Weather issues and trade concerns led to the smallest canola harvest in years, with production falling 4.5 per cent in Canada.
Late seeding due to weather and low rainfall are attributed to much of the decline by Statistics Canada. Some farmers reduced acres, worried that Chinese trade disputes would cut out that market
As it turned out, European Union markets increased purchases of canola. Prices above the 2017 high should regain interest for next year.
Canola yields declined 4.5 per cent to 18.7 million tonnes while acreage dropped 1.6 per cent.
Saskatchewan production dropped eight per cent, pushed by lower yields of 39.8 bushels an acre and 1.3 per cent fewer acres harvested.
Spring wheat production declined fractionally to 25.8 million tonnes but durum wheat harvest was up 31 per cent to 6.57 million tonnes. Nationally wheat yields dropped 3.8 per cent to 52.2 bushels per acre while in Saskatchewan yields increased 1.8 per cent to 45.9 bushels an acre.
Acreage across wheat fell 3.8 per cent to 24.8 million acres while Saskatchewan acreage increased 2.2 per cent to 12.8 million acres.
Lentil production increased just over 20 per cent to 2.86 million tonnes while field pea production was up 8.4 per cent to 4.6 million tonnes.
Barley production increased 3.4 per cent to 10.74 million tonnes with oats up 8.2 per cent to 4.57 million tonnes
Fall rye production of 475,000 tonnes increased 45.9 per cent.
Flax seed production of 578,000 tonnes increased 18.9 per cent.
Mustard seed production declined 26.6 per cent to 99,000 tonnes with chickpeas declining 14.8 per cent t 214,000 tonnes.
Canary seed production declined 8.2 per cent to 161,000 tonnes.
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
