It was the worst year in a generation but production in Alberta was still considerably better than 2002.
For example, spring wheat production this year fell to 5.71 million tonnes (according to the latest StatCan estimates). But that’s more than double the 2.59 million tonnes in 2002. On a per-seeded-acre basis, it was 35.9 bushels per acre this year versus just 18.5 bushels in 2002.
Barley production this year (3.57 million tonnes) was nearly double on a bushels-per-acre basis (42.4 versus 21.8 in 2002).
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There were 3.4 times as many canola acres this year compared to 2002 and they averaged 27.4 bushels per acre (versus 18.3 bushels 19 years ago).
But perhaps the biggest contrast was in oats. Although acreage is only half what it was two decades ago, those growing the crop averaged 40.1 bushels per acre. But in 2002, growers harvested just 14.5 bushels per acre.
