Canadian soybean areas to reach record high in 2014

Canadian farmers expect to plant less wheat in 2014 than they seeded in 2013, while both soybean and dry field pea areas are forecasted to increase, according to the March survey by Statistics Canada. Soybean areas could reach another record in 2014, which would mark the sixth consecutive year of historic highs.

Farmers may modify their plans prior to planting time, as some reported being undecided about their strategies for 2014. Similar to 2013, many areas of the country are experiencing a longer winter than anticipated.

Wheat

Nationally, according to planting intentions reported by farmers, total wheat area could decrease 4.8% to 24.8 million acres in 2014. Specifically, seeding intentions for spring wheat show a 5.6% decline from 2013 to 18.0 million acres in 2014, while acreage of durum wheat is expected to decrease 2.6% to 4.8 million acres.

In Saskatchewan, intentions show spring wheat acreage falling to 8.6 million acres in 2014, down 9.2% from 2013. Durum wheat acreage is expected to fall 1.5% to 4.3 million acres.

Alberta farmers are forecasting the area for seeding spring wheat to decline 1.4% from 2013 to 6.3 million acres. Durum seeding area is projected to fall 10.8% to 535,000 acres in 2014.

Manitoba farmers anticipate seeding 2.8 million acres of spring wheat, down 3.6% from 2013.

Soybeans

Canadian farmers reported that they expect to seed a record soybean area of 5.3 million acres in 2014, up 16.5% from 2013. Producers in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan all plan to seed record levels in 2014. Specifically, Ontario farmers project seeding 300,000 additional acres compared with 2013, while producers in Manitoba intend to seed an additional 250,000 acres.

Canola

Canadian farmers indicated that they may seed 19.8 million acres of canola in 2014, down 0.7% from 2013.

Saskatchewan, which accounts for 52.0% of the national intended seeding area for canola, anticipates a 1.9% decrease from 2013 to 10.3 million acres. Alberta farmers plan to seed 6.2 million acres of canola, up 1.6% from 2013, while Manitoba looks to seed 3.2 million acres in 2014, the same as in 2013.

Barley and oats

At the national level, barley seeded area is expected to decline 10.9% to 6.3 million acres. Canadian farmers also plan to seed 3.2 million acres of oats in 2014, up 0.6% from 2013.

Corn for grain

Nationally, the corn for grain seeded area is expected to decline 8.7% from 2013 to 3.4 million acres. Ontario farmers expect to seed 2.1 million acres of this total, down 7.0% from 2013. In Quebec, the corn for grain area is expected to decrease 5.9% in 2014 to 958,800 acres.

Dry field peas

Canadian farmers indicated that they intend to seed 21.0% more acres of dry field peas in 2014 compared with 2013. Saskatchewan farmers expect to seed 2.7 million acres of dry field peas in 2014, up 19.6% from 2013. Alberta producers also intend to expand their seeded acreage, increasing dry field pea areas by 25.5% to 1.3 million acres.

Main crop planted areas(000 acres)

Crop	2013	2014*	% change
Wheat	26,016	24,767	-4.8
-spring	19,043	17,978	-5.6
-durum	4,965	4,835	-2.6
-winter	2,008	1,954	-2.7
Canola	19,936	19,801	-0.7
Barley	7,083	6,311	-10.9
Soybeans	4,519	5,264	+16.5
Field peas	3,285	3,975	+21.0
Maize	3,689	3,369	-8.7
Oats	3,168	3,188	+0.6
Lentils	2,393	2,860	+19.5
Linseed	1,035	1,715	+65.7
*forecast Source: Statistics Canada