Soybean production expected to slide, despite more acres

Statistics Canada’s latest production estimates puts soybean production for 2021 down 7.4 per cent year over year to 5.9 million tonnes.

Corn production is expected to climb, however, to 14.4 million tonnes in 2021. Much of that increase is from Ontario, where corn production is expected to increase 7.5 per cent to 9.6 million tonnes, on higher yields (+9.3 per cent to 179.1 bushels per acre). This would offset a lower harvested area, which is expected to fall 1.6 per cent to 2.1 million acres.

The decline in soybean production is because of lower than expected yields, predicted to drop 11.7 per cent to 40.9 bushels per acre, nationally. Harvested area is anticipated to rise 4.8 per cent to 5.3 million acres.

Ontario is projected to produce 2.8 per cent fewer soybeans in 2021 for a total of 3.8 million tonnes; average yield is anticipated to decrease 5.9 per cent to 47.7 bushels per acre.

In Manitoba, soybean production is projected to decrease 22.2 per cent to 905 000 tonnes in 2021. Harvested area is expected to increase 13.5 per cent to 1.3 million acres. However, yields are projected to fall 31.4 per cent year over year to 25.6 bushels per acre due to dry conditions in the province.

In Quebec, soybean production is projected to decrease 6.9 per cent to 1.1 million tonnes on lower yields (-11 per cent to 43.1 bushels per acre), which will more than offset the projected 4.5 per cent increase in harvested area.

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