Statistics Canada says that this year Canadian farmers reported seeding less canola and soybeans acres, crops that were both at record levels in 2017.

Canadian soybean acres are down about 13.2 per cent to 6.3 million acres.

Canadian farmers reported seeding 22.7 million acres of canola in 2018, down 1.1% from 23 million acres in 2017.

Canadian farmers reported an overall increase in the area sown to all wheat varieties in 2018, up 10.4% to 24.7 million acres. The gain was mainly driven by a 9.5% rise in spring wheat seeded area, which increased by 1.5 million acres in 2018. Durum wheat seeded area rose by 980,400 acres (+18.8%), which has also contributed to the gain of wheat area sown in 2018.

Canadian farmers reported their total acreage seeded to corn for grain remained relatively stable at 3.6 million acres in 2018, up 1.6% from 2017.

Total area seeded to barley rose 12.7% from last year to 6.5 million acres in 2018. Canadian farmers reported seeding 3.1 million acres of oats, down 4.6% from 2017.

Total seeded acreage of dry peas and lentils have also decreased this year, potentially as a result of tariffs imposed by India. Canadian farmers reported that areas seeded to lentils decreased 14.5% in 2018 to 3.8 million acres. Acreage seeded to dry peas fell 12.0% to 3.6 million acres.

The USDA also released its updated acreage report today. Corn plantings at 89.1 million acres, soybeans at 89.6 million acres, all wheat at 47.8 million acres. All three numbers increased from the March estimate.

 

Send your news tips, story ideas and comments to jgiles@goldenwestradio.com