on-farm stocks, which increased 11.0% to 7.8 million tonnes.

Note to readers

The December Farm Survey of 10,435 Canadian farmers is a survey of stocks of principal field crops conducted from January 4 to 13, 2013. 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.

Release calendar: The dates for upcoming releases from the Field Crop Reporting Series are available online: Stocks of principal field crops, Principal field crop areas and Production of principal field crops.

Available in CANSIM: tables CANSIM table001-0010, CANSIM table001-0017 and CANSIM table001-0040 to 001-0043.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers survey number3401, survey number3403, survey number3443, survey number3464 and survey number3476.

For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Yves Gilbert (613-951-2577; yves.gilbert@statcan.gc.ca), Heather Keehn (613-951-0730; heather.keehn@statcan.gc.ca) or Rita Athwal (613-951-5022; rita.athwal@statcan.gc.ca), Agriculture Division.