Grain World: Canadian canola acres shifting into wheat

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Published: March 16, 2013

, ,

Canadian farmers will plant more spring wheat and less canola in 2013, said Brenda Tjaden Lepp, chief analyst with FarmLink Marketing Solutions in a presentation at the annual Wild Oats Grain World conference in Winnipeg, Feb. 25.

Factoring in relative returns, rotational issues, and what she was hearing from clients, Tjaden Lepp forecast spring wheat area in the country rising to 17.5 million, from 16.9 million in 2012. Meanwhile, canola area is expected to decline to 20 million acres, from 21.5 million the previous year.

Read Also

The trade and politics panel at Seeds Canada's annual conference included Karis Gutter, left, of Corteva Agriscience, Tyler McCann of the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute and Michael Harvey, of the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance. Photo: John Greig

CUSMA access key among other trade noise: Seeds Canada panel

Seeds Canada conference panelists say Canada needs to stay focused and wait as U.S. trade and tariff chaos develops, and a Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement review looms

Tjaden Lepp expected to see a shift in wheat area towards mid-grade varieties and away from the higher-protein wheat traditionally grown in the Prairies. Durum area is also expected to decline slightly, to 4.3 million acres, from 4.7 million, due to a lack of adequate price signals.

In addition to losing some area to wheat, some canola acres will also be going into oats, soybeans, and peas in 2013, said Tjaden Lepp.

However, she noted that canola acreage projections could have declined even further were it not for the relatively firm prices in recent weeks.

FarmLink was forecasting relatively steady barley acres, at about 7.5 million. However, as in wheat, Tjaden Lepp expected to see a shift away from malting barley and towards more feed.

Oats area is forecast to rise by 12 per cent, to 3.2 million, according to Tjaden Lepp.

Total pea area is forecast at 3.5 million acres, from 3.3 million in 2012, with some areas shifting out of yellow and into green varieties. Lentil area is forecast to decline to 2.3 million acres, from 2.5 million, according to Tjaden Lepp.

Special crop area is generally forecast to hold steady, or decline, as chickpeas, mustard, sunflowers, and dry beans are turning more into contracted crops, she added.

About the author

Phil Franz-Warkentin

Phil Franz-Warkentin

Editor - Daily News

Phil Franz-Warkentin grew up on an acreage in southern Manitoba and has reported on agriculture for over 20 years. Based in Winnipeg, his writing has appeared in publications across Canada and internationally. Phil is a trusted voice on the Prairie radio waves providing daily futures market updates. In his spare time, Phil enjoys playing music and making art.

explore

Stories from our other publications