OTTAWA - Dec 5/24 - SNS -- Total field crop output was up over last year and the recent five year average, according to Statistics Canada's final production estimates for 2024.
The federal agency's direct survey of about 27,200 Canadian farms between October 4 and November 7 concluded production of wheat, oats, soybeans, dry peas and lentils were up over last year; while smaller harvests were reported for canola, corn for grain and barley.
In general, yields were higher this year compared with 2023. However, there were some areas, particularly in Western Canada, where farmers continued to face issues related to dry conditions.
Western Canada had a promising start to the 2024 growing season. Much of the Prairies received timely precipitation during seeding, although cool conditions delayed crop development in some areas. A lack of rain as the summer progressed, coupled with hot weather, resulted in lower yields in some areas compared with 2023.
Good field conditions throughout fall 2024 gave operators an opportunity to complete harvest ahead of schedule, with most crops being off the field before data collection for the November Field Crop Survey.
Above-average rainfall in Ontario and western Quebec, combined with summer heat, resulted in higher yields in 2024.
Larger Specialty Crop Harvest
Pulse lifted specialty crop production up over last year, with output of peas, beans, lentil and chickpeas advancing from 6.98 to 7.57 million metric tons (MT).
The biggest gain was reported for lentils, which advanced from 1.8 to 2.43 million MT, while the dry pea harvest advanced from 2.61 to 3.0 million MT.
With the exception of sunflower, output of other specialty crops were up over last year. Canaryseed jumped from 112,200 to almost 185,300 MT and mustard from 170,700 to 192,300 MT.
Net Decline In Oilseed Output
Canola production decreased 7.0% nationally to 17.8 million MT in 2024, driven by lower yields (-7.0% to 36.0 bushels per acre) and harvested area (-0.1% to 21.9 million acres). Lower yields were likely the result of hot and dry conditions in parts of Western Canada in July and August.
Canola yields in Saskatchewan declined 3.0% to 35.9 bushels per acre in 2024, while harvested area fell 2.2% to 12.0 million acres, resulting in a 5.1% production decrease to 9.8 million MT.
In Alberta, canola production fell 8.5% to 5.1 million MT in 2024 due to lower yields (-9.0% to 35.6 bushels per acre). Harvested area rose 0.6% to 6.3 million acres.
Despite higher harvested area (+6.2% to 3.3 million acres), farmers in Manitoba reported producing less canola in 2024. Production fell 11.1% to 2.8 million MT on lower yields, which fell 16.3% to 37.1 bushels per acre, possibly because of challenging conditions early in the growing season.
Soybean production increased 8.4% nationally to 7.6 million MT in 2024. The increase in production was the result of higher yields, which rose 7.0% to 49.1 bushels per acre, while harvested area increased 1.3% to 5.7 million acres.
In Ontario, growers reported soybean production rising 7.9% year over year to 4.4 million MT in 2024. Harvested area increased 7.0% to 3.1 million acres, while yields were up 0.8% to 51.8 bushels per acre.
In Manitoba, harvested area fell 10.9% to 1.4 million acres in 2024. Yields were up by over one-fifth (+21.5%) to 44.0 bushels per acre, thanks to good growing conditions later in the season, resulting in an 8.3% increase in production to 1.7 million MT.
Soybean production in Quebec rose 9.3% from one year earlier to 1.4 million MT in 2024, on higher yields (+5.8% to 49.6 bushels per acre) and harvested area (+3.4% to 1.0 million acres).
Bigger Wheat Harvest
Total wheat production rose 6.1% year over year to 35.0 million MT in 2024. The increase was driven by durum wheat (+43.6% to 5.9 million MT), on higher harvested area (+8.0% to 6.3 million acres) and yield (+32.8% to 34.0 bushels per acre).
Spring wheat production rose 2.2% to 26.1 million MT in 2024, with higher yields (+4.9% to 51.3 bushels per acre) offsetting lower harvested area (-2.5% to 18.7 million acres).
At the provincial level, Saskatchewan wheat production rose 12.2% to 16.5 million MT in 2024. Yields increased 11.1% to 43.0 bushels per acre, while harvested area rose 1.1% to 14.1 million acres.
In Alberta, higher wheat yields (+7.2% to 47.9 bushels per acre) in 2024, combined with lower harvested area (-0.8% to 7.6 million acres), resulted in a 6.4% increase in wheat production to 9.9 million MT.
Wheat production in Manitoba edged up 0.7% to 5.5 million MT, with higher yields (+2.4% to 62.8 bushels per acre) offsetting lower harvested area (-1.6% to 3.2 million acres).
Canola production falls on lower harvested area and yield
Modest Drop In Coarse Grain Production
Nationally, total corn for grain production fell 0.5% to 15.3 million MT in 2024. Harvested area fell 4.6% to 3.6 million acres, offsetting a 4.3% increase in yields to 168.7 bushels per acre.
Ontario farmers, who grow almost two-thirds of Canada's corn, reported having lower production in 2024, down 3.5% to 9.6 million MT. Yields increased 1.7% to a record high of 180.0 bushels per acre as a result of good growing conditions, while harvested area fell 5.1% to 2.1 million acres.
Corn for grain production in Quebec rose 7.9% from 2023 to 3.6 million MT in 2024. While harvested area fell 1.4% to 875,900 acres, this was more than offset by higher yields, up 9.5% to 162.1 bushels per acre.
Manitoba farmers reported growing 1.0% less corn for grain, at 1.8 million MT in 2024, because of lower harvested area (-8.9% to 498,900 acres). Yields rose 8.6% to 139.4 bushels per acre.
Barley production fell 8.6% to 8.1 million MT in 2024 because of lower harvested area (-11.4% to 5.9 million acres). The decrease in harvested area was partially offset by a 3.3% increase in yields to 63.2 bushels per acre nationally.
Total oat production increased by over one-quarter (+27.0% to 3.4 million MT), as both harvested area (+20.3% to 2.5 million acres) and yields (+5.7% to 88.7 bushels per acre) increased in 2024.
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