Stocks of Principal Field Crops
As of March 31, total stocks of canola and barley fell significantly compared with the same date in 2010. Meanwhile, total stocks of corn for grain rose slightly above March 2010 levels, the result of increased production in 2010.
Total stocks of canola stood at 4.9 million metric tonnes as of March 31, down 22.8% or 1.4 million tonnes from the same date in 2010. Overall, total stocks at March 31 were approaching 2007 and 2008 levels, after having increased substantially in 2009 and 2010. Prairie on-farm stocks fell 34.9% to 3.4 million tonnes, with large declines reported in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Commercial stocks of canola rose 38.4% to 1.4 million tonnes. Prairie production of canola fell in 2010 as a result of a lower yield.
Total stocks of barley fell to 3.5 million tonnes as of March 31, down 31.0% from 5.1 million tonnes reported in March 2010. Barley production fell significantly in 2010, the result of a large decline in harvested area. This was the second annual decrease since 2009. On-farm barley stocks fell 33.4% to 3.0 million tonnes, and declines were noted in all three Prairie provinces. Commercial stocks of barley declined 12.4% to 510 000 tonnes.
Total stocks of corn for grain at the national level reached 5.9 million tonnes as of March 31, up 1.9% from the same date in 2010, and remained near the record high of 6.0 million tonnes set in 2009. There was a strong increase in crop production in 2010, the result of large increases in crop yield. Over the last four years, the total stocks of corn for grain have been close to the 2009 record high. Commercial stocks of corn for grain rose 226 000 tonnes to 1.8 million tonnes, a 14.3% increase.
Note: The March Farm Survey of 12,600 Canadian farmers is a survey of stocks of principal field crops conducted from March 24 to March 31, 2011. Farmers were asked to report the amounts of grain, oilseeds and special crops in on-farm storage. Data on commercial stocks of western major crops originate from the Canadian Grain Commission. Commercial stocks of corn and soybeans are estimated by a Statistics Canada sample of grain elevators in Eastern Canada. Data on commercial stocks of special crops originate from a survey of handlers and agents of special crops.
National supply-disposition tables for the major grains and special crops are included in this report and will be included in future production and stock reports. Methodology details are published annually in the October issue of Cereals and Oilseeds Review (22-007-X, free).
Stocks data are subject to revision during the two years following their initial publication. Revisions are published in the July stocks report, which is released in September.
Available on CANSIM: tables 001-0004, 001-0010, 001-0017 to 001-0020 and 001-0040 to 001-0043.
Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 3401, 3403, 3443, 3464 and 3476.
The publication Field Crop Reporting Series: "Stocks of principal field crops at March 31, 2011," Vol. 90, no. 3 (22-002-X, free), is now available from the Key resource module of our website under Publications.
Preliminary data of principal field crop areas will be released on June 23.
For further information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Yves Gilbert (613-951-2577; yves.gilbert@statcan.gc.ca) or Faye Price (204-983-2856; faye.price@statcan.gc.ca), Agriculture Division.
Source: Statistics Canada