Preliminary estimates of principal field crop areas, Canada, 2008

Prairie farmers have planted a record area of canola, as well as higher acreages of spring and durum wheat, in response to robust prices, according to a survey of 26,100 growers. In the East, Quebec farmers have seeded a record area for soybeans and those in Ontario a record for winter wheat.

The June farm survey, Statistics Canada’s largest area survey, was conducted between May 23 and June 3. As of June 3, Prairie farmers reported that planting was almost complete, with unseeded pockets remaining in mainly northern areas.

Planting conditions were variable, with dry areas and some frost damage reported in Saskatchewan, possibly requiring some reseeding. Cool weather requiring some replanting may also be required in parts of Manitoba. Wet weather contributed to some minor delays in Alberta.

Prairie farmers eclipsed the record for canola set just last year by slightly over a million acres. Records were set in all three Prairie provinces. At the same time, the area planted to feed grains fell while spring and durum acreage wheat increased.

In response to robust crop prices, traditional areas dedicated to summerfallow in the Prairie provinces have declined to record low levels in recent history.

In Ontario and Quebec, planting was mostly complete, although cool, damp conditions slowed progress. The area seeded to corn for grain declined in both provinces, while the area seeded to soybeans in Quebec hit record territory.

In Ontario, the area of winter wheat remaining for harvest jumped to a record 1.2 million acres, breaking the previous record of 1.0 million acres in 2006.

Canola area easily a record as prices improve

Improved prices appear to be the catalyst for the continued rise in areas planted to canola, in spite of comparatively high input costs for this crop.

Prairie farmers estimated they have planted 15.6 million acres in canola, just over one million acres, or 7.1%, above the previous record set in 2007. The total far exceeds the five-year average (2003-2007) of 13.0 million acres.

Provincially, the seeded area in Manitoba rose 8.1% to 3.1 million acres, in Saskatchewan by 2.1% to 7.4 million acres, and in Alberta by 14.4% to 5.2 million acres.

Spring wheat, durum wheat area up across the Prairie provinces

Again, firming prices appear to be the reason for increased plantings of spring wheat and durum wheat.

Prairie farmers reported planting 16.0 million acres of spring wheat, up 1.2 million acres from 2007. The five-year average is 17.0 million acres.

Farmers in all three Prairie provinces reported planting more spring wheat. Those in Alberta led the way, planting an additional 873,000 acres, followed by Saskatchewan at 165,000 extra acres and Manitoba with 145,000 additional acres.

The area of durum wheat jumped 26.7% to 6.1 million acres, as farmers look for higher returns. This is well above the five-year average of 5.1 million acres.

In Saskatchewan, where the vast majority of durum wheat is grown, farmers planted 5.1 million acres, up 25.9% from 2007. Alberta farmers seeded one million acres, up 30.7%.

Drop in acreage for Prairie barley, oats

Prairie farmers planted 8.5 million acres of barley, down 1.8 million acres or 17.5% from the 10.3 million acres seeded in 2007. The five-year average is 10.0 million acres.

Farmers in all three Prairie provinces reported double-digit percentage decreases in barley plantings, as they abandoned feed grains for better returns in canola, spring wheat and durum.

In addition, the area seeded to oats in the Prairies declined 19.4% to 4.0 million acres. The five-year average is 4.4 million acres. Provincially, declines ranged from 21.4% in Saskatchewan to 14.3% in Manitoba.

Less grain corn in the East; record for soybeans in Quebec

Total grain corn acreage in Ontario and Quebec fell considerably, with Ontario seeded area down 15.5% to 1.8 million acres. In Quebec, grain corn acreage fell 12.2% to 976,100 acres.

Soybean area was up 31.8% in Quebec to a record 573,300 acres, smashing the previous record of 494,200 acres in 2004. In contrast, Ontario farmers reported a 6.3% decline in soybean area to 2.1 million acres, just below the five-year average of 2.2 million acres.

In Ontario, the declines in soybeans and grain corn acreage were rotated into winter wheat. Ontario farmers reported 1.2 million acres of winter wheat remaining for harvest, far higher than the five-year average of 840,695 acres.