Canadian canola production is expected to fall sharply this year, due
largely to the drought that has gripped some of the Prairies’ main
canola growing areas.
Crops are being written off in Saskatchewan and Alberta because of hot,
dry weather. Manitoba is the only prairie province where prospects for
a good canola harvest are still holding.
Most of the canola produced in Canada is grown on the Prairies.
“It’s just turning out to be a very bad year overall for the Canadian
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canola industry,” said Chris Beckman, an oilseeds analyst for
Agriculture Canada’s market analysis division.
In Saskatchewan, provincial oilseed specialist Bill Greuel anticipated
the canola crop will be one of the smallest in the past decade.
The crop is in bad shape throughout much of the province, he said. Some
of the better fields are in the southern region, while in the central
and northern areas, where the bulk of the crop is grown, poor emergence
this spring and persistent dry weather this summer have created some
dire situations.
Yields have also been reduced in Saskatchewan by insects and heat,
which in recent weeks was causing flower and pod abortion. Some of the
effects of heat blasting were offset by high humidity earlier in July.
Saskatchewan normally produces close to three million tonnes of canola,
but Roy Button of the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission said
production this year could be down by half.
As of July 26, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance had 1,400 pre-harvest claims
on canola from producers who felt their crops won’t be worth
harvesting. Some farmers are abandoning their crops or using them for
livestock feed.
The outlook in Alberta is no better. Drought covers much of the
province’s traditional canola growing area.
“Overall, it’s very depressing,” said provincial extension agronomist
Murray Hartman.
“There are lots of areas being turned under. They’re not going to have
any yield at all.”
Heat blasting is also a problem in Alberta. Crops generally were
planted late and are expected to mature later than normal.
Alberta canola production will likely be no more than half the
five-year average, Hartman said.
In Manitoba, provincial oilseeds specialist Rob Park said canola acres
are up from last year. He estimated that yields could average 25
bushels per acre compared to a 10-year provincial average of 28.5 bu.
per acre.
While heat caused some damage earlier in July, the effects were
buffered by high humidity. Moisture is needed to help fill the crop,
however, and bertha armyworms could still be a threat.
“We’re certainly not home-free yet,” Park said.
Statistics Canada began a survey in late July to gauge Canadian grain
production, including canola. It will be released Aug. 23.
In September, Statistics Canada will release its estimate of carryout
stocks for the crop year ending July 31, 2002.
Figures released in late June suggested the number of acres seeded to
canola this spring was up in Canada over the previous year.
Statistics Canada estimated that 9.95 million acres of canola were
planted in 2002 compared to 9.46 million acres in 2001. Most of that
was planted in Western Canada.
The estimated increase in seeded acres was met with skepticism by the
canola trade.
