Canada: Final crop reports show strong yields, quality

Crops yielded above average across the Prairies this year, and quality is generally average to above-average.

According to provincial crop reports, Saskatchewan crops all yielded higher than the 10-year average, while Manitoba and Alberta crops yielded higher than the five-year averages.

Wade Sobkowich from the Western Grain Elevator Association said final numbers aren’t yet in, but a record or near record crop is expected.

The highest crop on record is 78.5 million tonnes in 2020.

“This year, reports are that the overall tonnage will be somewhere in the 80s,” he said in an email.

Canada’s Grain Monitor report for September noted Statistics Canada’s estimate for this year was 76.7 million tonnes, up 3.8 per cent from last year.

Carry-forward stocks in July were 6.6 million tonnes, pushing overall supply to 83. 2 million tonnes, that report said. It would be the second largest ever supply behind 87.2 million tonnes in 2020-21.

Harvest finished quite early in Alberta, supported by dry conditions, while farmers in the other two provinces were still working on some crops in late October.

Corn and sunflowers were among the last in Manitoba. In Saskatchewan, some oilseeds and chickpeas remained. Late-season rain and uneven maturity due to moisture in late July and early August contributed to the later harvests.

Quality of this year’s crop appears to be average to above-average across the board, according to the Canadian Grain Commission.

The CGC Harvest Sample Program continues until Dec. 31. As of Nov. 4, farmers had submitted 5, 746 samples, about 2,000 fewer than last year at this time due to the mail strike.

Kerri Pleskach, who manages the program, said the samples that were received represented the entire region, but she still wants more.

She said quality was holding as additional samples came in, with Canada Western Red Spring Wheat at 13.8 per cent protein, in line with the 30-year average, and 92 per cent in the top two grades.

Ninety-five percent of canola samples graded at the top, while 97 per cent of lentils came in at 1 Canada or 2.

Durum disappointed, with just 46.9 per cent in the top two grades compared to 93 per cent in 2024.

“The predominant downgrading factor is severe midge damage,” she said.

Alberta. About 76 per cent of hard red spring wheat graded 1 Canada Western compared to the five-year average of 56 per cent. Nineteen per cent came in at 2 CW and three per cent at 3 CW.

Durum graded lower than usual, with 48 per cent 1 CW compared to the five-year average of 55 per cent. About 23 per cent is 2 CW and 17 per cent, 3 CW.

Thirty-one per cent of barley graded as malt, and that is bang on the average. Sixty per cent graded 1 CW and nine per cent, 2 CW.

Just 24 per cent of oats graded 1 CW, while 26 per cent went 2 CW and 49 per cent, 3 CW. The five-year averages are 34, 29 and 37 percent, respectively.

Canola graded 92 per cent 1 Canada, six per cent 2 CAN and one per cent 3 CAN. Typically, 85 per cent grades No. 1.

For dry peas, just nine perc ent graded 1 CAN compared to the average 24 per cent. Seventy-seven per cent was 2 CAN and 13 per cent 3 CAN.

The ministry did not provide final yield estimates in its last report.

Saskatchewan. Yields reported from the provincial agriculture ministry in October are: winter wheat, 44.1 bushels per acre (40.2 is the 10-year average); fall rye, 52.6 bu. per ac. (22.2); oats, 94.4 (82.6); barley, 70 (60.1); hard spring wheat 51.5 (42.2); other spring wheat, 55.5 (46.4); durum 39.4 (33.6); triticale, 25.3 (no average available); field peas 40.8 (34.1); lentils 1,785.5 pounds per acre (1231.7); canaryseed, 1354 lb. per acre(1121.9); chickpeas 1716.2 lb. per acre (1163.9); mustard 880.1 lb. per acre (857.9); canola 42.4 bu. per acre (34.3); soybeans, 39.6 (25.7) and flax, 26.6 bu. per acre (22.2).

Some crops were downgraded due to dry conditions, pests and late-season rain.

Canola quality is higher than the 10-year average with 86 per cent grading 1 CAN, 13 per cent 2 CAN and one per cent 3 CAN. The 10-year average is 82 per cent 1 CAN.

Hard red spring wheat graded 63 per cent 1 CW, 29 per cent 2 CW, six per cent 3 CW and two per cent feed. The 10-year average is 48 per cent 1 CW, 32 per cent 2 CW and 13 per cent feed.

Durum quality was lower than usual, with 23 per cent at 1 CW compared to the average 38 per cent. Thirty per cent went 2 CW, compared to 29 per cent, and 34 per cent was 3 CW, up 15 points over the average.

Barley quality came in at 27 per cent malt, 60 per cent 1 CW and 13 per cent 2 CW and sample. Those figures are close to the averages of 31, 50 and 19 per cent.

Field peas graded 41 per cent 1 CAN, 52 per cent 2 CAN and seven per cent 3 CAN, all at average, while 22 per cent of lentils went 1 CAN, 59 per cent 2 CAN, 17 per cent 3 CAN and two per cent sample. The 10-year average lentil grades are 31 percent 1 CAN, 51 per cent 2 CAN, 16 per cent 3 CAN and two per cent sample.

Manitoba reported winter wheat yields ranging from 50 to 90 bu. per acre and fall rye from 60 to 110 bu. per acre.

Spring wheat yields were estimated between 50 and 90, with an average 60 bu. per acre. Oat ranged from 80 to 120 bu. per acre and barley yielded 80 to 110 bu. per acre.

Grain corn harvest was not complete, but yields were reported between 90 and 120 bu. per acre in areas with limited moisture and 130 to 150 bu. per acre in higher moisture regions.

Canola yields average 45 bu. per acre and flax was average to above average at 25 to 35 bu. per acre.

Pea yields were below average to average in the northwest but average and above elsewhere, to range from 30 to 70 bu. per acre. Soybeans averaged 40 bu. per acre.

Tags: corn, lentils, sunflower, crops, barley, oats, canola, pea, soybeans, yielded, Canada, carry-forward stocks, chickpeas, durum, spring wheat, dry peas, hard red spring wheat