Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Prairie drought cutting Canadian grain harvest

Statistics Canada is estimating wheat production will decline to the second-lowest total in eight years and 14 per cent than last year.

It calculates a crop of 29.5 million based on data from satellite surveillance and climate up to July 31.


Canada is the world’s fourth-largest wheat exporter and the biggest shipper of canola, which is used largely to produce vegetable oil.


Canola production is estimated at 17.6 million tonnes, down six per cent from last year and the second=lowest in nine years.


Production of spring wheat is estimated to decline by 14.5 per cent to 22.1 million tonnes. Durum’s forecast is down by 28 per cent to 4.3 million tonnes.


Oat production is projected at 2.4 million tonnes, which is less than half as much as last year and the lowest since 1991.


Corn production is estimated to increase by one per cent and soybeans by 2.9 per cent.


Statistics Canada will release new estimates on Sept. 14 using data as of Aug. 31.