Canadian Grain Stocks Decline

OTTAWA - Feb 2/07 - SNS -- Overall inventories of grains and oilseeds on hand in Canada as of December 31 were down from year earlier levels, according to the latest stocks in all positions report from Statistics Canada.

Total stocks of grain and oilseeds in Canada, including commercial and on-farm inventories were mostly down from levels reported December 31, 2005, according to a survey of grain farmers and commercial grain holders. The exceptions were flaxseed and soybeans.

Western Canadian on-farm stocks fell or remained stable with the exception of flaxseed, where several years of strong production and a large carry-over from last crop-year combined to make the increase. On-farm stocks of soybeans in Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba easily rose to record levels. Overall quality was above normal in 2006. All crop stocks remained above the five-year average with the exception of barley and dry peas.

Statistics Canada based its estimates on a telephone survey of 12,380 farmers between January 2 and January 9. Commercial stocks of western grains originate mainly from the Canadian Grain Commission. Commercial stocks of special crops originate from a survey of handlers and agents of special crops. Commercial stocks of corn and soybeans are estimated by a Statistics Canada sample survey of country elevators and industrial users in Eastern Canada.

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