Just as we shouldn’t count our chickens before they hatch we shouldn’t project the grain crop before it’s in the bin but we have the first broad estimate of this year’s outlook for overall production.
StatsCan has developed a model for estimating the volume of the crop and it is suggesting we are looking at a pretty good year, volume-wise.
Canola production across the nation will be up, largely on the strength of Saskatchewan’s performance.
Farmers will take in 20 million tonnes of canola this year with Saskatchewan accounting for more than half of the overall volume as yields are up six per cent and more land was devoted to the crop.
StatsCan is estimating an average production of nearly 41 bushels an acre in Saskatchewan.
Wheat will be down in Saskatchewan this year as yields are marginally smaller at nearly 45 bushels an acre and a 2.5 per cent reduction in acreage.
Barley yields are better this year generating an increase in overall volume. Barley production is estimated at 68 bushels an acre, which more than offsets the crop’s smaller footprint.
