Few Surprises in StatsCan Report

VANCOUVER - Oct 4/07 - SNS -- The latest crop production estimates from Statistics Canada generally mirrored pre-report expectations, with production estimates for all crops except field peas dropping from the federal agency's August crop report.

However, the field pea estimate is unlikely to be welcomed by market participants who had been arguing that the August estimate was on the high side. They believe difficult growing conditions in much of Saskatchewan sucked the yield potential from field peas. Unfortunately, growers are reporting the opposite to Statistics Canada, which conducted a computer assisted telephone survey of 17,000 farming operations between September 4 and 11.

"At the time of the survey, about one-half of the harvest was complete in the Prairie provinces, with the most progress reported in southern areas," Statistics Canada said. "In many central and northern regions, the harvest has been delayed by cool, wet conditions."

In this report, Statistics Canada only provided national production estimates for field peas and dry edible beans. It is looking for field pea production to rise 20.1% over last year to an estimated 3.0 million metric tons (MT). "A strong increase in harvested area to a record 3.6 million acres was responsible for the gain. The record production is 3.1 million MT set in 2004.

"Provincially, the results were mixed. Saskatchewan farmers reported a potential 27.9% increase in production to 2.4 million MT, the result of a record harvest area of 2.9 million acres. The previous record area was 2.5 million acres set in 2005.

"On the other hand, farmers in Manitoba reported an 8.0% decrease in production, and Alberta farmers reported a possible slight decline of 0.8%. The declines were the result of anticipated decreases in yield."

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