By Robb M. Stewart
OTTAWA--Canadian farmers are projected to produce more soybeans this year but less wheat and canola as dry conditions in western Canada drive yields lower.
Overall plant health in the Canadian prairies appears to be lower to much lower than normal with lower-than-average precipitation and high temperatures, raising the possibility yields will be down, Statistics Canada said Thursday. In eastern Canada, rainfall has been above average since the beginning of the year and, in general, temperatures over the last month of the growing season were slightly warmer than normal, the data agency said.
Nationally, wheat production is forecast to fall 13.1% from last year to 29.8 million metric tons in 2023, based on the most recent yield model estimates using satellite imagery and agroclimatic data. Wheat yields are expected to fall 17.6% to 41.7 bushels an acre across the Prairies, offsetting an anticipated 5.6% increase in the harvested area to 26.3 million acres.
Canola production in the country is projected to drop by 7.1% to 17.4 million tons, with yields set to fall 9.8% to 35.0 bushels an acre. The harvested area for canola is expected to increase 3.0% to 21.9 million acres, the agency said.
National soybean output is estimated to increase 2.7% on-year to 6.7 million tons, though yields are estimated to fall by 3.7% to 44.2 bushels an acre while the harvested area is anticipated to increase 6.8% to 5.6 million acres.
Final survey-based production estimates for 2023 are scheduled to be released Dec. 4.
Write to Robb M. Stewart at robb.stewart@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
09-14-23 0923ET
