Canadian Crop Numbers Match Expectations

VANCOUVER - Dec 4/08 - SNS -- Canada's final specialty crop production estimates are in line with market expectations for all crops, including a significant downward revision in Manitoba's dry edible bean seeded area and further reductions in the estimated chickpea seedings for western Canada.

Total specialty crop production is up 17.6% from last year at an estimated 5.316 million metric tons (MT). This is the second largest harvest in Canadian history, falling just short of the 5.34 million MT of peas, lentils, chickpeas, edible beans, sunflower, canary and mustard seed grown in 2005. Land in specialty crops totalled 7.15 million acres, the fifth largest area in Canadian history and well short of the record 7.786 million acres sown in 2004.

Discussing the general crop situation, Statistics Canada said, "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."

The estimates were based on computer assisted telephone interviews of 29,900 Canadian farmers between October 24 and November 17. By the time the survey got underway the harvest was essentially complete for all crops except sunflower and chickpeas, where growers struggled to bring in the last 20% of the crop.

Statistics Canada dropped production estimates for minor specialty crops such as fababeans and buckwheat and stopped trying to estimate production of many specialty crops in both Manitoba and Alberta. In minor grains, Statistics Canada said Saskatchewan produced 18,500 MT of triticale this year and Alberta 19,400 MT.