With farmers stung by a terrible growing season, Canada will produce less grain and oilseeds, Statistics Canada says in its new estimate of field crops released in Ottawa last Friday.

Crops will be off for almost all crops, the federal agency reports in first estimate for this summer's crop. Spring wheat production at 16.1 million metric tons (mmt) will be down more than 12% from last year. The durum harvest is expected to be off more than 18% at around 4.5 mmt.

Feed grains like corn and barley will also be down from last year at 9.4 mmt (-10.9%) and 8.9 mmt (-24%) respectively.

Canadian farmers will also take in a smaller oilseed crop, although increased soybean output will reduce the drop from last year. The canola crop at 9.5 mmt will be down 24.5%. Soybean output at more than 3.4 mmt is up 4.4%.

"In the West, late germination caused by unfavorable conditions this spring has held back progress by about two weeks compared with normal," Statistics Canada says. "Yields will drop for all major crops compared with 2008. In the drought-stricken areas of Saskatchewan and Alberta, higher than normal abandonment was also shown to be a factor in the loss of production."

"In Ontario and Quebec, excessive moisture and cool growing conditions held back growing progress."

The report summarizes results of a survey of 14,600 farmers undertaken by the government agency between July 27 and August 4.