Highlights

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Prairie farmers reported they intend to plant a record area of canola, and less spring wheat and flaxseed, according to the 2007 first seeding intentions survey.  In the East, grain corn acreage should move to record territory, with slightly less area devoted to soybeans.

The March seeding intentions survey, which covered 16,800 Canadian farmers, revealed that in response to economic considerations they may seed a record area of canola and field peas, but less spring wheat and flaxseed in the Prairies.  A record area of corn for grain may be planted in the East, the result of steady demand from the livestock industry and increased demand from the ethanol industry.  

Soil moisture conditions appear to appear to be improving, with many areas receiving late season snowfall.  It is too early to assess planting conditions for 2007 in areas that experienced excess moisture in 2006.      

It is important to remember for this report that economic and environmental conditions are always subject to change, requiring farmers to modify their plans prior to planting time.  

Oilseed picture remains mixed

Prairie farmers may seed a record 14.7 million acres of canola, up 11.5% or 1.5 million acres from 2006.  The previous record of 14.2 million acres was set way back in 1994.  

Farmers in all three Prairie provinces reported that they could seed more canola. Saskatchewan is leading the way up 1.0 million acres to a record 7.4 million acres, easily surpassing the previous record of 6.6 million acres set in 1994, 1999 and again in 2005.

The opposite may be true for flaxseed.  Prairie farmers could plant 650,000 less acres of flaxseed, a decline of 31.3% from 2006 year to 1.4 million acres.  The five-year average is 1.9 million acres. 

In Saskatchewan where the majority of Canadian flaxseed is grown, seeded area may be down 480,000 acres to 1.2 million acres.

Spring wheat falls, durum wheat on the rise

Prairie farmers anticipated a 16.1% decrease in intended spring wheat plantings to a possible 16.7 million acres, well below the five-year average of 18.5 million acres. Farmers striving for improved returns may plant less spring wheat in favour of canola, field peas, barley and oats. 

Spring wheat acreage should decline in all three Prairie provinces, falling to an area less than the five-year average in each province.  Saskatchewan farmers reported the largest drop of 1.8 million acres to 8.8 million acres. 

Farmers expected to plant a lot more durum wheat in 2007, an increase of 13.8% to 5.0 million acres.  The five-year average is 5.6 million acres.  Over the past decade, durum area has fluctuated considerably from over 7.0 million acres to last year’s low of 4.4 million acres. 

Durum area in both Alberta and Saskatchewan should rise, but remain below the corresponding five-year average.

Barley and oat areas jump

The total area seeded to barley on the Prairies is expected to rise 15.5% to an estimated 10.2 million acres.  In spite of the increase, this area remains less than the five-year average of 10.6 million acres. 

Farmers in all three Prairie provinces reported potential increases with Manitoba up 12.9%, Saskatchewan up 25.0% and Alberta up 8.1%.

Prairie farmers expected to plant 5.2 million acres of oats, a 23.7% gain from the 4.2 million acres seeded in 2006. 

Saskatchewan farmers reported the largest increase, up 950,000 acres to 3.0 million acres.  The five-year average is 2.2 million acres.  

Field pea area nudges up to a possible record

Field pea acreage could rise again this year by 2.3% to 3.6 million acres, and may eclipse the record of 3.5 million acres set just last year.  

Saskatchewan farmers reported the largest gain, up 95,000 acres to a record 2.9 million acres. 

Peas are used in domestic animal rations and are exported.  Strong export demand for peas has provided farmers with a solid cash market so far this crop year.

Eastern farmers set to plant record grain corn area, soybeans off slightly

Corn growers in the East reported that they intend to seed record areas of corn for grain.  This may be in response to steady demand from the livestock industry and an ever increasing demand from the ethanol industry. 

In Quebec, seeded area should rise 13.0% to 1.1 million acres, just under the record set in 2002, while Ontario acreage may rise 32.3% to 2.2 million acres, equal to the previous record set way back in 1981.   

Soybean areas could fall in Quebec and Manitoba, and remain unchanged in Ontario.

Manitoba farmers reported a strong potential decline of 120,000 acres to 240,000 acres, Quebec farmers a 2.0% decline to 476,900 acres and in Ontario, farmers intend to plant the same acreage as last year at 2.2 million acres.