Production of principal field crops, September 2013

Released: 2013-10-04

Canadian farmers anticipate higher production for most field crops this year compared with 2012. Soybean production could again reach a record high in Manitoba, but is expected to decrease in Ontario.

Despite late seeding this spring, weather conditions that prevailed up to the end of summer have led to higher than normal yields. However, sporadic frost or disease may have affected certain crop yields.

Canola

Despite a lower harvested area compared with 2012, Canadian farmers anticipate a 15.9% increase in canola production to 16.0 million tonnes. This would be a result of a 31.3% rise in yield to 36.9 bushels per acre.

In Saskatchewan, canola production is expected to increase 24.2% to a record high 8.1 million tonnes. Average yield is forecast to rise from 25.1 bushels per acre in 2012 to 35.2 bushels this year. This higher yield offsets a lower harvested area of 10.1 million acres, down 11.4%.

Manitoba farmers expect a 24.5% production increase to 2.6 million tonnes, the result of a 44.8% gain in average yield.

Alberta canola production is anticipated to increase 2.3% to 5.2 million tonnes.

Wheat

Nationally, total wheat production is expected to rise 22.0% from 2012 to a record high 33.0 million tonnes. This increase would largely stem from an expected record average yield of 48.0 bushels per acre, up from 42.6 bushels per acre in 2012. The harvested area is expected to rise 8.1% to 25.3 million acres.

All surveyed provinces (except Quebec) reported an increase in average yield for their wheat acres. As a result, production gains are expected to range from 15.5% in Manitoba to 26.4% in Ontario. In Quebec, the 17.2% production increase was a result of a larger harvested area.

Barley and oats

Canadian farmers are expecting barley production to increase 18.1% from 2012 to 9.2 million tonnes. This is the result of an anticipated record yield of 68.2 bushels per acre, compared with 54.1 bushels per acre in 2012. Production should rise in Alberta (+9.3% to 4.9 million tonnes), Saskatchewan (+41.7% to 3.3 million tonnes) and Manitoba (+10.9% to 685 800 tonnes).

Oat production is expected to rise 16.0% at the national level to 3.2 million tonnes. Most of this increase is the result of an expected record high average yield of 82.6 bushels per acre. Harvested acres, in turn, should rise 2.0% to 2.5 million acres.

Soybeans

In Ontario, soybean production is set to decrease 13.2% to 3.0 million tonnes. This is mainly the result of a 10.4% decline in yield to 43.3 bushels per acre. Meanwhile, Quebec farmers expect production to decrease by 1.2% to 833 000 tonnes, driven by a 4.0% decline in yield to 43.0 bushels per acre.

Manitoba is again expecting record high production, up 18.0% from 2012 to 909 000 tonnes.

Overall, national soybean production is still expected to decline 3.9% from a year earlier to 4.8 million tonnes.

Corn for grain

At the national level, the production of corn for grain is anticipated to edge down 0.1% from 2012 to 12.9 million tonnes.

In Ontario, corn for grain production is anticipated to decrease 1.6% to 8.6 million tonnes, the result of a decline in harvested area to 2.2 million acres. In Quebec, farmers expect production to increase 2.7% to 3.6 million tonnes, mainly because of a 6.2% gain in harvested area to 1.0 million acres.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@canada.ca).