As of December 31, total stocks of most principal field crops were down compared with the same date a year earlier. Total stocks (including commercial and on-farm inventories) generally fell, as a result of reduced crop production in 2009.
Total stocks of canola stood at 8.8 million metric tonnes, down 4.3% or 389 000 tonnes from December 31, 2008. Canola supplies were down as a result of a 6.5% production decline in 2009.
Commercial stocks rose 26.8% to 1.0 million tonnes, while Prairie on-farm stocks were down by 7.0% to 7.8 million tonnes.
Total stocks of soybeans reached 2.2 millions tonnes, up 9.2% from December 31, 2008, the result of an increase in production in Ontario in 2009. The five-year average is 2.2 million tonnes.
In Ontario, on-farm stocks rose 21.9% to 975 000 tonnes, while Quebec on-farm stocks decreased 14.6% to 205 000 tonnes.
Total stocks of grain corn were down 8.3% from December 31, 2008, to 8.6 million tonnes, the result of less production in 2009. The five-year average is 8.7 million tonnes.
On-farm stocks fell in both Ontario and Quebec. Commercial stocks of grain corn (-2.6%) also declined.
Total stocks of major and special crops at December 31
| | 2008 | 2009 | Five-year average | 2008 to 2009 |
|---|
| | thousands of metric tonnes | % change |
| Total wheat | 22 024 | 21 685 | 20 826 | -1.5 |
| Wheat excluding durum | 17 231 | 16 103 | 16 213 | -6.5 |
| Durum wheat | 4 793 | 5 582 | 4 613 | 16.5 |
| Canola | 9 151 | 8 762 | 7 295 | -4.3 |
| Corn for grain | 9 413 | 8 628 | 8 721 | -8.3 |
| Barley | 8 500 | 7 553 | 8 465 | -11.1 |
| Oats | 3 402 | 2 838 | 2 867 | -16.6 |
| Dry field peas | 2 550 | 2 745 | 1 886 | 7.6 |
| Soybeans | 2 037 | 2 225 | 2 177 | 9.2 |
| Flaxseed | 600 | 843 | 609 | 40.5 |
| Lentils | 629 | 772 | 685 | 22.7 |
| Rye | 218 | 254 | 256 | 16.5 |
| Mustard seed | 116 | 200 | 214 | 72.4 |
| Canary seed | 188 | 155 | 242 | -17.6 |
| Chick peas | 125 | 94 | 112 | -24.8 |
| Sunflower seed | 71 | 92 | 78 | 29.6 |