Weather reduces estimated crop production across Canada

Poor weather across Canada has resulted in thirteen of 17 crops with estimated production declines this year compared with 2017.

The Statistics Canada crop survey of farmers conducted in late July indicates only durum, barley, mustard and chickpeas will see increased production this year.

Lower rainfall and high temperatures in various parts of Canada have impacted crop yields along with changes in acreage.

In the Prairie provinces, only southeastern Saskatchewan, west-central Saskatchewan and a broad strip from Mortlach to Outlook have had higher than usual rainfall.

A tiny part of southwestern Manitoba falls into that class, while in most of Alberta rain is lower or similar to average. A large part of Alberta from north of Calgary to Edmonton had much lower rainfall. Durum wheat production in Canada will increase 1.4 per cent to just over five million tonnes.

Overall wheat production of 29.3 million tonnes will fall 3.3 per cent. Most of that decline comes in Saskatchewan wheat production even with a 13 per cent increase in planted acreage.

Canola production will fall 10.2 per cent to 19.2 million tonnes. Saskatchewan will harvest 10.1 million tonnes, down 9.m per cent. Planted acres declined by nearly four per cent.

Poor weather hurt barley crops. A 1.3 per cent increase in production comes after farmers planted almost 12 per cent more area to the crop.

Chickpea production is estimated to increase 176 per cent as higher prices induced an increase in acres. Harvest will go from 98,000 tonnes to 264,000. Lentil production of 2.2 million tonnes will drop 15 per cent for the second annual decline. Reduced acres are partly responsible.

Pea production declines almost 12 per cent to 3.63 million tonnes on fewer acres.

Flax seed production drops 11 per cent to 494,000 tonnes for the second straight year of decline.

Mustard, a crop that fares better in dry years, will increase 44 per cent to 175,000 tonnes reversing a 2017 decline. Oats production will be down 11 per cent to 3.3 million tonnes.

Canary seed production of 111,000 tonnes falls 24 per cent partly on lower acreage. These estimates could be reduced by a wet harvest as experienced in the last part of September.

Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@ sasktel.net