Canada warns of drop in wheat, canola yields

Canada is expecting a significant drop in wheat and canola production this year after cold and rain delayed seeding in its vast Western prairie provinces, according to Statistics Canada.

Wheat production in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta provinces is expected to fall 18.5 per cent from last year to 20 million (metric) tonnes, while canola yields are to drop 16.3 per cent to 10.3 million tonnes, the government agency said.

Nationwide, total wheat production is expected to fall to 22.2 million tonnes while canola falls to 10.4 million tonnes.

The estimates are based on a September survey of 14,000 Canadian farmers. Firm harvest numbers are to be published in December.

Total barley production is also expected to fall to 8.2 million tonnes, while soybean production is forecast to reach a new high of four million tonnes after rising steadily over the past three years.