Statistics Canada says farmers are expecting to plant the largest wheat crop in more than two decades in 2023.

The data agency says this is possibly due to favourable prices and strong demand for wheat. 

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than a year ago drove up global wheat prices, as Ukraine has been one of the world’s largest wheat exporters. 

Prices have since declined significantly from last year’s double-digit highs but remain relatively strong from a historical perspective. 

The war in Ukraine is just one of several curveballs Canadian farmers were thrown last year.

These challenges included inflationary pressures on things like fertilizer and fuel, as well as higher interest rates. 

Farmers have also been facing more extreme weather over the past decade, including a severe drought in 2021.