Canadian producers expect modest changes in seeding intentions for the 2026 crop year. Farmers plan to increase acreage for several major crops, including canola, soybeans, barley, and corn for grain. At the same time, they intend to seed fewer acres of wheat, oats, lentils, and dry peas compared with 2025.
Statistics Canada released these projections on March 5 as part of its annual seeding intentions report.
Wheat Area Expected to Decline Slightly
Across Canada, farmers plan to seed 26.7 million acres of wheat in 2026, a 1.1% decrease from the previous year. If these plans hold, wheat area will remain above the five-year average despite the decline from 2025.
Producers expect spring wheat area to remain relatively stable at 18.8 million acres, edging down slightly. Farmers plan to seed 6.4 million acres of durum wheat, a 2.4% decrease, while winter wheat area could fall 6.7% to 1.6 million acres.
In Saskatchewan, the country’s largest wheat-producing province, farmers plan to seed 13.9 million acres, down 1.0%from 2025. Producers expect spring wheat area to decline slightly, while durum acreage should remain steady.
Alberta farmers expect total wheat area to reach 8.1 million acres, a slight increase supported by higher spring wheat acreage. However, producers in the province plan to reduce durum wheat area.
In Manitoba, farmers intend to seed 3.1 million acres of wheat, a 5.1% decrease from the previous year.
Canola Area Forecast to Increase
Farmers plan to seed 21.8 million acres of canola in 2026, a 1.0% increase from 2025. This level would place canola acreage close to the five-year average.
Strong domestic demand may support the increase as additional processing capacity continues to expand across Canada.
Saskatchewan producers expect to seed 12.2 million acres of canola, up 0.5% from the previous year. Alberta farmers plan to seed 6.3 million acres, an increase of 0.7%.
In Manitoba, producers anticipate a larger increase. Farmers there plan to seed 3.2 million acres, up 4.7% compared with 2025.
Soybean Acreage Continues to Grow
Farmers across Canada expect to plant 5.9 million acres of soybeans in 2026, a 1.9% increase from the previous year.
Ontario producers, who grow the largest share of Canada’s soybeans, plan to seed 2.9 million acres, a small increase from 2025.
Manitoba farmers anticipate the largest growth in soybean area. Producers there plan to seed 1.9 million acres, a 12.9% increase that would mark the province’s largest soybean acreage since 2018. Lower input costs compared with other crops may be influencing planting decisions.
In Quebec, farmers plan to reduce soybean acreage by 5.0% to 1.0 million acres.
Barley Area Expected to Expand
Farmers across Canada plan to seed 6.4 million acres of barley, an increase of 5.0% from 2025.
Producers in Saskatchewan expect barley area to rise 7.9% to 2.4 million acres, while Alberta farmers plan to increase barley acreage 5.2% to 3.5 million acres.
Manitoba farmers expect barley area to decline slightly.
Oat Acreage Expected to Decline
Producers plan to seed 2.9 million acres of oats, a 3.1% decrease from the previous year.
Higher oat stocks following strong production in 2025 may be contributing to the expected decline.
Corn for Grain Area Rising
Farmers expect to plant 3.8 million acres of corn for grain in 2026, a 1.7% increase from 2025.
Ontario leads Canadian corn production and accounts for more than 60% of national acreage. Producers in the province plan to seed 2.3 million acres, a 5.4% increase that would set a new provincial record.
In contrast, Quebec farmers plan to reduce corn acreage slightly to 841,500 acres. Manitoba producers also expect a decrease, although the projected acreage remains above the province’s five-year average.
Lentil and Dry Pea Area Expected to Drop
Farmers plan to seed fewer pulse crops in 2026.
Producers expect lentil acreage to fall 5.5% to 4.1 million acres nationally. Saskatchewan farmers plan to reduce lentil area slightly, while Alberta producers expect a larger decline.
Dry pea acreage may fall more sharply. Farmers intend to seed 3.1 million acres, a 12.3% decrease from 2025. Lower returns compared with other crops may be influencing planting decisions.
Survey Reflects Seeding Intentions
Statistics Canada based these projections on its December Field Crop Survey, which ran from December 2025 to January 2026 and included about 8,200 producers.
These figures reflect farmers’ planting intentions rather than final acreage. Statistics Canada will release updated seeded acreage estimates later in the year, while final acreage figures for 2026 are scheduled for release in December.
