Canada's 2024 crop harvest insights

Ontario farmers had the highest wheat yields

The 2024 Canadian crop harvest showed mixed results says Statistics Canada, with some crops performing exceptionally well, while others faced challenges. It is the time of year when farmers have a chance to reflect on last year's harvest and prepare for the upcoming season.

Wheat production rose by 6.1% in 2024, totaling 35 million tonnes, making it the third-largest wheat crop this century. Despite being 7% lower than the record-breaking harvest of 2013, the wheat crop has consistently exceeded 34 million tonnes in recent years. The lowest production in recent years occurred in 2021, largely due to drought.

In terms of yield, Ontario farmers achieved the highest wheat yields at 6,180 kg/ha in 2024, thanks to the prevalence of winter wheat. Nova Scotia reported the highest yields in the Maritimes, while Manitoba led the Prairies. British Columbia, however, reported the lowest wheat yields.

Durum wheat also saw a strong performance, with a 43.6% increase in production compared to the previous year, totaling 5.9 million tonnes. Manitoba farmers had the highest yield for durum wheat, outperforming their Saskatchewan counterparts.

On the downside, canola production dropped by 7% to 17.8 million tonnes, affected by hot and dry conditions in Western Canada during the summer months. This was significantly lower than the record harvest of 21.5 million tonnes in 2017.

In contrast, Quebec saw its best corn for grain harvest since 2018, although overall production decreased slightly from the previous year.

Soybean production reached 7.6 million tonnes, marking the second-best harvest on record, with yields highest in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Ontario.

Barley production continued to decline for the second consecutive year, dropping 8.6% to 8.1 million tonnes.

Photo Credit: istock-zhaojiankang