While Canadian wheat production dropped 5% in the 2017-18 marketing year, the quality improved and about 90% of the crop will grade in the top two milling categories. This has led to short supplies of wheat for feeding as wheat growers hold onto their crop in expectation of better prices. Total wheat production is estimated at 29.98 million tonnes. Despite dry prairie conditions for much of the growing season, the prairies experienced good quality crops and solid spring wheat yields, due to sufficient soil moisture remaining from the winter months and improved genetics.