Highlights

View the most recent version.

Production of major field crops shows mixed results, with an increase in feed grains (oats, barley and dry peas) and a decline in the production of oilseeds (canola and flaxseed). A record grain corn harvest was reported in Ontario and Quebec.

Data came from the annual November survey of 31,500 Canadian farmers conducted from October 26 to November 19. These estimates are final for this crop year.

The 2007 planting season started off with adequate to good soil moisture conditions in much of the Prairie provinces. Northern regions of all three provinces reported excess moisture conditions. 

Planting conditions varied this spring, with mainly abundant to excessive levels of moisture reported.  As a result, field crops in some areas were seeded near the end of the spring planting season. By mid-summer, hot, dry conditions reduced expectations for this crop year, especially in southern Saskatchewan and Alberta.

As the harvest got under way this fall, many central and northern regions experienced cool and wet conditions, slowing harvest operations and reducing crop quality. Quality is generally considered lower than 2006, but remains above average.  

In Eastern Canada, early favourable conditions deteriorated as hot weather and uneven distribution of precipitation lowered expectations. However, a large harvested area and strong yield in both Quebec and Ontario resulted in record production of corn for grain. 

Wheat excluding durum harvest down; big jump in durum production

Prairie wheat production excluding durum retreated from 2006 estimate.  Prairie farmers reported an estimated 14.7 million tonnes, down 23.0% a result of declines in yield and harvested area. The five-year production average is 16.3 million tonnes.

The harvested area fell 16.8% to 15.6 million acres, and the yield was off by 2.8 bushels per acre to 34.6 bushels per acre. The five-year average yield is 35.1 bushels per acre.   

Production is expected to fall in all three Prairie provinces, and remain below their five-year averages. Production declined 28.2% in Saskatchewan, 21.0% in Alberta and 15.4% in Manitoba.

On the other hand, durum wheat production rose 10.0% in the Prairie Provinces to an estimated 3.7 million tonnes. This increase was the result of a strong gain in the harvested area to 4.8 million acres.

Despite the increased harvested area, strong decreases in yield caused production to remain well below the five-year average of 4.4 million tonnes.  

Provincially, durum production rose 12.0% in Saskatchewan to an estimated 3.0 million tonnes, and in Alberta by just 2.0% to 670,000 tonnes. The quality of the durum crop is considered as better than normal. 

Oilseeds: canola, flaxseed production both off

Production of both canola and flaxseed on the Prairies fell from 2006, but for different reasons.  
Prairie farmers report canola production declined 3.2% to 8.7 million tonnes, the result of a drop in yield to a below average 26.4 bushels per acre. The dip in production occurred despite a record harvest area of 14.5 million acres. The previous record was 14.2 million acres reported in 1994. Except for 2006, planted canola on the Prairies has been on the rise since 2001, when the area planted was just 9.4 million acres.

In Manitoba, production fell 6.0% to 1.7 million tonnes.  This decline occurred despite a record 2.9 million acres planted. 

In Saskatchewan, canola production rose 6.8% to 3.9 million tonnes, the result of a jump in harvested area to a record 7.2 million acres. The previous record harvested acreage of 6.6 million acres was set in 1999. 

And in Alberta, farmers reported a decline in canola production of 12.6% to 3.0 million tonnes, the result of a 12.2% drop in yield to 29.6 bushels per acre. In all three Prairie provinces, production is above the five-year average.

Prairie flaxseed production tumbled 36.0% to 633,500 tonnes, the result of a comparable drop in harvested area. This is the lowest production estimate reported since 2004, and is well below the five-year average of 786,020 tonnes. 

Production was off in all Prairie provinces and remained below the corresponding five-year averages. Declines ranged from 32.6% in Saskatchewan to a drop of 55.0% in Alberta.

Barley production jumps to above-average levels

Prairie barley production jumped to above-average levels.  Farmers in all three Prairie provinces reported gains in production, with increases in harvest area more than offsetting declines in yield.   

Barley production is estimated at 10.3 million tonnes, up 1.4 million tonnes from 2006, well above the five-year average of 9.7 million tonnes.  Yields fell 8.4% to a below average 50.6 bushels per acre, and declined in all Prairie provinces.

Big increase in oat production

Oat production on the Prairies rose 24.4% to 4.2 million tonnes, an increase of 832,100 tonnes from 2006. The increase is the result of an above average yield and a 21.2% jump in harvested area. The five-year production average is 2.9 million tonnes. 

Gains in oat production were reported in Manitoba (+24.6%) and in Saskatchewan (+39.0%), while an 11.2% decline was reported in Alberta.

Overall gains in dry field pea production

Dry field pea production on the Prairies rose 16.6% to 2.9 million tonnes, an increase of 417,200 tonnes from 2006. A comparable increase in harvested area to a record 3.6 million acres was responsible for the gain.  The previous record was 3.2 million acres set in 2001.

Field pea production has risen considerably over the last decade.  In 1997, production was pegged at just 1.8 million tonnes.  

Provincially, the results were mixed.  Saskatchewan farmers reported a 24.0% increase in production to 2.3 million tonnes, the result of a record harvest area of 2.9 million acres.  The previous record area was 2.5 million acres set in 2005.

A decline in production was reported by farmers in Manitoba, where a decrease in yield led to a 5.6% drop in production to 97,700 tonnes. The five-year average production estimate is 126,940 tonnes.
 
Ontario, Quebec: Record grain corn harvest, fewer soybeans

Farmers in Ontario and Quebec produced a record harvest of corn for grain, despite the varied and unreliable growing conditions many faced.  Farmers reported harvesting record or near-record areas of corn for grain, mainly at the expense of soybean acreage.

In Quebec, farmers reported producing a record 4.1 million tonnes of corn for grain, an increase of 51.8% or 1.4 million tonnes over 2006.  The previous production record was 3.5 million tonnes made in 2003. Two factors contributed to the record production. First, yields hit a record 145.5 bushels per acre topping the previous record of 132.4 set in 2004.  Secondly, farmers reported a record-matching harvested area of 1.1 million acres.
 
In Ontario, corn-for-grain production of 7.0 million tonnes exceeded the record 6.0 million tonnes set in 1998.  This represents an increase of 19.0% from 2006.  While yields of 133.8 bushels per acre were well below the 2006 level of 150.5 bushels per acre, it was the near-record area of 2.1 million acres that supported the new production mark.

Soybean production fell in both Quebec and Ontario.
 
The largest decline was reported by farmers in Ontario, where challenging weather conditions reduced yield by 13.0 bushels per acre from 2006.  This trimmed production to 2.0 million tonnes from 2.7 million de tonnes in 2006.   The five-year average production estimate is 2.3 million tonnes.

In Quebec, farmers reported an 11.8% decline in production to 472,000 tonnes.  This was the result of a 9.0% decline in harvested area and a drop in yield of 1.2 bushels an acre.  The five-year average for Quebec soybean production is 453,000 tonnes.