NORTH AMERICA: In the United States, the winter wheat area falls to the lowest level since 1972/73, mostly due to poor price prospects at planting. Furthermore, weather conditions at planting and during the winter have been unfavourable in parts, pointing to higher rates of winterkill than in the previous year. In Canada, early indications point to increased wheat plantings this spring at the expense of canola and flaxseed because of their relatively low prices.