The grain growers of the Prairies have called 1952 a “year of wonders” They had nearly ideal harvesting conditions during April and May, when they safely threshed over 150 million bushels of wheat and about 135 million bushels of oats and barley that had lain out in their fields during the winter, because of very unfavourable fall harvesting conditions.  Spring conditions were so favourable, however, that much of this grain graded higher and was worth more per bushel than that which they had succeeded in harvesting the previous autumn.

For two successive years the harvesting and planting of cereal crops on many areas of the prairies were carried on simultaneously. Farm mechanization made this possible, and the exceptional weather conditions that prevailed allowed for the almost continuous operation of farm implements and mammoth combines. By the middle of May, the spring harvesting of crops was nearing completion in the southern areas of all three Prairie Provinces, and wheat seeding was also practically over in these areas by that time, and at the end of the month, seeding was generally completed in the West. 

During 1952, almost ideal weather conditions prevailed throughout the great cereal growing areas of the west, for the seeding, growing and harvesting of Canada’s record wheat crop, estimated at 688 million bushels, which exceeds the previous record. crop of 1928 by 121 million bushels. There were also record crops of both barley and soy beans, and above normal yields of most of their other crops, making 1952 one of the best growing seasons for farm crops in western Canada. 

The West has also had a favourable season for marketing their cereals. Before the close of navigation, they had exported wheat and its products (in terms of wheat) and coarse grains over 500 million bushels, which was about 100 million bushels more than the former record year of 1928-29. Supplies of wheat and feeds, however, in 1952-53, because of a carry-over of 213 million bushels, will amount to about 900 million bushels, a record that has only been surpassed in 1942-43. What are the marketing prospects for this enormous quantity of wheat and feeds? 

It was estimated that world trade in wheat last year reached over one billion bushels, an all time high. This year’s crops have been good in many of the non exporting areas, Western Europe in particular had crops much above average. India and Pakistan had yields, however, much below average. The four major exporting nations: Canada. Australia, United States and Argentina have about 600 million bushels more than they had last year, and most of this surplus will have to be marketed outside the International Wheat Agreement, as Canada’s commitment was within five million bushels of being Filled in the final year of the agreement. 

Two conditions have developed that are very favourable to marketing Canada’s wheat crop: First. the superior quality of the 1952 crop has resulted in a very active early world demand for our wheat;  second, a very severe drought in the United States winter wheat growing areas has greatly reduced their estimated yield. The Wheat Board confirms reports that future commitments to ship wheat to other countries exceed those of any previous year. Every effort has been made to move Canadian wheat to the seaboard as early as possible, to relieve storage in the West and to have it where it is available for immediate export. The wheat Board have been refusing business by way of Vancouver since early in October, as that port is “booked solid” until July 31st, 1953. Final shipping returns from the National Harbour Board elevator at Churchill set the 1952 ocean cargo total at 8,585,121 bushels. This is an all time record for this port, and exceeds, by approximately 1.3 millions the previous high set last year. It is transportation that is now limiting sales of Canadian wheat. 

Ontario, extending as it does, from a point farthest south in Canada to Hudson Bay, and from the Lake of Two Mountains on the Ottawa River to the Lake of the Woods, includes many climatic zones. Its growing season, however, was early in southern and eastern Ontario, and most of its  farm crops reached or exceeded average yields. Southwestern Ontario had a drought period in the early autumn, which reduced late crop yields, but in the north, there were many record yields per acre of potatoes. We do not have this year’s returns from Lambton County, but last year it produced a three and a half million dollar crop of husked corn, and eight million dollars worth of honey. 

Quebec had a backward spring seeding season, and grain crops showed a marked decrease in yield; the average yield of wheat was down two bushels and that of oats was down 1.4 bushels Iron the previous year. may production however, amounted to six million tons, an increase of 185,000 tons over 1051, and the potato crop gave a yield of 149 cwt. per acre 1 or a total of 22,750,000 bushels. These were the two outstanding Quebec crops in 1952.

Spring opened early in the Maritime provinces and there was some early seeding and planting which gave excellent returns. This was followed by a period of rainy weather that greatly delayed the general seeding of crops. There had been very little winter killing and clover and hay generally gave yields above average and of excellent quality. Early pasture conditions in Prince Edward Island were never better than average yields. Potatoes however, in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island gave record yields.

– Newsy Notes, December 20, 1952

Source: Islandnewspapers.ca