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Canadian Wheat Hitting 30 Million Tonnes

Statistics Canada says they expect total wheat production for the country to pass the 30 million tonnes mark, which would be just the second time in 25 years the plateau has been reached.

The field crop national projection shows a 10 and a half per cent increase over 2015.

The Ontario expectation is well above that, estimated to be nearly 67 per cent higher than last year.

StatsCan says the big jump in production is a result of 1.1 million more acres of wheat harvested this year and record crop yields, averaging more than 89 bushels an acre.

Corn and soybean production are both expected to be lower.

Canadian corn is projected to be down about 12 million tonnes, or 9 per cent, from 2015.

With this summer's drought, StatsCan estimates Ontario corn will be down 11.1 percent, which equals 8 million tonnes.

They suggest corn harvest in the province will drop by an average of 17 bushels an acre.

Statistics Canada says Ontario should also expect a 15 per cent decrease in soybean production from a year ago.

The national production for soys is projected to be down 6 and half per cent, which is approximately 6 million tonnes.

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(File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo Inc. / dehooks)

Scoreboard, Aug 5

The Toronto Blue Jays lost 7-2 to the Houston Astros on Tuesday while the Detroit Tigers won their fourth straight, 8-0 over Seattle.