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StatsCan: Poor Prairie production conditions lower all field crop stocks except corn

February 22, 2022  By Statistics Canada


As of Dec. 31, 2021, total stocks of corn for grain were up compared with one year earlier. By contrast, total stocks of wheat, canola, barley, oats, dry peas, lentils and soybeans were all down compared with the same date in 2020. Production of most principal field crops decreased from a year earlier because of poor growing conditions in Western Canada contributing to the decline in total stocks.

For the period ending Dec. 31, 2021, grain movements decreased in comparison with the same period one year earlier, caused in part by lower supply. In addition, excessive rainfall in British Columbia brought on washouts and landslides, which impacted rail routes into Vancouver in November, affecting the movement of grain in Western Canada.

Lower production decreases wheat stocks

As of Dec. 31, total stocks of wheat were down 38.0 per cent year-over-year to 15.6 million tonnes. Commercial stocks rose 14.2 per cent to 4.3 million tonnes but were offset by on-farm stocks, which fell 47.2 per cent to 11.2 million tonnes. Lower on-farm stocks were mainly driven by lower production in 2021, which fell because of poor yields caused by drought conditions in the Prairie provinces.

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Producer deliveries decreased by 26.4 per cent to 10.7 million tonnes from a year earlier, as deliveries of wheat excluding durum (-22.0 per cent) and durum (-45.0 per cent) fell.

Canola stocks fall on low supply

As of Dec. 31, canola stocks were down 43.1 per cent year-over-year to 7.6 million tonnes, their lowest level since 2007. On-farm stocks fell 50.8 per cent to 5.6 million tonnes, offsetting commercial stocks, which rose 4.3 per cent to 1.9 million tonnes. The decline in on-farm stocks was largely attributable to low total supply (-37.5 per cent).

Despite strong international demand, exports fell 43.1 per cent compared with one year earlier. Exports to several trading partners were down from a year earlier. Industrial use, mainly canola crush, fell 13.0 per cent to 3.8 million tonnes.

Corn for grain stocks higher as production and imports rise

Total stocks of corn for grain rose 4.1 per cent year-over-year to 11.5 million tonnes as of Dec. 31. Commercial stocks rose 34.1 per cent to 4.0 million tonnes, while on-farm stocks decreased by 6.9 per cent to 7.5 million tonnes.

Imports of corn for grain more than tripled, climbing 227.1 per cent to a record 1.7 million tonnes, compared with the same period one year earlier. This was likely caused by high demand for animal feed in Western Canada, where drought conditions reduced the availability of other feed grains, such as barley.

Soybean stocks down on lower opening stocks

Soybean stocks fell 6.4 per cent to 3.3 million tonnes as of Dec. 31, compared with the same period one year earlier. An increase in on-farm stocks (+4.9 per cent, to 2.0 million tonnes) was offset by a decrease in commercial stocks (-19.3 per cent, to 1.3 million tonnes).

Barley exports rise despite lower supply

As of Dec. 31, stocks of barley decreased by 43.6 per cent year-over-year to 3.1 million tonnes. On-farm stocks were down 45.4 per cent to 2.8 million tonnes, while commercial stocks fell 23.3 per cent to 345,500 tonnes.

Deliveries of barley off-farm edged down 1.1 per cent to 2.6 million tonnes. Domestic use – largely for feed – fell 39.1 per cent to 2.7 million tonnes, while exports rose 6.6 per cent to 1.9 million tonnes, mostly destined for China.

Domestic use of oats declines

Stocks of oats fell 39.1 per cent year-over-year to 1.7 million tonnes as of Dec. 31. On-farm stocks fell 43.8 per cent to 1.4 million tonnes, while commercial stocks decreased by 2.3 per cent to 297,600 tonnes.

Domestic disappearance fell by 42.7 per cent to 447,100 tonnes, largely because of lower feed use caused by lower supply, compared with a year earlier.

Dry pea and lentil stocks fall

Total stocks of dry peas were down 42.6 per cent year-over-year to 1.6 million tonnes as of Dec. 31. On-farm stocks fell 46.7 per cent to 1.3 million tonnes, while commercial stocks fell 13.9 per cent to 309,500 tonnes.

Total stocks of lentils were down by 36.2 per cent to 1.2 million tonnes because of lower on-farm stocks, which declined by 38.5 per cent to 1.0 million tonnes. Commercial stocks fell 13.6 per cent to 146,200 tonnes.

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