As seeding approaches, Statistics Canada has released its principal field crop Areas for 2023.
Wheat, canola, corn for grain, barley, and soybeans are all expected to have increased areas this year, with wheat leading the way as far as increases go.
Farmers are anticipating 27 million acres of wheat across the country this year, which is up 6.2% from last year. If this comes true, the national wheat area would be at its highest point in more than two decades.
Manitoba Farmers are anticipating 3.2 million acres of wheat this year, up 3.3%. Saskatchewan farmers anticipate a 7.3% increase, to a total of 14.2 million acres this year, while Alberta farmers are planning 8 million acres, up 4.2% from last year.
Soybean acres are expected to take a large jump as well, going up to 5.5 million acres, which is an increase of 4.5%. This increase is expected to be largely led by Manitoba, which is anticipating a 37.3% increase to 1.6 million acres.
The canola area nationally is expected to be up slightly, coming in at 21.6 million acres, which would be a 0.9% increase.
Nationwide, barley acreage is expected to edge up 0.6% to 7.1 million acres in 2023. Oat area on the other hand is expected to take a substantial dip nationally, falling 22.4% to 3.1 million acres.
Farmers expect to plant 3.7 million acres of corn for grain, up 2.8% from one year earlier. Lentil and dry pea areas are both expected to drop this year. Canadian farmers anticipate the lentil area to be down 8% to 4 million acres, and the dry pea area to drop 4.6% to 3.2 million acres.
