Farmers aren’t feeling great about the prospects for oats, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s crop production projections for the 2023-24 crop year.
Oats production is estimated to plummet 36 per cent to 3.61 million metric tones.
Carryover inventory after exports and domestic consumption will fall in half to 600.000 tonnes.
Among major crops, canola production will increase 1.8 per cent to 18.5 million tonnes with a slightly higher carryout.
All wheat production increases 1.5 per cent to 34.3 million tonnes while durum wheat production will be up a mere 4,000 tonnes to 5.45 million.
Barley production of 9.97 million tonnes increases by 11,000 tonnes.
Pea production increases five per cent to 3.23 million tonnes while lentils increase 1.9 per cent to 2.65 million tonnes. Dry beans fall 6.4 per cent to 293,000 tonnes.
Chickpeas decline 13.9 per cent to 170,000 tonnes.
Flaxseed increases five per cent to 500,000 tonnes while canary seed falls 6.9 per cent to 170,000 tonnes.
Corn production will increase 1.8 per cent to 18.5 million tonnes while soybeans increase just over five per cent to 6.77 million tonnes.
Carryover stocks show minor changes except for flax, up 30 per cent to 130,000 tonnes; and chickpeas, down 41 per cent to 115,000 tonnes.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
