Paul Martin Commentary
The breakthrough on canola tariffs levied by China may have helped farmers decide what they will plant this spring.
The first estimate of seeding intentions was issued a few days ago by StatsCan showing Saskatchewan producers intend to increase the number of acres they devote to canola production this year. That is likely a more upbeat outlook than what would have been the prevailing thinking just a month or two back when the tariffs were in full force.
Nonetheless, the federal agency says Saskatchewan farmers will plant canola on more than 12 million acres, up a half percentage point from the previous growing season.
Barley acreage is also going up – almost eight-percent this year.
Where they will be cutting back to make room for the canola and barley is in acreage devoted to pulses and wheat. Saskatchewan accounts for roughly 90-percent of lentils grown in Canada and a large carryover from last year has prompted producers to reduce acreage by 4-percent and 16-percent for peas. Wheat acreage will be down one percent.
