June 13, 2008

    

Greater spring wheat crop expected in western Canada

   
 

Spring wheat and durum production in western Canada during the 2008/09 crop year, which begins Aug. 1, will be up from the year-ago level due to a higher seeded area and favorable soil-moisture conditions so far this spring, according to projections by the Canadian Wheat Board, or CWB, Thursday (June 12, 2008).

 

Rapeseed output was also expected to be up from the year - ago level, while barley production was forecast to decline.

 

Bruce Burnett, director of the CWB's Weather and Crop Surveillance Department, in an industry briefing estimated western Canadian spring wheat output during 2008/09 at 21.2 million tonnes, compared with 18.4 million in 2007/08.

 

"Recent rains have improved conditions across much of western Canada," Burnett said. "However, soil-moisture levels are still low in many western growing areas due to the persistent dry conditions over the previous two to three years."

 

A cool spring, with temperatures three to five degrees Celsius below normal, has also caused concern over crop development, elevating the importance of receiving normal or above-normal heat this summer.

 

Burnett said wheat, durum and barley crops are one to two weeks behind normal due to the cold weather.

 

"A continuation of cool weather could lead to delayed development and increase risk of frost damage this fall," he said.

 

Burnett pegged Western Canadian durum production in 2008/09 at 4.8 million tonnes, up from 3.7 million in 2007/08.

 

Barley production in western Canada was predicted to decrease to 9.9 million tonnes in 2008/09 from 10.3 million the previous year, Burnett said.

 

Western Canadian rapeseed output in 2008/09 was seen coming in at 9.9 million tonnes, which would be higher than the 2007/08 level of 8.7 million.

 

Oat output in western Canada in 2008/09 was forecast at 3.4 million tons, down from 4.3 million in 2007/08.