Statistics Canada Releases Production Report

Canadian farmers reported increased production of wheat and barley in 2018, while canola, corn for grain, soybeans and oat production was down from the previous year.

Despite dry conditions, especially in the Prairie provinces throughout the spring and early summer, increased precipitation in some regions in late July and August helped crop growth.

However, snow and cold temperatures in some parts of the country delayed harvest and may have affected the overall quality and quantity of the crop.

Nationally, farmers reported producing 31.8 million tonnes of wheat in 2018, up 6.0% from 2017. Farmers in Manitoba reported producing 4.7 million tonnes of wheat in 2018, up from 4.4 million tonnes in 2017.

Total canola production declined from 21.3 million tonnes in 2017 to 20.3 million tonnes this year. Production in Manitoba rose 5.4% from 2017 to 3.3 million tonnes in 2018.

Farmers reported that soybean production fell from 7.7 million tonnes in 2017 to 7.3 million tonnes in 2018. In Manitoba, smaller harvested area and lower yields led to a 29.6% drop in production, from 2.2 million tonnes to 1.6 million tonnes.