Wheat Farming in Canada: 16 Facts, History & More!

Wheat Farming in Canada: 16 Facts, History & More!

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Did you know Canada is the world's sixth-largest wheat producer [1] and the second-largest exporter [2]? Although many people think of Alberta and Saskatchewan when they think of wheat farming in Canada, wheat crops are also grown in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia [2].

The Canadian Prairies are ideally suited for wheat farming, with their flat terrain, fertile soil, and long, sunny growing season. Combined with advances in agricultural technology, farmers can produce high yields of high-quality wheat. Today, Canada is one of the world's leading wheat exporters, exporting tens of millions of tonnes to more than 80 countries worldwide [4].

Wheat is used to make all sorts of food products, from breads and pastas to snacks and even paper. It is a critical food source and, surprisingly, has other applications outside the agricultural sector. This critical food commodity is not only a staple of our diets, but it also supports the prosperity of farmers across our country – adding billions of dollars in economic impact and supporting countless jobs for Canadian families.

Below, we take a look at several fun and interesting facts on wheat farming in Canada.

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16 Facts on Wheat Farming in Canada 

#1 - As of 2025/26, Canada was the sixth-largest wheat producer in the world, behind the EU (1), China (2), India (3), Russia (4), and the USA (5) [1]

#2 – Behind Russia, Canada stands as the second-largest wheat exporter in the world as of 2024 [6]

#3 – As a top global producer, Canada accounted for 5% of global production in 2025/26, producing a whopping 39.96 million metric tons [1]

#4 – The total economic impact of Canada’s common wheat sector from 2018/19 to 2020/21 (3 years) averaged $42.8 billion [4]

#5 – More than 230,000 full-time equivalent jobs are supported by Canada’s common wheat sector, comprising 215,000 paid jobs and an additional 15,000 family members who are supported by farming operations [4]

#6 – The total impact of the common wheat sector in Canada averaged $16.8 billion between the 2018/19 to 2020/21 seasons [4]

#7 – For the durum wheat sector, the total economic impact averaged $7.5 billion per year, supported more than 37,000 full-time equivalent jobs, including 33,000 paid jobs and an additional 4,000 family members, and supported $1.9 billion in wages from the 2018/19 to 2020/21 [5]

#8 – Approximately 62,000 farms grow wheat grains and oilseeds across Canada [2]

#9 – Wheat is a staple food for 35% of the world’s population and is Canada’s largest grown field crop [3]

#10 – Most of Canada’s wheat is produced in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba, but crops can also be found in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia [2]

#11 – 10 wheat classes are grown in Western Canada, while 7 are grown in Eastern Canada, each with different qualities and characteristics [3]

#12 – Western Canadian farmers predominantly grow Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) wheat, which has a high protein content ideal for superior milling, bread, and noodle quality [2]

#13 – In Ontario, Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces, farmers grow Canada Eastern Soft Red Winter (CESRW) wheat, which is ideal for cakes, pastry, cereal, crackers, and biscuits [2]

#14 – Canada is the world’s leading exporter of Canada Western Amber Durum (CWAD) wheat, which is exclusively grown in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan [2]

#15 – Wheat is used domestically in Canada for food, feed, and fuel, and is also exported to more than 80 countries worldwide every year [4]

#16 – Canada’s top wheat export markets include the United States, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Peru, Japan and Italy [2]

What are the World’s Top Wheat Producing Countries?

Top 10 Wheat Producing Countries (2025/26)
Ranked by share of global wheat production and total production for the 2025/26 year.
Rank Market % of Global Production Total Production
1 European Union 17% 145.11 million
2 China 17% 140.07 million
3 India 14% 117.95 million
4 Russia 11% 90.3 million
5 United States 6% 54.01 million
6 Canada 5% 39.96 million
7 Australia 4% 35.99 million
8 Pakistan 3% 28.4 million
9 Argentina 3% 27.89 million
10 Ukraine 3% 24.1 million
Source: [1] United States Department of Agriculture. Figures shown in metric tons.

History of Wheat Farming in Canada 

Wheat farming in Canada has a long and rich history. European settlers brought the first wheat crops with them. The first crop was planted in the 1600s, and over time, wheat farming became a significant source of income for many farmers and governments [2].

In spring 1909, Marquis became the first Canadian wheat variety developed and distributed to farmers. It became popular because it matured faster and had better milling and baking qualities than European varieties [2].

Marquis later became the standard for evaluating the quality of other Canadian wheat varieties. Prior to Marquis, a variety called Red Fife was the most commonly grown in the 1800s. Today, Canada is one of the world's leading wheat exporters, shipping to dozens of countries worldwide [2].

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Join us on social media to learn more about how Canadian wheat farmers are an integral part of our communities and the country as a whole. We hope to see you there!

SOURCES:

1 - https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/production/0410000

2 - https://whataboutwheat.ca/canadian-wheat/wheat-in-canada/

3 - https://cerealscanada.ca/wheat/

4 - https://cerealscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LMC_The-Economic-Impact-of-Common-Wheat-on-the-Canadian-Economy_January-2023.pdf

5 - https://cerealscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/LMC_The-Economic-Impact-of-Durum-Wheat-on-the-Canadian-Economy_January-2023.pdf

6 - https://oec.world/en/profile/hs/wheat?selector1777id=rankingOption