News Update on Western Canada Estimates Canola Production 2020

Western Canada Farmers estimates 2020 Canola Production at 20.2 million tonnes, up from 18.6 million last Year.

Canadian farmers are set to harvest a record wheat harvest and a larger rapeseed harvest than last year, largely due to favorable growing conditions, farmers advisory service FarmLink Marketing Solutions said Wednesday.

Employees from Winnipeg, Manitoba, visited Western Canadian farms during the last two weeks of July. Canada is one of the world’s largest wheat exporters and a leading producer of canola.

“We were expecting a big harvest and we saw a good harvest,” said Neil Townsend, Principal Market Analyst at FarmLink. Wheat in particular is “an absolute monster,” he said. The wheat harvest, including durum varieties, is expected to reach nearly 39 million tonnes, surpassing the current 2013 record of 37.6 million.

FarmLink estimates canola production at 20.2 million tons, up from 18.6 million last year. Despite this, according to FarmLink, many crops of canola, peas and lentils are lagging behind and require favorable weather in late summer. Rapeseed and grain crops require additional moisture to reach their potential.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the annual tour was chosen in a less random manner than usual, with a focus on client cultures. According to FarmLink, the researchers rode alone and covered a large area.

Statistics Canada plans to release the first government estimates of crop production on August 31.

Recall that the USDA, in its July report, lowered its forecast for canola production for the 20/21 season in Canada from 19.9 to 19 million tons.

Source: Reuters Canada