Saskatchewan farmers anticipate higher crop production

Saskatchewan producers are expecting to harvest higher totals of Saskatchewan's three main crops according to a Statistics Canada production report released on Aug. 22.Stats Canada's report outlining July's estimates of production of principal field crops is calling for higher production of wheat, barley and canola. The largest jump is projected to be in barley production where production is expected to rise 21.9 per cent to 3.0 million tonnes. Saskatchewan farmers are anticipating to record an 8.4 per cent increase in wheat production. Canola growers in the province are expecting to record new production record yields this year, expecting to produce 7.3 million tonnes of canola, up 4.5 per cent from the 2011 record of 7.0 million tonnes.Canada wide, the report is forecasting record canola production totals this year, along with increased production of wheat, barley and soybeans.On the prairies, farmers are anticipating a record 15.2 million metric tonnes of canola, eclipsing the record of 14.0 million tonnes set in 2011. Farmers in all three Prairie provinces anticipate an increase in canola production, with the potential for records in Saskatchewan and Alberta.Total wheat production on the Prairies is expected to reach 24.8 million tonnes in 2012, up 9.7 per cent from 22.6 million tonnes in 2011. This increase is anticipated despite a decline in average yield from 42.1 bushels per acre in 2011 to 41.5 bushels per acre in 2012. The decline in yield would be offset by an 11.4 per cent increase in harvested area to just under 22.0 million acres.Barley production on the Prairies is anticipated to rise 23.8 per cent to 9.0 million tonnes in 2012. This is the result of farmers expecting a record average yield of 65.1 bushels per acre, breaking the previous record of 63.3 bushels per acre set in 2008, combined with an increased area to be harvested of 6.3 million acres, up 16.9 per cent from 5.4 million acres in 2011.Nationally, total soybean production in 2012 is anticipated to increase 3.7 per cent to just over 4.4 million tonnes.The national production of corn for grain is anticipated to reach just over 11.7 million tonnes, up 9.5 per cent from 2011.