Analysis

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Preliminary estimates of principal field crops areas

Prairie farmers planted or intended to plant record areas of canola and lentils during the 2010 planting season. In the East, Ontario and Quebec farmers seeded more soybeans than in 2009.

The Prairie provinces experienced excessive amounts of precipitation this spring with cool conditions in many areas. Producers in the northeast and central regions of Saskatchewan reported that they were less than 60% seeded and that earlier seeded areas were under water. Many reported that it would be too late in the season to finish seeding by the time the fields dry out enough to get the seeding equipment back on the land.

Canola seeded acreage a new record

Encouraged by expectations of more attractive prices for canola compared to other crops, Prairie farmers intended to increase their plantings of canola to a record area of 17.7 million acres, an increase of 10.3% or 1.7 million acres over 2009. This was the fourth annual increase in canola area in the Prairies, and exceeded the previous high of 16.1 million acres set in 2009.

Increases were reported in each Prairie province. Saskatchewan farmers led the way with an increase of 1.2 million acres (+15.7%) to 9.1 million acres. Manitoba farmers planted 3.4 million acres, an increase of 7.2%, and in Alberta 5.2 million acres were seeded, an increase of 4.0% over 2009.

Area seeded to lentils increases again

Prairie farmers reported their intentions to seed 3.4 million acres of lentils, an increase of 40.0% from the 2.4 million acres seeded in 2009 and the fourth consecutive rise in intended acres. Both Alberta and Saskatchewan reported higher acreages. Profitable price expectations for lentils were supported by strong demand from export markets.

More soybeans planted

Total soybean seeded area in Canada rose 8.0% from 2009 to 3.7 million acres.

In Quebec, the area seeded to soybeans increased to a new high of 659,800 acres, and in Ontario soybean acreage rose 1.7% to 2.4 million acres.

Soybean area in Manitoba rose 39.8% to a new high of 580,000 acres. Soybean area has increased each year since 2007 when the area planted was 230,000 acres.