OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA — Canadian farmers in 2014 planted or will plant fewer acres of wheat, corn, barley and oats but more acres of canola, soybeans, flaxseed and dry field peas than in 2013, Statistics Canada said in its Principal Field Crop Areas report released June 27.

Farmers planted 24,087,000 total acres of wheat for harvest in 2014, down from March intentions of 24,766,000 acres and down 7% from 26,015,000 acres as the final 2013 area, Statistics Canada said. The all wheat number was below average trade expectations near 24.5 million acres.

Durum planted area was seen at 4,800,000 acres, down from 4,835,000 acres expected in March and down 3% from 4,965,000 acres in 2013. The number was above the trade average expectation of 4.7 million acres. 

Area planted to spring wheat other than durum was 17,636,000 acres, down from the March forecast of 17,978,000 acres and down 7% from 19,043,000 acres in 2013. Winter wheat area seeded in 2013 for harvest in 2014 was estimated at 1,650,000 acres, down from 1,954,000 acres in March and down 18% from 2,008,000 acres a year earlier.

Canola planted area was estimated at 20,228,000 acres, up from 19,801,000 acres as the March intention and up about 2% from 19,939,000 acres in 2013. The number was above trade expectations that averaged 19.9 million acres.

Soybean planted area was estimated at a record 5,583,000 acres, up from 5,264,000 acres forecast in March and up about 24% from 4,519,000 acres in 2013. If realized, it would be the sixth consecutive record high soybean planted area. The number was above the trade average expectation of 5.1 million acres.

Flaxseed area was estimated at 1,570,000 acres, down from March intentions of 1,715,000 acres but up 52% from 1,035,000 acres in 2013. 

Corn planted area was estimated at 3,119,000 acres, down from 3,369,000 acres in March and down 16% from 3,689,000 acres in 2013. 

Oats planting area was estimated at 3,046,000 acres, down from March intentions of 3,188,000 acres and down 4% from 3,168,000 acres in 2013.

Barley plantings were 6,089,000 acres, down from 6,311,000 acres in March and down 14% from 7,083,000 acres in 2013.

Dry field pea area was seen at 3,975,000 acres, unchanged from March intentions and up 21% from 2013. Lentil area was 3,240,000 acres, up from 2,860,000 acres in March and up 35% from 2,393,000 acres last year. Mustard seed plantings were 465,000 acres, up 27% from 2013, and total dry edible bean area was 347,000 acres, up 65%. Summerfallow area was seen at 3,450,000 acres, up from 3,370,000 acres in March but down 11% from 2013.

“Seeding was progressing well across Canada, but some farmers have reported that wet conditions have delayed or may stop seeding in some areas,” Statistics Canada said.

The Canadian acreage report was based on a survey of about 24,800 farmers conducted May 28 to June 10.