AAFC Sees Farmers Seeding More Wheat and Oilseeds

By Elmer Heinrichs

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in its January outlook for 2023-2024 says rotation considerations, moisture conditions, expected prices, and input costs/availability look to be the main factors determining seeding decisions in the spring.

Based on current market conditions and historical trends, the area seeded to field crops in Canada is forecast to increase marginally from 2022-23.

The area seeded for wheat (excluding durum) and oilseeds is expected to increase, while area seeded to coarse grains and pulse and special crops is expected to decrease.

Acres seeded to wheat are forecast to increase 4 per cent year-over-year, supported by strong prices and a generally tight global supply/demand complex.

Canola area is forecast to rise slightly to 8.8 million hectare (Mha) as support from attractive prices is matched by similarly attractive prices for alternate crops such as wheat and peas.

The area planted to soybeans is predicted to increase by 7 per cent to 2.28 Mha cre- ating a harvested area of 2.27 Mha.

The average yield and production is forecast to decrease slightly for total field crops, resulting in expected total field crop production to decline marginally.

Carry-out stocks are expected to increase, while exports and domestic use are expected to remain relatively unchanged.

In general, prices are expected to decrease but remain historically high, as world production and supplies increase and the Canadian dollar strengthens.