Record Canola Harvest Despite Weather Challenges
Widespread record flooding across large swaths of the Canadian prairie were not enough to stop farmers from producing the largest crop of canola ever recorded. While many acres in Manitoba were not seeded because of the flooding, the area harvested across Canada increased to record highs.
According to Statistics Canada, canola production has grown steadily over the last decade from 9.3 million acres in 2001 to a record harvest of 18.3 million acres in 2011. While the amount of acres harvested in Manitoba was lower because of flooding, it was more than compensated for by increases in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.
The dominance of canola as a stable crop across Western Canada has been established in recent years as all members of the canola supply chain capitalize on growing demand for the healthy oil it produces. This year’s record number of acres comes on the heels of a record year last year as well — with this year representing a 6.3 percent increase from 2010.
Cory McArthur, vice-president of market development for the Canola Council of Canada, when speaking to Reuters noted that demand for canola oil also is accelerating because of its low saturated fat content and favourable properties for packaged food production.
“The shift toward healthier eating, whether it’s through food manufacturers looking for healthier oils to use or consumers at the supermarket, that’s a big driver,” McArthur said.
It’s a trend that’s has driven Canadian production of canola to record heights. The latest estimates from Statistics Canada peg the 2011 crop at 12.9 million tonnes — up 1.1 percent from 2010 despite widespread weather challenges and lower overall yields. Final production numbers for 2011 will be released in early December.
And while anyone familiar with the Canadian prairies knows there is no such thing as a year with normal weather, everyone agrees the spring of 2011 was the most challenging in memory for producers across the eastern prairie. The record harvest of 2011, despite the weather challenges, showed the long-term investments in canola know-how and supply chain infrastructure made over the last several years enable end users of canola oil to have confidence in a consistent supply of quality product.
