Analysis

Stocks of principal field crops at December 31, 2009

As of December 31st, total stocks of most principal field crops were down from previous year levels, with the exception of dry field peas and flax in the West and soybeans in the East. Total stocks (including commercial and on-farm inventories) generally fell as a result of reduced crop production in 2009.

Canola stocks down

Total stocks of canola were 8.8 million metric tonnes, a decrease of 389,000 tonnes or 4.3% from December 31, 2008. Canola supplies decreased due to a production decline of 6.5% in 2009.

Commercial stocks rose 26.8% to 1.0 million tonnes while Prairie on-farm stocks were down by 7.0% to 7.8 million tonnes. On-farm stocks in Saskatchewan fell 1.8% and by 25.5% in Alberta. Manitoba on-farm stocks reversed the trend, up 10.6% to a record 1.8 million tonnes. The previous record was 1.6 million tonnes set just last year.

Stocks of wheat excluding durum off

Total stocks of wheat excluding durum stocks (held both on-farm and in commercial positions), decreased by 6.5% to 16.1 million tonnes from December 31, 2008, down to just below the 5-year average of 16.2 million tonnes.

On-farm stocks in the Prairies fell 6.1% to 12.0 million tonnes. On-farm stocks fell in Manitoba and in Alberta, while in Saskatchewan stocks rose 5.1% to 5.2 million tonnes.

Total stocks of feed crops mixed

Total stocks of oats and barley declined, while stocks of dry field peas rose from December 2008.

Total stocks of oats fell 16.6% to 2.8 million tonnes and total stocks of barley declined 11.1% to 7.6 million tonnes, the result of a significant decline in the 2009 harvest.

Total stocks of field peas rose 7.6% to 2.7 million tonnes. On-farm stocks and stocks in commercial positions were all well above the 5-year averages. On-farm stock increases were noted in Saskatchewan and in Alberta.

Stocks of soybeans up, grain corn stocks lower

Total stocks of soybeans were 2.2 millions tonnes, up 9.2% from December 31, 2008, the result of an increase in production in Ontario in 2009. The 5-year average is 2.2 million tonnes.

In Ontario, on-farm stocks rose 21.9% to 975,000 tonnes, while Quebec stocks decreased by 14.6% to 205,000 tonnes.

Total stocks of grain corn were down from December 31, 2008, off 8.3% to 8.6 million tonnes, the result of less production in 2009. The 5-year average is 8.7 million tonnes.

On-farm stocks fell in both Ontario and Quebec. Commercial stocks of grain corn also declined by 2.6%.