Production of principal field crops, November 2013
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Released: 2013-12-04
Production of most field crops increased in 2013 compared with 2012 as yields reached a number of record highs. Both canola and wheat production reached record levels in 2013.
Despite a late start to the spring seeding, weather conditions that prevailed up to the end of summer led to higher than normal yields, especially in the West.
Canola
Nationally, canola production increased 29.5% from 2012 to a record 18.0 million tonnes. This was the result of a record average yield of 40.0 bushels per acre, up 42.3% from 2012, which more than offset a 9.0% decline in harvested area.
In Saskatchewan, canola production increased 37.5% to a record 8.9 million tonnes, while average yield rose 49.8% to 37.6 bushels per acre.
In Alberta, a yield of 43.7 bushels per acre resulted in a record canola production of 6.0 million tonnes, up 17.7% from 2012.
Manitoba farmers reported canola production of 2.9 million tonnes, up 36.7% from 2012. The increase was the result of a 57.1% gain in yield to 41.0 bushels per acre.
Wheat
Farmers reported record wheat production of 37.5 million tonnes, a 38.0% increase from 2012. Both harvested area (+9.9%) and average yield (+25.4%) increased compared with 2012.
On the Prairies, Alberta set a production record of 11.3 million tonnes. Meanwhile, both Saskatchewan (+43.8%) and Manitoba (+31.5%) showed increases in production compared with 2012.
Barley and oats
Nationally, barley production increased 27.8% from 2012 to 10.2 million tonnes. While harvested area fell 3.6%, average yield increased 32.5% to a record 71.7 bushels per acre.
Oat production at the national level totalled 3.9 million tonnes, a 38.3% increase over 2012. This growth was the result of a 12.5% rise in harvested area, as well as a record yield of 92.1 bushels per acre.
Soybeans
Overall, national soybean production rose 2.2% to a record 5.2 million tonnes, despite a 5.6% decline in average yield.
Manitoba farmers reported another record soybean production, up 38.7% from 2012 to 1.1 million tonnes.
In the East, Ontario soybean production declined 9.5% to 3.1 million tonnes, largely as a result of a decrease in yield (-6.2%), while Quebec production (+0.5%) was virtually unchanged from 2012.
Corn for grain
Farmers reported an 8.7% increase in corn for grain production to a record 14.2 million tonnes. This was the result of a record harvested area of 3.7 million acres.
In Ontario, production of corn for grain rose 4.8% to a record 9.0 million tonnes. This was the direct result of a 4.8% increase in average yield, as harvested area was unchanged from 2012.
Corn for grain production in Quebec increased 7.7% to 3.8 million tonnes, mainly as a result of a 6.5% increase in harvested area to 1.0 million acres.
Note to readers
Effective July 2013, the Canadian totals for the July, September and March farm surveys on field crops do not include data for the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and British Columbia. Production in these provinces accounts for 2% to 4% of the national total and is excluded. Data for these provinces are now available twice a year in the June Farm Survey on seeded area estimates and in the November Farm Survey on final production estimates.
The November Farm Survey of field crop production contacted approximately 33,400 Canadian farmers from October 26 to November 13, 2013. Farmers were asked to report their estimated area, yield and production of grains, oilseeds and special crops.
Auxiliary data source: As an additional tool to assess growing conditions of field crops during the crop year, readers are invited to visit the Crop Condition Assessment Program web application, which uses remote sensing technology (satellite images). Readers can monitor a vegetation index of crop land on a weekly basis.
Contact information
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