A Statistics Canada acreage report on Wednesday said Canadian producers intend to plant more corn and less soybeans in 2025.
Nationwide corn plantings were estimated at 3.769 million acres, up 3.2% from a year earlier but still below the 3.824 million planted in 2023. On the other hand, soybean area was projected at 5.635 million acres, a 1.3% decline from 2024 but still above the 5.63 million acres planted in 2023.
The report seems to confirm conventional opinion that corn will be the more profitable option, versus soybeans, for North American farmers this year. However, the report is based on a survey of 8,200 Canadian farmers between Dec. 13 and Jan. 27, long before US President Donald Trum launched trade action against China that has resulted in retaliatory measures, including 15% and 10% levies on US corn and soybeans, respectively. Trump has also threated 25% tariffs against most US imports of Canadian goods, including grains and grain products., which could take effect next month.
How the trade challenges ultimately impact new-crop planted area remains uncertain, although rotational considerations and input costs – especially as trade uncertainty drives up fertilizer prices – will continue to be major factors in final planting decisions as well.
In the top production province of Ontario, corn area for 2025 is estimated at 2.265 million acres, up from 2.157 million last year and the highest since 2022. Soybean area in the province is seen at 2.876 million acres, down from 3.118 million a year ago and the lowest since 2020.
Producers in Manitoba intend to plant 527,900 acres of corn this year, up from 504,600 last year and the most since 2023. Soybean area in the province is also seen higher, up 14.1% to 1.626 million and the highest since 2018.
Quebec corn area is forecast just slightly lower on the year at 876,000 acres, with soybeans down to 985,600 acres from 1.036 million in 2024.
