Farm cash receipts, January to March 2026
Released: 2026-05-27
$25.1 billion
January to March 2026
-1.6% 
(year-over-year change)
Farm cash receipts in Canada totalled $25.1 billion in the first quarter, down $406.9 million (-1.6%) from the same period the year before. Program payments (-$592.9 million) and receipts for crops (-$418.3 million) contributed to the overall decline, which was moderated by receipts for livestock (+$604.3 million).
Chart 1
Total crop, livestock and direct payment receipts as a proportion of total farm cash receipts, Canada, January to March, 2016 to 2026
Compared with the same period the previous year, farm cash receipts were mixed across the provinces in the first quarter, where Alberta (-$537.6 million) led the decreases and Saskatchewan (+$117.2 million) posted the largest increase.
Chart 2
Farm cash receipts by category, by province or region, January to March 2026
Lower prices and marketings push crop receipts down
In the first quarter, total crop receipts fell 3.2% compared with the same period a year earlier to $12.5 billion, as most crops recorded declines in receipts. Strong global production of major cereals and grains led to lower prices and export quantities.
Receipts for cereals and grains fell in the first quarter due to lower receipts for wheat (excluding durum) (-$299.4 million), durum (-$112.4 million) and corn (-$82.4 million). Similar to most grain crops in this period, wheat (excluding durum) receipts fell on account of declines in both prices (-8.6%) and marketings (-6.0%). Lower corn production in Eastern Canada impacted total marketings (-11.4%) while higher prices (+1.4%) were not enough to mitigate the decline in corn receipts.
In the first quarter, receipts for oilseeds varied across crop types. Soybean receipts reported a decline of $86.1 million on fewer marketings (-18.9%). Lower supply and higher exports supported soybean prices (+7.5%), which moderated the drop in receipts. Receipts for canola (+$476.4 million) and flaxseed (+$11.5 million) were higher mainly due to increased marketings.
Receipts fell for most specialty crops in the first quarter, mainly because of decreased prices. Strong lentil production in 2025 put downward pressure on prices (-40.4%) in the first quarter of 2026, as higher marketings (+43.1%) helped to mitigate the decline in lentil receipts (-$53.6 million).
Cattle prices continue to drive the rise in livestock receipts
Total livestock receipts rose 5.5% to $11.6 billion in the first quarter, on continued gains in most prices.
Receipts for cattle (+$286.2 million) and calves (+$104.3 million) accounted for nearly two-thirds of the increase in livestock receipts in the first quarter. Higher prices for cattle (+17.8%) and calves (+35.3%) caused the growth in receipts, while tight supply led to lower marketings (-9.6%) for both commodities. Higher prices were unable to offset the lower quantity of international exports, while strong prices and more modest decreases in the number of cattle slaughtered supported a rise in slaughter receipts.
Supply-managed receipts totalled $4.0 billion in the first quarter, an increase of $163.8 million (+4.3%) compared with the same quarter in 2025. Receipts for eggs for consumption (+$90.5 million) drove the rise in supply-managed receipts, due to stronger marketings (+15.3%) and higher producer prices (+4.0%). Receipts for chickens for meat (+$65.4 million) were up as a result of higher marketings (+5.0%) after the Chicken Farmers of Canada raised quota allocations to meet increasing demand.
Program payments down due to lower crop insurance payments
Total direct payments fell 36.5% to $1.0 billion in the first quarter. Saskatchewan (-$279.2 million) and Alberta (-$274.7 million) led the decline. Crop insurance payments (-$495.8 million) accounted for over 80% of the drop in payments.
Note to readers
The next quarterly release of Farm Cash Receipts will occur on August 31, 2026, and will include data for January to June 2026.
Revised estimates of net farm income for 2025 will be available on November 24, 2026.
All data in this release are in current dollars. Farm cash receipts measure the gross revenue of farm businesses. They include sales of crops and livestock products (except sales between farms in the same province) and program payments. Receipts are recorded when the money is paid to farmers. These do not represent their bottom line, as farmers must pay their expenses and loans and cover depreciation.
Farm cash receipts are, for the most part, based on monthly marketings and the monthly prices of various commodities. Marketings are quantities sold, using various units of measure.
Data are extracted from administrative files and derived from other Statistics Canada surveys and other sources. These data are subject to revision.
For details on farm cash receipts and net farm income for 2025, see the "Farm income" release in today's Daily.
For more information on agriculture and food, visit the Agriculture and Food Statistics portal.
The Census of Agriculture is underway in May. Every five years, farm operators across Canada complete the Census of Agriculture. Insights from the 2026 Census will provide crucial information about the agriculture sector in Canada to help make business decisions.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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