An already record large 2023 US canola crop has gotten even bigger.
Friday’s USDA crop production report finalized American canola output for this past year at a new high of 1.88 million tonnes, up slightly from the government’s previous estimate of 1.81 million and 9% above the 2022 crop of 1.73 million.
Most of the year-over-year increase was due to larger seeded and harvested areas. Seeded area was up 6% to 2.34 million acres, while harvested area expanded 7% to 2.32 million acres. Yields were better as well, rising 0.6 bu/acre from the previous year to 35.9 bu/acre. If accurate, that would be the fifth highest national canola yield on record.
Production in North Dakota, the leading canola-producing state, was estimated at a record high 1.57 million tonnes, an increase of 7% from 2022. Planted and harvested area in North Dakota were both up 7% from 2022 and both were record highs. The average yield in the state was pegged at 36.2 bu/acre, down 0.2 bu from 2022.