Corn, Soybean Production Estimates Up

Estimated national corn and soybean production has been revised higher from August, with farmers in Ontario expected to see record corn yields this year.

Tuesday’s updated crop production report from Statistics Canada put this year’s Canadian corn crop at 14.36 million tonnes, up from the agency’s August estimate of 13.67 million and roughly 6% above a year earlier. Meanwhile, national soybean output is now projected at 5.88 million tonnes, up slightly from 5.82 million in August but still down from 6.35 million in 2020.

In Ontario, corn production is forecast at 9.58 million tonnes, up from 9.1 million in August and 7.5% above the previous year, as the average expected yield was revised all the way up to a new high of 179.1 bu/acre from 169.4 bu/acre last month and 163.9 bu/acre.

As for soybeans, this year’s Ontario crop is seen at 3.79 million tonnes, little changed from the August estimate but down 2.8% from a year ago. At 47.7 bu/acre, the average expected provincial soybean yield is down from 48.3 bu in August and almost 6% below a year earlier.

In Manitoba, soybean production is projected to decrease 22.2% year-over-year to 905,000 tonnes in 2021, although that is still up from last month’s estimate of 804,700 tonnes. The average yield in the province, at 25.6 bu/acre, is up from 22.7 bu last month although still 31.4% below a year ago.

Corn production in Manitoba is estimated at 1.04 million tonnes, versus 923,500 last month and 1.14 million in 2020. The average yield is now seen at 111.1 bu/acre, up from 103.6 bu in August but down from 122.2 bu a year earlier.

In Quebec, soybean production is projected at 1.08 million tonnes, little changed from 1.06 million last month and down from 1.15 million in 2020. Corn output in the province, at 3.56 million tonnes, is also little changed from 3.5 million in August and up from 3.26 million a year ago.