OTTAWA — Canadian wheat stocks held in all positions on March 31, 2015, totaled 16,738,000 tonnes, down 25% from 22,346,000 tonnes in 2014, according to Statistics Canada. Stocks still were greater than those held on March 31, 2013, at 14,544,000 tonnes.

In commentary accompanying its March 31 grain stocks estimates issued on May 6, Statistics Canada said, “As of March 31, total stocks of wheat, canola, corn for grain, barley and oats had returned to levels comparable to those seen in the years prior to 2014 at the same date, as 2014 stocks at March 31 reflected a bumper harvest from 2013.”

Statistics Canada said the decline in March 31 wheat stocks compared with 2014 was driven by stocks held on farms, which dropped 31% to 12.3 million tonnes. Commercial wheat stocks on March 31 were 4.4 million tonnes, up 1% from a year earlier.

Statistics Canada estimated March 31 durum stocks at 2,318,000 tonnes, down 42% from 4,012,000 tonnes in 2014 and compared with 2,957,000 tonnes in 2013.

March 31 stocks of wheat excluding durum were estimated at 14,420,000 tonnes, down 21% from 18,334,000 tonnes in 2014 and compared with 11,587,000 tonnes in 2013.

March 31 canola stocks were estimated at 7,039,000 tonnes, down 19% from a record 8,677,000 tonnes in 2014 and compared with 6,777,000 tonnes in 2013.