After making a major change to the way its compiles data, Statistics Canada is reviewing the timing of its traditional April seeding intentions report.

The 2023 seeding intentions report, released last week, was based on a farmer survey conducted from December to January.

In the past, the April acreage estimates were based on a survey done just a few weeks earlier, in late March.

A Statistics Canada spokesman says the data in the April 26th report was not adjusted to account for variables which may have changed between the time of collection and the time of release.

He says the agency maintained the historical April release date to ensure it had enough time to address any issues that arose from the change in methodology.

He adds the Agriculture Division will be reassessing the timing of next year’s seeding intentions release.