Oat, Barley Production Estimates Little Changed

Statistics Canada held its 2023 national oat and barley production estimates little changed from last month, with both still down sharply from a year ago. 

In its second crop production report for the 2023 growing season on Thursday, StatsCan pegged the nationwide oat crop at 2.43 million tonnes, versus its initial estimate last month of 2.42 million. That’s down by more than half (53.4%) from a year earlier and the smallest crop in more than a decade. Meanwhile, the barley crop was estimated at 7.84 million tonnes in today’s report, down just slightly 7.92 million in August but a heftier 21.5% fall on the year. 

At 2.04 million acres, oat harvested area was steady from last month but down about 41% on the year. Barley harvested area, at 6.57 million acres, was also unchanged from last month and up 1% versus 2022. 

The average expected national oat yield is estimated at 77.1 bu/acre, up fractionally from 76.9 bu in August but more than 21% below the previous year. The barley yield, at 54.8 bu/acre, is down from 55.3 bu last month and 22% below a year earlier. 

In the No. 1 oat production province of Saskatchewan, this year’s crop is estimated at 1 million tonnes, up from 924,000 in August but down from 2.56 million a year ago. The average provincial yield, at 73.6 bu/acre, is up from 68 bu last month but below 98.6 bu in 2022. 

This year’s Alberta barley crop is estimated at 4.45 million tonnes, little changed from 4.55 million in August and down from 5.38 million a year ago. The average yield in the province, at 61 bu/acre, was trimmed from 62.4 bu in August and is well below 75.9 bu in 2023