Total wheat production in Canada is estimated to be 27.1 million tonnes in 2017, a decline of 14.5% from 2016. The decline in production is attributed to lower yields in spring wheat, durum wheat and winter wheat compared with last year. The decline in yield, most notably in Western Canada, was due to the very dry conditions in the south central region of the Prairies where precipitation during the growing season was significantly lower than the average. At the national level, spring wheat production is estimated to be 20.1 million tonnes in 2017, down 1.8% from 2016. Although the 2017 harvested acreage is estimated to be 8.0% higher compared with the previous year, overall production is expected to be down due to a lower estimated yield of 47.2 bushels per acre at the national level, down 9.2% from 52.0 bushels per acre in 2016. Spring wheat production is expected to increase in Alberta (+5.4%) to 8.4 million tonnes in 2017, but to decrease 7.2% in Saskatchewan to 7.4 million tonnes, and to fall 4.2% in Manitoba to 3.7 million tonnes. Average spring wheat yield in Saskatchewan is anticipated to be down 14.1% compared with 2016, to 39.6 bushels per acre. An anticipated increase of 8.0% in harvested area will help offset the lower anticipated yield for Saskatchewan. In Alberta, average yield is expected to decline 10.1% from 2016 to 53.5 bushels per acre. A 16.8% increase in harvested area, however, will help temper the lower yields, resulting in an overall increase in production for this province. Durum wheat production at the national level is expected to be 4.3 million tonnes in 2017, down 44.6% from 2016. This decrease is due to a 12.9% reduction in harvested acreage. As well, very dry conditions in the south central region of the Prairies (see map) are expected to result in a decline of 36.5% in expected yield, to 31.0 bushels per acre. Durum production is concentrated in the Prairie region that received below-average precipitation during the growing season.