The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) today released its internal crop forecasts, projecting a western Canadian wheat and durum crop of 22 million tonnes for the 2005-06 crop year, down two million tonnes from 2004-05. The projection for the 2005-06 barley crop is 11.7 million tonnes, down from the 12.3 million tonnes produced in 2004-05.

"Excessive moisture across the Prairies, especially in parts of Alberta and Manitoba, has already taken almost two million acres out of overall crop production because farmers have not been able to plant," said Bruce Burnett, Director of Weather and Crop Surveillance, speaking at the CWB's annual weather and crop conditions industry briefing. "This includes about 600,000 acres that were intended for wheat and barley. Standing water in localized regions of the Prairies has also damaged some seeded acres."

In parts of southern and central Alberta, Burnett noted, the levels of precipitation are unprecedented. However, the dry, hot weather across much of the Prairies over the past week has benefited crop development, and there is a potential for higher-than-average yields.

At the briefing, the CWB's weather and crop surveillance experts Burnett, Guy Ash and Wes Petkau also provided an overview of the international situation. Overall, the CWB is projecting world wheat production levels to decrease from 624.5 million tonnes in 2004-05 to 603 million tonnes in 2005-06, a drop of over twenty million tonnes.

Heavy precipitation in the Northern Plains has resulted in a loss of seeded acreage in the United States, with dryness becoming a significant concern in parts of the U.S. Corn Belt. Wheat production in the countries of the Former Soviet Union is expected to decline, with excessive heat cutting into harvest prospects.

Australian wheat production is expected to recover somewhat from the recent drought conditions, with recent soaking rains in eastern Australia providing critical precipitation for late planting of wheat and barley crops.

North Africa, which is an important market for western Canadian durum, is facing a substantially reduced durum crop this year, as dryness and cooler-than-normal temperatures have cut production estimates substantially. Durum acreage and production have also declined in parts of Europe, with excessive heat and drought in Portugal, Spain and parts of Italy.

The complete weather and crop prospects summary is attached. The Web cast of the weather and crop conditions briefing will also be available on the CWB Web site, for the next month.

Controlled by western Canadian farmers, the CWB is the largest wheat and barley marketer in the world. As one of Canada's biggest exporters, the Winnipeg-based organization sells grain to more than 70 countries and returns all sales revenue, less marketing costs, to Prairie farmers.