Canada Sets New Production Records

OTTAWA - Dec 4/08 - SNS -- Statistics Canada's final crop report for 2008 revealed that Prairie farmers harvested a record 12.5 million metric tons (MT) of canola and a record 3.6 million MT of dry field peas. In Eastern Canada, soybean production rose considerably with a record 600,000 MT of soybeans harvested in Quebec.

Growing and harvest conditions are always variable across Western Canada, but reports indicate that the fall harvest was slightly ahead of time and crop quality was above average. Cool and wet conditions held back the harvest in early fall, but little frost damage and improved conditions allowed progress to end up slightly ahead of normal. Year-end crop yields were mainly up from interim estimates with highest ever yields recorded for spring wheat, barley, canola and oats.

Prairie canola production rose to 12.5 million MT, up 32.8% from 2007. The previous record for canola was 9.4 million MT grown in 2007. The production increase was the result of record yields and harvested areas.

On the Prairies, where 99% of canola is grown, farmers reported record production in each province. Harvested area was a record in all three provinces, and record yields were reported in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Prairie farmers harvested a record amount of field peas. The production of field peas reached 3.6 million MT, up 21.7% from 2.9 million MT in 2007. Robust yield and record harvest area combined to produce this record.

Production rose in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Production in Saskatchewan was a record 2.7 million MT, and production in Alberta was a record 731 400 MT.

More soybeans in the East

Total soybean production rose 23.7% to 3.3 million MT, just short of the record 3.5 million MT set in 2006. Production increased in both Quebec and Ontario where over 90% of soybeans are grown.

Production in Quebec rose 27.1% to a record 600,000 MT, well above the previous high of 535,000 MT set in 2006. The production increase was the result of a rise in harvested area to a record 565,900 acres, up 30.5% from 2007.

Soybean production in Ontario rose by 476,300 MT to 2.5 million MT, up 23.8% from 2007, the result of a 10.4 bushel per acre increase in yield to a near record 43.4 bushels per acre.