Farmers across Canada chased the highest prices when they planted crops this spring.
Canola, hovering around $18 a bushel and twice last year’s level gained 8.2 per cent in acres to just under 22.5 million.
Wheat, fetching 50 per cent more than last year at a recent $9.34 a bushel, lost 6.5 per cent in acres to 23.4 million as farmers pursued even higher canola prices. Saskatchewan farmers’ wheat acres dropped 6.6 per cent to 12 million
Durum acreage fell 2.8 per cent to 5.3 million.
Barley acres at nearly 8.3 million increased 9.7 per cent as prices were up 25 per cent for feed grade.
At just over $18 a bushel, compared with $13.30 last year, flaxseed gained 10 per cent in acres to 1,026 million — the largest in three years.
Lentils gained 1.7 per cent in acres as the price was just two cents a pound higher.
A 10 per cent drop in field peas prices resulted in 10 per cent less acres for 3.8 million.
Dry beans at 373,000 acres came in with 18 per cent fewer acres.
Lower oats prices saw acreage of the variety fall 10 per cent to 3.4 million acres with just over half in Saskatchewan.
Mustard gained 19 per cent in acres to 306,000.
Canary seed acreage increased 15 per cent to 314,000 acres on higher prices for the largest acreage in three years.
Corn acres fell 2.5 per cent to just under 3.5 million while soybean acres dropped 11 per cent to 5.3 million on lower prices.
Down by almost one-third, sunflower acreage was a mere 77,000.
Chickpea acres fell 37 per cent to 186,000 on slightly higher prices and high growing costs.
Summerfallow acres dropped 22 per cent to 1.33 million. Summerfallow acreage was about 10 million when the 21st Century began.
Top crops by per cent of acreage:
- wheat, 34 per cent
- canola, 32.8 per cent
- barley, 12.2 per cent
Ron Walter can be reached at [email protected]
