Reacting to trade war threats and prices. Canadian crop production has shifted away from some popular crops.
Farmers will harvest the lowest amount in five years of canola, soybeans and grain corn, according to the Statistics Canada fall crop production estimates.
Canola production, falling for the second year, will drop 9.3 per cent to 18.54 million tonnes. Farmers cut acres seeded of the yellow flowered oilseed by nine per cent.
Saskatchewan’s share of the canola crop falls 12.4 per cent to 9.6 million tonnes on reduced acres and yields.
Alberta production will fall 9.4 per cent to 5.3 million tonnes while Manitoba farmers increased production 3.1 per cent.
Canola yields are estimated at 37.1 bushels per acre in Saskatchewan, 40.1 bushels in Alberta and 45.8 bushels in Manitoba.
Wheat production of 31.2 million tonnes derives from a 1.1 per cent cut in acreage and a 2.1 per cent cut in yields to 47.5 bushels an acre.
Spring wheat production of 25.1 million tonnes is the highest in five years while durum production of 4.4 million tonnes is the lowest in five years.
Average wheat yields are estimated at 40.9 bushels in Saskatchewan, 50.9 bushels in Alberta and 59.6 bushels in Manitoba.
The 9.6 million tonnes of barley produced across the country increases 15.1 per cent, driven by almost 13 per cent more acres.
A 15 per cent increase in oats acres will see a 15 per cent increase in production with average yield of 88.6 bushels.
Lentil production of 2.38 million tonnes, second lowest in five years, is down 13.9 per cent.
Chickpeas, second lowest in five years at 251,000 tonnes, are down by almost 20 per cent.
Soybeans and corn for grain are the lowest in five years, a reaction to Chinese trade restrictions and soybean prices. Soybeans fall 14.6 per cent to 6.2 million tonnes with grain corn production of 13.6 million tonnes down two per cent.
Among oilseeds, flax at 558,000 tonnes increases 13.4 per cent while mustard at 156,000 tonnes falls 10 per cent.
The 70,000 tonnes of canary seed, lowest crop in five years, falls 41 per cent.
Sunflowers at just under 50,000 tonnes fall 13 per cent.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
