Statistics Canada last week forecast Canadian canola production this year at a record 13,192,500 tonnes, up 11% from 11,866,200 tonnes in 2010. The previous record crop at 12,643,000 tonnes was harvested in 2008. The canola forecast was contained in Statistics Canada’s July 31 Estimates of Production of Principal Field Crops. The report was based on data collected from producers from July 25 through Aug. 2. Statistics Canada said Canadian Prairie farmers seeded a record canola area to be harvested of 17.8 million acres. Statistics Canada forecast an average Prairie canola yield of 32.3 bus per acre. Canadian canola production has surged over the past 10 years. In 2001, the Canadian canola crop was just more than 5 million tonnes.

Statistics Canada projected production of all wheat in Canada at 24,076,000 tonnes, up 4% from 23,166,800 tonnes in 2010, including spring wheat at 17,365,200 tonnes, down 1% from 17,484,900 tonnes, durum at 3,748,900 tonnes, up 24% from 3,024,700 tonnes, and winter wheat at 2,961,900 tonnes, up 12% from 2,657,200 tonnes a year ago. The all-wheat forecast compared with the most recent U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast for Canadian wheat production at 21,500,000 tonnes. Statistics Canada commented, “In the West, farmers reported that recent hot, sunny weather may temper production losses that had been anticipated earlier because of a damp, late spring with persistent wet conditions in many areas.” The recent five-year average Canadian all-wheat outturn was 24,789,000 tonnes.

Canadian oats production was forecast at 2,886,400 tonnes, up 26% from 2,297,600 tonnes in 2010. The recent five-year average Canadian oats outturn was 3,605,000 tonnes. The 2011 barley crop was forecast at 8,274,400 tonnes, up 9% from 7,605,300 tonnes a year ago. Canadian corn production was forecast at 9,983,300 tonnes, down 15% from 11,714,500 tonnes in 2010. Soybean production was forecast at 3,862,100 tonnes, down 11% from 4,345,300 tonnes last year. Flaxseed production was forecast at 365,100 tonnes, down 14% from 423,000 tonnes in 2010.