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Stocks of principal field crops in 2015

Feb. 4, 2016, Canada – As of Dec. 31, 2015, total stocks of wheat and canola were down compared with the same period in 2014, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada. Conversely, total stocks of corn for grain, barley and soybeans increased from the same date a year earlier, while oat stocks were stable.

Total stocks of wheat decreased 19.3 per cent from Dec. 31, 2014, to 20.7 million tonnes, as a result of a 6.2 per cent decline in production and lower carry-in stocks (-32 per cent) in 2015. Stocks held on farm totalled 16.8 million tonnes, 20.8 per cent lower compared with Dec. 31, 2014. Commercial stocks were 11.6 per cent lower at 3.9 million tonnes.

Canola stocks were 12.1 million tonnes as of Dec. 31, 2015, down 3.9 per cent from the same date in 2014. On-farm stock levels fell 7.6 per cent to 10.4 million tonnes. Meanwhile, commercial stock levels rose 28 per cent over the same period to a record high 1.7 million tonnes. Increased exports and industrial use (through crushing) has influenced the overall canola stock decline.

Total stocks of corn for grain reached 11.4 million tonnes on Dec. 31, 2015, up 17 per cent from the same date in 2014. This gain in stocks reflected an 18 per cent increase in production in 2015. The overall advance resulted from a 12.4 per cent increase in on-farm stocks to 8.6 million tonnes and a record high level of commercial stocks, up 34.1 per cent to 2.7 million tonnes.

Barley stocks rose 4.1 per cent from December 31, 2014, to 5.7 million tonnes at the end of 2015. The increase was attributable to a 6.5 per cent gain in on-farm stocks to 5.4 million tonnes. Commercial stocks, which accounted for less than five per cent of overall barley stocks, fell 32 per cent to 231 500 tonnes.

Soybean stocks as of Dec. 31, 2015, edged up one per cent from the same date in 2014 to a record high 3.4 million tonnes. Although stocks held on farm declined from the record amount of two million tonnes held on Dec. 31, 2014, commercial stocks rose 8.3 per cent to 1.4 million tonnes.

Stocks of oats were virtually unchanged at 2.6 million tonnes on Dec. 31, 2015. Stocks held on farm edged down 1.5 per cent to 2.3 million tonnes. Meanwhile, commercial stocks rose 17 per cent to 220,100 tonnes.

February 4, 2016  By Statistics Canada