Quality of Canadian Soybean, oilseed-type 2016

Weather review

2016 was an extreme year for Ontario with very dry conditions in some areas resulting in poor yields or total crop failures (Figure 2). The growing season started with a dry spring. In early June, the OMAFRA crop report stated that the lack of rain caused poor emergence in soybeanwith some acres having to be reseeded. July remained dry with the soybean crop still struggling; however precipitation in August, particularly in the southwestern part of Ontario, was critical for allowing the crop to develop. The soybean harvest was surprising to a lot of producers who may not have expected the yield that was obtained.

Favourable weather and field conditions in Manitoba allowed for seeding operations in early May. However, frosts in mid-May caused some injuries on emerged soybean plants. The growing season was quite wet in Manitoba (Figure 2) which was a concern for optimal growth of soybean, a warm season crop. Early season precipitation was followed by warmer and drier conditions that helped soybean crop development. In early September, thanks to above average temperatures, the Manitoba soybean crop matured quickly allowing the harvest to begin. However, harvest progress was slowed due to late September rains. During the first half of October, warmer temperatures and minimal rainfall allowed the Manitoba soybean harvest to progress and by October 17, the final Manitoba crop report stated that about 88% of seeded soybeans were harvested. Statistics Canada reported that in 2016, 3.7% of seeded soybean areas in Manitoba had not been harvested.

Thanks to warm, dry weather Saskatchewan producers were able to start seeding early and by the end of May 92% of the soybean crop was seeded. Harvest also started early and by the end of August the Saskatchewan crop report stated that 7% of the soybean crop was combined. Harvest progressed until October 10th when it came to a halt because of heavy rain and snow with 66% of the soybean crop combined. The harvest resumed at the end of October and by the last Saskatchewan crop report 99% of the soybean crop had been harvested.

Figure 2 – National maps showing environmental growing conditions – precipitation (departure from average) and temperature (monthly mean difference from normal)

• Source:
  • Ontario crop report
  • Manitoba crop report
  • Saskatchewan crop report
  • Canada weather maps

Production and grade information

Seeded area and production data for 2016 and 2015 are presented in Table 1. In 2016, the seeded soybean area in Manitoba increased by15.3% but decreased in Saskatchewan by 12.6% and in Ontario by10.5%. Since 2007 soybean production in Canada has been steadily increasing (Figure 3). This year’s production increased by 1.4% compared to last year; from 6.37 million tonnes to 6.46 million tonnes (Table 1) and increased in all provinces except in Ontario, Canada’s biggest soybean production area. The increase in production was 21.4% in Manitoba, 3.9% in Québec and 11.3% in Saskatchewan (Table 1). The production increase was due to an increase in seeded area in Manitoba (15.3%) and noticeable yield increase compared to 2015 (3.4%, 3,000 Kg/ha in 2016 versus 2,900 Kg/ha in 2015). The highest yield increase was observed in Saskatchewan, 22.7% (from 1,700 Kg/ha in 2015 to 2,000 Kg/ha in 2016, followed by Manitoba 10.7% (2,800 Kg/ha in 2016 versus 2,500 Kg/ha in 2015). No yield increase was observed in Québec (3,200 Kg/ha in 2015 & 2016) and in Ontario (3,100 Kg/ha in 2015 & 2016).

Figure 3 – Historic soybean production data in Canada, 2000 to 2016