CANADA’S 2024
New Wheat Crop Report
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2024, Canada produced a high-quality wheat crop with above-average volumes and yields.
Overall Quality
A high proportion of wheat from all classes grown in 2024 graded No. 1 or No. 2.
How it was Grown
The growing season started with ample precipitation in Western Canada, but conditions were warmer and drier throughout the summer.
Production
In 2024, Canadian farmers grew almost 35 million tonnes of wheat, with a high proportion in the top two grades.
Protein
Wheat protein content was comparable to average or higher-than-average.
Milling Quality
All wheat classes from the 2024 crop year had good test weights and milling yields.
Shipping
Canada is expected to export 26.3 million tonnes of wheat to over 80 countries in the 2024-25 crop year.
In-depth Assessment of the 2024 Wheat Crop
CWRS
Canada Western
Red Spring
A hard wheat with high protein content. CWRS has superior milling and baking characteristics resulting in excellent end-product quality.
CWAD
Canada Western Amber Durum
CWAD has high protein content, strong and extensible gluten, and high semolina yields. Its superior yellow colour results in pasta and couscous with excellent colour.
CPSR
Canada Prairie
Spring Red
CPSR is a medium protein content wheat with medium kernel hardness. It has excellent flour yields and is well suited for various baked products, Asian noodles, and pasta.
CESRW
Canada Eastern Soft Red Winter
CESRW has low protein content making it ideal for various baking applications such as cakes, pastries, cookies, crackers, and biscuits.
2024 Growing Season in Review
Large parts of Western Canada experienced ample rainfall during seeding, but drier conditions in June continued throughout the summer. Uneven precipitation led to variable yields across the Prairie provinces. However, overall yields exceeded the five-year average and supported above-average production volumes for both non-durum and durum wheats. This year’s crop is of high quality with most of the production in the top two grades.
2024 Crop Summary
Yields exceeded expectations. The 2024 wheat crop is six percent larger than last year and ten percent larger than average. This year, Canada grew nearly 35 million tonnes of wheat.
Canadian wheat had excellent quality for all classes, with a high proportion of the crop grading No. 2 or better.
- The CWRS crop had average protein content with a very high proportion grading No. 1 or No. 2
- A high proportion of the CWAD crop graded No. 1 or No. 2 and had average to higher-than average protein content.
- The CPSR crop had average protein content, and a very high proportion graded No. 1 or No. 2.
- A high proportion of the CESRW crop graded No. 1 or No. 2 with protein content that is slightly lower than average.
2023 Crop Summary
Following the above-average production volumes in 2022, production in 2023 decreased due to dry growing conditions in large areas of Western Canada. In 2023, Canada grew nearly 32 million tonnes of wheat, a decrease of seven percent from the previous year but consistent with the five-year average.
Canada had excellent quality this year in all wheat classes for the 2023 crop year with the majority grading No. 2 or better and average to higher-than-average protein content.
- Over 95% of the CWRS crop graded No. 1 and No. 2, with average protein content.
- Over 80% of CWAD graded No. 1 and No. 2, with protein content higher than average.
- Over 90% of CPSR graded No. 1 and No. 2, with average protein content
- Over 90% of CESRW graded No. 1 and No. 2, with average protein content.
Wheat from the 2023 crop year has lower ash content, allowing millers to optimize extraction.
2022 Crop Summary
Following the drought conditions experienced in 2021, Canadian growing conditions returned to more normal temperature and precipitation in 2022. In 2022, Canada grew 34.3 million tonnes of wheat, an increase of fifty-three percent over the previous year.
Canada had excellent quality in all major wheat classes for the 2022 crop year, with a high proportion of the crop grading in the top two grades, and high protein content across all Canadian wheat classes.
- Over 90% of the CWRS crop graded No. 1 and No. 2, with protein content higher than average.
- 80% of CWAD graded No. 1 and No. 2, with protein content higher than average.
- Over 90% of CPSR graded No. 1 and No. 2, with good protein content.
- 99% of CESRW graded No. 2 or above with consistent high falling numbers and excellent quality.
Wheat from the 2022 crop year had good test weights and millers saw good milling performance across all classes.
The crops that we grow in Canada are among some of the highest quality in the world. I’m proud to be able to contribute to supplying our customers with the best quality wheat.”
— JAKE LEGUEE
Grain, oilseed, and pulse farmer
Filmore, Saskatchewan
01
Growing
The spring wheat growing season started with ample rainfall and replenished soil moisture across the Prairies, but weather conditions became warmer and drier throughout the summer.
The month of May brought average or above-average precipitation to the Prairie provinces. Although producers in some areas experienced delays in seeding due to the wet conditions, the rainfall was welcomed across the growing region for its beneficial impact on soil moisture levels.
Periodic rainfall continued throughout the month of June in the northeastern parts of the growing region, but drier conditions emerged in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. Below-average precipitation prevailed across most of the Prairies throughout July and the first half of August. Scattered rainfall, combined with higher-than-average temperatures, reduced soil moisture levels throughout the summer and delayed crop development in some areas. However, the abundant precipitation at the beginning of the growing season helped to protect overall yields, which are forecast to be higher than average for both non-durum and durum wheats.
Harvest progressed ahead of last year’s pace in Alberta but behind last year’s pace in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Rainfall and storms caused delays in many regions across the Prairies around mid-September, but producers worked hard to finish harvesting by mid-October.
Eastern Canada experienced a mild winter and warm spring, allowing the winter wheat crop to develop ahead of the average pace. Harvest started early in many areas and was completed by mid-August. The region is reporting higher-than-average yields and good quality.
02
Production
In 2024, Canadian farmers grew almost 35 million tonnes of wheat, with a high proportion in the top two grades.
Western Canada produced a crop with above-average volumes and yields. The 2024 wheat crop is six percent larger than last year and ten percent larger than average, thanks to above-average yields for both non-durum wheat and durum wheat.
| ‘000 tonnes | Durum Wheat | Non-Durum Wheat | Total |
| PRODUCTION | 5,870 | 29,088 | 34,958 |
| CARRY-IN | 407 | 4,208 | 4,615 |
| DOMESTIC USE | 702 | 7,996 | 8,698 |
| EXPORTS | 4,800 | 21,500 | 26,300 |
| END STOCKS | 800 | 3,900 | 4,700 |
Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, October 2024
03
Sample Analysis
Cereals Canada worked directly with the grain exporters to obtain commercially representative samples of the 2024 western Canadian wheat crop.
This year, Cereals Canada received over 115 samples from eight grain exporters. Each company sample represented export quality from a specific region in Western Canada for each wheat class (CWRS, CWAD, CPSR) and grade. These samples were used to prepare composite samples representative of this year’s crop quality that were analyzed at Cereals Canada.
Eastern and Western composites were prepared for No. 1 CWRS.
Prairie composites were prepared for No. 2 CWRS, CWAD (No. 1, No. 2, No. 3) and No. 1 CPSR.
Cereals Canada staff communicated weekly with individual exporters to gain insight on how harvest was progressing and any relevant downgrading factors that may affect the quality of the 2024 wheat crop.
This is part of Cereals Canada’s commitment to accurately represent the quality of the 2024 wheat crop from Western Canada.
04
Shipping
Canada is investing in infrastructure and supply chain improvements to meet global customer needs.
Investments in rail, terminals, and country elevator facilities, made by the Canadian grain supply chain, have increased Canada’s capacity to efficiently move grain to customers around the world. Canada is expected to export 26.3 million tonnes of wheat to over 80 countries in the 2024-25 crop year.
From Our Fields to the World’s Table
We are committed to advancing nourishment for the planet now and in the future. We value clean air, clean water, and sustainable land use, and responsible farming is at the heart of what we do. We are proud of how Canadian farmers contribute by taking care of the land, growing quality grains, and following current on-farm management practices to provide a consistent, quality grain supply for our domestic and global customers.
Where Canadian Wheat Goes
Canada Supplies the World
12%
of its non-durum wheat exports
53%
of its durum wheat exports
*Five-year averages (2019-2023)
Canada Feeds the World
Modern farming practices and cutting-edge innovations have enabled Canadian wheat to answer the worldwide call for a premium, sustainable product.
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