Recent Trends in the Canadian Oat Industry

While oat acres declined in Canada between 2000 and 2010, acres have remained essentially constant from 2010 through 2019 (Figure 1.6), Canadian production has increased though due to increased yields (Figure 1.7). This demand is due to an increase in oat exports as well as increased oat milling capacity in Canada. 

Overall Canadian production has increased (Figure 1.8) and the export of oat has increased and stabilized (Figure 1.9).

The trends suggest that while oat may have suffered from competition for acres with other crops such as canola and wheat in the past, oat growers have continued to develop agronomic practices and oat breeders have continued to provide growers with better oat varieties.

Figure 1.6. Seeded acres of oat have been decreasing from highs in the early 2000’s but have been relatively stable over the last 9 years (Source: Statistics Canada).
Figure 1.6. Seeded acres of oat have been decreasing from highs in the early 2000’s but have been relatively stable over the last 9 years (Source: Statistics Canada).
Figure 1.7. Oat yield has been generally increasing from 2000 to 2019 (Source: Statistics Canada).
Figure 1.7. Oat yield has been generally increasing from 2000 to 2019 (Source: Statistics Canada).
Figure 1.8. Annual Canadian production has been generally increasing from 2000 to 2019 (Source: Statistics Canada).
Figure 1.8. Annual Canadian production has been generally increasing from 2000 to 2019 (Source: Statistics Canada).
Figure 1.9. The exports of oat from Canada, 2000 to 2019. (Source: Statistics Canada).
Figure 1.9. The exports of oat from Canada, 2000 to 2019. (Source: Statistics Canada).

REFERENCES

Webster, F.H.; Wood, P.J. Oats: Chemistry and Technology; American Association of Cereal Chemists: St. Paul, MN, USA, 2011.
Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0359-01 Estimated areas, yield, production, average farm price and total farm value of principal field crops, in metric and imperial units
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25318/3210035901-eng)