Canadian farm cash receipts through the first two quarters of 2025 were up slightly from the same period a year earlier, thanks mainly to strong livestock returns.
A Statistics Canada report Friday pegged total farm cash receipts in the January-June period at $49.6 billion, up $1.6 billion or 3.3% from the previous year.
But it was livestock that led the way. Total livestock receipts rose 10.8% or $2.1 billion to $21.3 billion in the first two quarters, on account of higher prices for all livestock types except poultry. On the other hand, crop receipts were little changed – inching up $80.2 million or 0.3% - to $25.9 billion. Meanwhile, program payments declined, falling $584.5 million or 20% to $2.3 billion.
While cash receipts increased for most crops in the January-June period, StatsCan said those gains were offset by reduced receipts for barley and lower liquidations of deferred crop sales in Western Canada.
Total oilseed receipts through the first two quarters of 2025 were up from a year earlier due to higher marketings, StatsCan said. Canola receipts increased by $76.4 million from a year earlier to $6.35 billion, while soybean receipts climbed $103.2 million to $1.28 billion. “An abundant supply of soybeans” put downward pressure on oilseed prices, moderating the gain in receipts, the federal agency added.
Cereal and grain receipts increased in the first two quarters on higher receipts for durum wheat, which increased $197.2 million to $1.02 billion. Wheat (excluding durum) receipts were up $122.9 million to $4.3 billion. For most grain crops, higher marketings drove the rise in receipts while lower prices moderated gains, StatsCan said. Meanwhile, receipts for barley fell $110.1 million to $526. 1 million, as prices and marketings both declined.
On the livestock side, cattle receipts soared $1.2 billion to $8.56 billion through the first two quarters of 2025, while hog receipts jumped $436.4 million to $3.55 billion. Combined, cattle and hogs accounted for roughly 80% of the rise in overall livestock receipts.
Cattle receipts were up due to a 20.3% rise in prices, which more than offset a 3.1% decline in marketings. Hog receipts also increased because of higher prices, up 10.5%, and marketings, which increased 3.1%.
Supply-managed receipts grew 2.7% to $7.7 billion in the first two quarters, representing roughly 35% of total livestock receipts.
The overall decrease in program payments through the first two quarters of 2025 was led by Saskatchewan (-$287.4 million) and Alberta (-$162.4 million). Crop insurance payments, which fell $381.4 million, accounted for nearly two-thirds of the decrease, owing to improved growing conditions in the 2024 crop year.
Most provinces recorded higher farm cash receipts in the first two quarters, led by Alberta, which saw a nearly $531-million increase to $12.62 billion compared to a year earlier. Ontario receipts were up $525 million to $10.85 billion, while Saskatchewan receipts fell $96.2 million to $10.68 billion. Manitoba receipts increased to $5.14 billion from $4.97 billion a year earlier.
