Dairy & Crops Market Report – January to June 2025

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Canadian farm cash receipts totaled $49.6 billion in the first half of 2025, up 3.3% year-over-year. Growth was uneven: livestock led the way, while crop receipts stayed nearly flat. For dairy producers and crop farmers, the picture shows cautious stability with pockets of opportunity.

Dairy Sector Trends

  • Dairy receipts climbed by $185 million compared with 2024.

  • Price increases were the main driver, helping offset relatively steady marketings.

  • Stronger dairy returns highlight the ongoing role of supply-managed stability, even in a period of wider market volatility.

Crops: Modest Gains and Losses

  • Overall crop receipts: $25.9 billion, only +0.3% from 2024.

  • Winners:

    • Soybeans: +$103 million, supported by higher marketings.

    • Canola: +$76 million, helped by steady demand.

    • Durum wheat: +$197 million, reflecting strong sales volumes.

  • Declines:

    • Barley: −$110 million, pressured by both weaker prices and reduced shipments.

Program Payments Affect Crop Producers

  • Direct program payments to farmers fell by 20% to $2.3 billion.

  • Most of the decline was in crop insurance, down $381 million, mainly in Saskatchewan and Alberta.

  • Favorable weather in 2024 reduced the need for payouts, impacting provincial totals.

Market Takeaway

For dairy, steady price gains are keeping revenues on track. For crop farmers, performance remains mixed: wheat and oilseeds show resilience, while barley and other cereals drag down momentum. Reduced insurance payments signal better growing conditions, but they also leave producers more exposed if weather shifts in the second half of the year.

For further information visit: Statistics Canada, Farm cash receipts, January to June 2025