Milling Journal - Q2 2008 - (Page 47) Ontario Expects a Record Crop Planting conditions and higher prices could elevate production over 3 million metric tons. This article is based on a presentation by Ian Carter, president of London Agricultural Commodities Inc., London, ON (519-473-9333). He spoke during the North American Millers’ Association’s Division Meetings in Palm Coast, FL, March 15-18. For Ontario, wheat plantings of 1 million acres is a large crop. Plantings for the 2008 crop are estimated at a record 1.35 million acres. Excellent planting conditions during fall 2007 and extraordinary wheat prices helped boost plantings. A significant amount of acreage was planted by Sept. 15, 2007. These conditions are in stark contrast to the dismal planting conditions that plagued the 2007 crop. Heavy rains kept many farmers from entering the fields until November 2006. These conditions resulted in plantings of 580,000 acres. The 2007 crop weighed in at 1,445,400 metric tons (53,103,996 bushels). On the other hand, the 2008 crop is projected to tip the scales at 3,280,000 metric tons (120,507,200 bushels)—a record crop if realized. Of the potential 3.28-million-metricton crop, more than 2 million rons are expected to be available for export. In 2006 (the last good harvest year), Ontario wheat accounted for 10% of all Canadian wheat exports. With world wheat stocks at record lows, Ontario wheat is sure to find a foreign market fairly easily. Winter kill is the only factor that may bring down the 2008 harvest estimate. Parts of Ontario received snow that subsequently melted and refreezed. A Variety of Wheat Classes In 1992, Ontario growers planted primarily soft white wheat. In the span of about 15 years, production has shifted primarily to soft red winter wheat (SRW), which is now 69% of the total wheat crop. Soft white wheat has fallen to approximately 9% of the wheat crop, the same as Response No. 471 hard red spring (HRS). Hard red winter wheat (HRW) is now the second largest wheat class in Ontario, with 14% of total wheat production. MILLING JOURNAL Second Quarter 2008 47 http://www.diamondbacktechnology.com http://www.diamondbacktechnology.com
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