As of mid August the winter wheat harvest in Canada was well underway or nearing completion in some areas. Harvesting of the main spring crops got underway in late August. Warmer temperatures in July in the main wheat producing areas of Western Canada favoured crop development after generally wetter and colder than normal conditions in June. It is reported that there is potential for average to above-average yields in most of the major producing areas. Latest official reports forecast the total 2000 wheat production at 25.4 million tonnes. Coarse grain production is expected to change little this year, and is currently forecast at 27 million tonnes. Although barley output is forecast to increase, reflecting larger plantings, outputs of the other small coarse grains could decline somewhat. Early indications point to a smaller maize crop also, although the harvest is still some way off.
The latest USDA Crop Production report in September, put total wheat production in the United States in 2000 at 62.7 million tonnes, up about 1 million tonnes from the forecast in June and similar to the output level in 1999. The latest revision mostly reflects upward adjustment to the forecast for spring wheat, which is now put at over 19.3 million tonnes, compared to 16.4 million tonnes in 1999. As of early September the earliest winter wheat planting for the 2001 crop was just getting underway in some states. Coarse grains output in 2000 is now forecast to be significantly larger than expectations in June, mostly reflecting generally favourable growing conditions throughout July and August. Based on the USDA's latest Crop Production report, aggregate coarse grain output in 2000 is now forecast at about 286 million tonnes, 8 percent up from 1999. The bulk of the increase compared to the previous year is accounted for by a larger maize crop, which is set to reach a record 263 million tonnes, 10 percent up from 1999. As of early September, The outputs of barley and oats are also expected to be somewhat above the previous year, but the sorghum crop will be smaller. The 2000/01 rice crop is expected to be down by about 6 percent, at 8.7 million tonnes, reflecting a significant reduction in plantings as declining rice prices last season have caused farmers to switch to potentially more lucrative crops.
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