As we come to the end of the 2014 crop year, the data collected by Stats Canada is showing a drop in production to near normal yields compared to those recorded for the record harvest of 2013.

The estimate from Stats Canada is that average yields of all crops will come in 18 percent lower than 2013 averages.

Durum wheat production dropped by 20 percent in Canada in 2014, with a similar drop showing in the Prairies with production at 5,192,700 MT for the three Prairie Provinces. Wheat production across the Prairies (excluding durum) fell 22 percent to 27,165,700 MT, with national production falling to 29,280,800, a 22 percent drop, as well.

Canola production saw a 13 percent decrease to 15,424,400 MT from 17,787,600 MT in 2013. Even though this is a drop from 2013 production levels it is still the second highest production of canola on record.

Soybeans saw another year of record growth with seeded area in Manitoba and Saskatchewan at 623,300 hectares compared to 2013’s record of 493,700 hectares. Even though reported crop yields were down this year, production reached another record of 1,271,000 MT, an increase of 7.1 percent over 2013.

Seeded area of corn across Canada fell 16.6 percent, with a 60 percent increase in Alberta. Production of corn saw a decrease of 43 percent in Manitoba to 696,000 MT and an increase of 38.5 percent in Alberta to 91,400 MT.

Oat and barley production is down nationally and in the Prairies with oats down 25.6 percent and barley down 30.5 percent. Peas dropped 13 percent across the Prairies with production at 3,427,800 MT. Flax production is up on the Prairies by 17 percent to 847,100 MT. Lentil production fell 15 percent in the Prairies to 1,837,000 MT.

2014 was a challenging crop year, from excessive spring rains to extreme summer storms, and the affects of the weather are seen in the lower production values.