Statistical Shock and Awe

VANCOUVER - Jun 23/10 - SNS -- Dry cleaning bills will soar in the pulse industry as traders around the world wipe pools of coffee and tea off their desks, chairs and pants after reading the latest seeded area estimates from Statistics Canada.

The numbers completely fooled a large segment of the industry even though Statistics Canada made a point of using the word "intention" in describing the results of its survey of 25,200 Canadian farmers between May 25 to June 3.

"As a result of continued inclement weather in Western Canada," Statistics Canada said, "estimates of planted areas may change considerably in the July farm survey, the results of which will be released on August 20. . . .

"This spring, the Prairie provinces have experienced above normal amounts of precipitation. Producers in the northeast and central regions of Saskatchewan reported in the June survey that their crops were less than 60% seeded, and that areas which had been seeded earlier were under water. Many reported that it would be too late in the season to finish seeding by time the fields dry out enough to get the seeding equipment back on the land."

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