Statistics Canada has released a summary of the 2024 growing season for Canadian farmers.
Across the country, total wheat production rose by 6.1 per cent from last year, to 35 million tonnes.
At the provincial level, in Alberta higher wheat yields (up over seven per cent, to 47.9 bushels per acre) in 2024, even combined with a lower harvested area, resulted in a 6.4 per cent in wheat production to 9.9 million tonnes.
Canola production fell in Alberta in 2024, due to lower yields despite a modest 0.6 per cent increase in harvested acres.
Overall Canola production across the country fell by 7 per cent, to 17.8 million tonnes in 2024, driven by both lower yields and lower harvest areas. Lower yields were also attributed to hot and dry conditions in parts of the prairies in July and August.
Corn production also fell in 2024, by 0.5 per cent overall, with a 4.6 per cent decrease in harvested area, which offset a 4.3 per cent increase in yield.
Nationally soybean production rose by 8.4 per cent to 7.6 million tonnes, a result of higher yields and a larger harvested area.
Barley production fell nationally, by 8.6 per cent to 8.1 million tonnes, mostly due to an 11.4 per cent decrease in harvested area. This was partially offset by an increased yield.
Total oat production nationally increased by a whopping 27 per cent, with a 20 per cent increase in harvested area and a 5.7 per cent increase in yield over 2023.
Leslie Cholowsky
Editor