Crop Mix Proves Somewhat Surprising

OTTAWA - Jun 5/22 - SNS -- The final mix of crops planted in Canada was somewhat surprising as many market participants expected more emphasis to be placed in oilseeds than crops such as wheat.

Based on a survey of 25,000 farmers between May 13 and June 12, Statistics Canada saud more wheat, lentils, corn for grain and oats were planted than last year; while plantings of canola, barley, soybeans and dry peas declined.

Statistics Canada noted that "conditions varied across the Prairie provinces early in the growing season. Temperatures were generally below normal for large portions of western Canada. In southern Alberta and western Saskatchewan, precipitation at the beginning of the growing season was well below normal, exacerbating already dry conditions from the previous year.

"By contrast, Manitoba, southeastern Saskatchewan and parts of northern Alberta received more precipitation than normal at the start of the growing season. While above-average precipitation in these areas helped to alleviate soil moisture deficits caused by the previous year's drought, seeding was delayed as a result. This was most notable in Manitoba, where flooding resulted in seeding progress well below average at the time of (data) collection."

Canadian farmers reported planting 4.3 million acres of lentils in 2022, up 0.4% from a year earlier. Nationally, farmers reported seeding 11.8% less area with dry peas compared with 2021, falling to 3.4 million acres. Saskatchewan dry pea area decreased by 290,800 acres, while Alberta area fell 103,800 acres.

Nationally, farmers reported planting 25.4 million acres of wheat in 2022, up 8.7% from 2021. Higher total wheat area was led by spring wheat area, which rose 10.5% to 18.2 million acres, and higher durum wheat area, which rose 8.6% to 6.0 million acres. Winter wheat, grown predominantly in eastern Canada, decreased 12.7% to 1.2 million acres. The increase in total wheat area may be attributable to favourable prices and strong global demand.

In Saskatchewan, wheat area increased 10.4% to 13.2 million acres as spring wheat area rose 11.7% to 8.3 million acres and durum wheat area rose 7.6% to 4.9 million acres. Alberta producers reported planting 7.6 million acres of wheat, up 9.6% from the previous year, led by higher spring wheat area, which increased 9.3% to 6.4 million acres. Durum wheat area in the province rose 9.9% to 1.1 million acres. Farmers in Manitoba reported that total wheat seeded area increased 12.1% to 3.2 million acres.

Oilseed Area Declines

Farmers reported planting 21.4 million acres of canola in 2022, down 4.7% from the previous year. Despite high prices, area may have decreased as farmers shifted to alternate crops such as cereals.

Farmers in Saskatchewan reported planting 11.4 million acres of canola, down 6.0% from 2021. In Alberta, farmers reported planting 6.5 million acres of canola, down 3.0% from the previous year. Seeded area decreased 4.3% in Manitoba, falling to 3.3 million acres.

Soybean area edged down 0.9% to 5.3 million acres in 2022. While global demand for soybeans remains high, poor weather conditions in parts of Manitoba may have impacted total seeded area, as some farmers possibly chose shorter season crops because of seeding delays.

In Ontario, farmers reported planting 3.1 million acres of soybeans, up 4.9% from a year earlier. Manitoba farmers reported lower soybean area, decreasing 13.8% to 1.1 million acres, the lowest area seeded in the province since 2013, possibly because of poor field conditions. Farmers in Quebec reported seeding 955,900 acres of soybeans in 2022, rising 3.3% from the previous year.

Mixed Interest In Coarse Grains

Farmers planted 7.0 million acres of barley in 2022, down 15.1% from a year earlier. Barley area decreased 25.0% in Saskatchewan to 2.8 million acres. Farmers in Alberta also planted less barley, decreasing 8.1%, while barley area in Manitoba rose 2.7%.

Farmers reported planting 16.1% more oats, up to 4.0 million acres. In Saskatchewan, the largest oat-producing province, planting rose 14.5% to 1.9 million acres. Producers also reported higher area in Alberta (+22.7%) and Manitoba (+13.8%).

At the national level, farmers reported seeding more corn for grain in 2022, rising 4.1% to 3.6 million acres from the previous year. In Ontario, where over 60% of all corn for grain in Canada is grown, farmers reported a 6.0% increase in seeded area to 2.3 million acres. In Quebec, farmers reported planting 892,300 acres of corn for grain, up 0.7% compared with 2021.

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