Stocks of principal field crops, December 31, 2022

Released: 2023-02-07

As of December 31, total stocks of wheat, canola, barley, oats, corn for grain and soybeans were all up compared with the same date in 2021.

In general, stocks of principal field crops increased compared with the same date a year earlier because of higher production, most notably in Western Canada, where improved growing conditions resulted in better yields.

Wheat stocks rise as production rebounds

Total wheat stocks were up 32.6% year over year to 22.3 million tonnes as of December 31. On-farm stocks rose 45.0% to 18.1 million tonnes, while commercial stocks decreased 3.2% to 4.2 million tonnes.

Deliveries of wheat off farm rose 32.5% to a record-high 15.3 million tonnes, surpassing the previous record of 14.5 million tonnes set in 2020. Wheat exports climbed 58.6% to 10.4 million tonnes.

Canola exports and crushing rise on higher supply

Canola stocks were up 29.3% year over year to 11.4 million tonnes as of December 31. The increase was attributable to an increase in on-farm stocks (+42.3% to 9.7 million tonnes), offsetting a decrease in commercial stocks (-16.8% to 1.6 million tonnes).

Higher canola production in 2022 (+32.2%) led to an increase in total canola stocks. Canola exports for this period were up 24.7% (+723 600 tonnes), while industrial use, mainly for crushing, rose 5.6% to 4.0 million tonnes.

Corn for grain imports fall

Total stocks of corn for grain were up 2.9% year over year to 11.9 million tonnes as of December 31, driven by higher carry-over stocks (+4.6%). Both on-farm stocks (+3.3%) and commercial stocks (+2.2%) rose compared with the same date in 2021.

Imports of corn for grain fell 73.7% in December 31, 2022 compared with the same date in 2021, likely because of reduced demand for corn for grain as animal feed in Western Canada.

Soybean stocks are up on higher production

Soybean stocks rose 14.0% year over year to 3.7 million tonnes as of December 31. On-farm stocks increased 16.1% to 2.2 million tonnes, while commercial stocks rose 11.0% to 1.5 million tonnes.

Domestic use of barley rises

Barley stocks increased 60.9% year over year to 5.1 million tonnes as of December 31. Both on-farm stocks (+67.3% to 4.7 million tonnes) and commercial stocks (+9.2% to 378 000 tonnes) rose compared with the same date a year earlier.

Domestic use—largely for feed—increased 24.9% to 3.6 million tonnes, roughly in line with the five-year average, as higher supply possibly resulted in livestock producers opting to return to feeding barley.

Oat stocks rise to record levels

Stocks of oats nearly doubled, rising 90.8% year over year to a record-high 3.6 million tonnes as of December 31, because of higher production (+80.3%). On-farm stocks climbed 108.3% to 3.3 million tonnes, while commercial stocks fell 2.3% to 291 000 tonnes.

Domestic disappearance rose 61.8% to 857 000 tonnes, likely because of higher animal feed use compared with the same date in 2021.

Contact information

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