Canada: Rain hits barley crops in western Canada

Exceptional spring rainfall will severely impact 2010-11 western Canadian wheat, durum and barley production, leaving more than eight million acres unseeded, the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) reported on June 17.

"The excess rain has washed away the hope of seeding for many farmers," Bruce Burnett, the CWB's director of weather and market analysis, said in an industry briefing.

"In many cases, these acres are just lost and will not see any crop."

In total, he said, between 8.25 mln and 12.5 mln acres of farmland will go unseeded across the Canadian Prairies.

The barley crop was at its lowest acreage since 1965, Burnett said, estimating the barley crop at 6.6 million acres, down 20 per cent from last year.

"Many areas got off to an early seeding start, but the extraordinary rains halted progress. Significant amounts of farmland remain unseedable at this late date," Burnett said.

"On the other hand, some previously dry regions where planting took place early have benefited from the rains."

The situation is particularly bad in Saskatchewan, he said, where 36 per cent of the crop remains unseeded and prospects for additional seeding are dim.

Overall across the Canadian Prairies, seeding of major crops was about 78 per cent complete. Normally at this time of year, seeding is entirely complete.

Overall, total barley production was forecasted at 7.64 mln tonnes.

Crop development was behind normal, he noted, raising some concern of frost damage late in the season.

23 June, 2010