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Production
Estimates and Crop Assessment Division |
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Production
Estimates and Crop Assessment Division |
June 18, 2002
Widespread rainfall arrived on the Canadian Prairie last week, providing much-needed moisture to recently planted summer crops, such as wheat, barley, oats, and canola. Indications are that the precipitation was very timely, since the moisture was needed for seeds to germinate. Last year saw little precipitation during the growing season, which caused yields to be well below average. Barley production in 2001 was 11.4 million tons, down 18 percent from a year earlier. Wheat production was 21.3 million tons, down 26 percent.
Persistent dryness continues to be a problem. Most spring grain produced in Canada is grown on the Prairie, and based on World Meteorological Organization (WMO) weather station data, there are large parts of the Prairie that have seen below average precipitation (map) recently. Approximately 40 percent of the barley area (map) and 45 percent of the spring soft wheat area (map) are being affected to some extent by the dry conditions.
Cool temperatures in Saskatchewan during May 2002 slowed planting, and caused spring crops to be less developed than they were in May 2000, a relatively normal year (comparison image). The wheat and barley harvest typically takes place in September and October, so there is still a substantial amount of time for this year's crop to take shape.
