Good Morning #Canada In yesterday's post about farming and fall fairs, I ruminated about a series on Canada’s agricultural areas.
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Last data point for today - a comparison of Canada and 3 of our largest trading partners in the agricultural industry. Again, there are lots of interesting numbers, but one factoid that jumped out to me: Canada is farming 6.2% of our land versus the United Kingdom at 75.0%, the United States at 36.8% and Japan 11.8%.
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/96-325-x/2021001/article/00012-eng.htm
A little music to cleanse the numbers from this thread...
#CountryMusic
https://youtu.be/Y1rq-vTkMT4?si=R74Ty6qYZOldOqEp -
A little music to cleanse the numbers from this thread...
#CountryMusic
https://youtu.be/Y1rq-vTkMT4?si=R74Ty6qYZOldOqEpGood Morning #Canada
Welcome to Day #3 of The Dirt on Canadian Farming.
When you think of Newfoundland and Labrador, fishing, rocks, and icebergs all come to mind. But there is a healthy farming industry in the province primarily built around vegetables. They also have the highest percentage of sales direct to consumers of any province, with farmers selling from stands and small retail shops on their property. Amazingly, there are no local farm crops used to make Screech.#CanadaIsAwesome #Newfie
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/96-325-x/2021001/article/00001-eng.htm -
Good Morning #Canada
Welcome to Day #3 of The Dirt on Canadian Farming.
When you think of Newfoundland and Labrador, fishing, rocks, and icebergs all come to mind. But there is a healthy farming industry in the province primarily built around vegetables. They also have the highest percentage of sales direct to consumers of any province, with farmers selling from stands and small retail shops on their property. Amazingly, there are no local farm crops used to make Screech.#CanadaIsAwesome #Newfie
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/96-325-x/2021001/article/00001-eng.htmGood Morning #Canada
More like good afternoon.... sorry, but I had a busy morning. Welcome to the late edition of Day #4 of The Dirt on Canadian Farming.
Today, we leap west to British Columbia since it's still early morning there. B.C. has a wide variety of farm produce spread across the province, and most Canadians recognize it for fruits, nuts, vegetables, and wine. That last one doesn't grow on trees, BTW. Likely, the most recognizable region would be the Okanagan Valley. The valley is roughly 200 km long and 20 km wide and lies between the Columbia and Cascade mountain ranges, providing a unique warm and sunny climate with semi-arid conditions. This area is famous for its world-renowned wine and fruit industries, stunning natural landscapes with lakes and mountains, its farm-to-table food culture, and the legendary Ogopogo monster of Okanagan Lake.#CanadaIsAwesome #Agriculture
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/agricultural-land-and-environment/agricultural-regions -
Good Morning #Canada
More like good afternoon.... sorry, but I had a busy morning. Welcome to the late edition of Day #4 of The Dirt on Canadian Farming.
Today, we leap west to British Columbia since it's still early morning there. B.C. has a wide variety of farm produce spread across the province, and most Canadians recognize it for fruits, nuts, vegetables, and wine. That last one doesn't grow on trees, BTW. Likely, the most recognizable region would be the Okanagan Valley. The valley is roughly 200 km long and 20 km wide and lies between the Columbia and Cascade mountain ranges, providing a unique warm and sunny climate with semi-arid conditions. This area is famous for its world-renowned wine and fruit industries, stunning natural landscapes with lakes and mountains, its farm-to-table food culture, and the legendary Ogopogo monster of Okanagan Lake.#CanadaIsAwesome #Agriculture
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/agricultural-land-and-environment/agricultural-regionsA little country music from B.C. native Dean Brody.
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A little country music from B.C. native Dean Brody.
Good Morning #Canada
Welcome to Day #Cinq of The Dirt on Canadian Farming. Today, we are in Quebec, at least metaphorically, to discover how La Belle Province contributes to Canada’s agriculture.
If you want awesome desserts, you have to go to Quebec. They have over 90% of maple syrup farms in Canada and also produce more blueberries and cranberries than any other province. Quebec also leads the nation in the number of dairy cattle and pigs, all of which must speak French by law. If you purchase cheese, and who doesn't, it's a good chance it came from Quebec as they produce more than 50% of all fromage in Canada. Quebec is also a leader in this country in organic farming and has a high percentage of sales direct to consumers.#CanadaIsAwesome #DrinkMilk #Cheese
https://www.canadaaction.ca/quebec-farming-facts -
Good Morning #Canada
Welcome to Day #Cinq of The Dirt on Canadian Farming. Today, we are in Quebec, at least metaphorically, to discover how La Belle Province contributes to Canada’s agriculture.
If you want awesome desserts, you have to go to Quebec. They have over 90% of maple syrup farms in Canada and also produce more blueberries and cranberries than any other province. Quebec also leads the nation in the number of dairy cattle and pigs, all of which must speak French by law. If you purchase cheese, and who doesn't, it's a good chance it came from Quebec as they produce more than 50% of all fromage in Canada. Quebec is also a leader in this country in organic farming and has a high percentage of sales direct to consumers.#CanadaIsAwesome #DrinkMilk #Cheese
https://www.canadaaction.ca/quebec-farming-factsSome #CountryMusic from Yoan Garneau.
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Some #CountryMusic from Yoan Garneau.
Good Morning #Canada
The Dirt on Canadian Farming now enters Day #6, and we'll hang around the east coast today.
Nova Scotia is one of the most challenging regions for agriculture as it is limited by ocean, a rocky landscape, cool and wet climate, and acidic soil. Some of those conditions are ideal for blueberries and apples, and those farms have increased recently with the rise in fresh fruit prices. Grape growing and wine production is another sector increasing and difficult to keep bottled up. Wineries are French hybrid stock suitable for the local conditions. The rest of Nova Scotia's agriculture is made up of dairy, pigs, and maple syrup. Mink production, once a sizeable portion of the province's exports, has decreased significantly since fur coats have thankfully gone out of fashion.#CanadaIsAwesome #Pies
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/96-325-x/2021001/article/00003-eng.htm -
Good Morning #Canada
The Dirt on Canadian Farming now enters Day #6, and we'll hang around the east coast today.
Nova Scotia is one of the most challenging regions for agriculture as it is limited by ocean, a rocky landscape, cool and wet climate, and acidic soil. Some of those conditions are ideal for blueberries and apples, and those farms have increased recently with the rise in fresh fruit prices. Grape growing and wine production is another sector increasing and difficult to keep bottled up. Wineries are French hybrid stock suitable for the local conditions. The rest of Nova Scotia's agriculture is made up of dairy, pigs, and maple syrup. Mink production, once a sizeable portion of the province's exports, has decreased significantly since fur coats have thankfully gone out of fashion.#CanadaIsAwesome #Pies
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/96-325-x/2021001/article/00003-eng.htmSome extra content this morning - how Canadian government money tried to save mink farmers in a dying fur industry.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mink-farming-canada-agristability-boom-bust-1.5495165
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Some extra content this morning - how Canadian government money tried to save mink farmers in a dying fur industry.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mink-farming-canada-agristability-boom-bust-1.5495165
Good Morning #Canada
For Day #7 of The Dirt on Canadian Farming, we head west young man to a province we don't want to leave, but we wish their government would just go away.
Alberta's oil industry overshadows the importance and size of their agricultural sector. It's one of only two provinces where the number of farms increased in the most recent StatsCan reports (2021), and their farms generate the highest revenues per operator in the country. Due to the dry climate, they have invested heavily in irrigation, and over 72% of all irrigated farmland in Canada is in Alberta. Oil seed and grains, and beef cattle, dominate with almost 70% of their 40K farms involved in those products. Alberta ranks worldwide as a top exporter of beef, wheat, canola, and pulse crops. Which is interesting because if they separated, they would be surrounded by border checkpoints and tangled up in customs negotiations as a tiny country.#CanadaIsAwesome #AllHatAndNoCattle
https://www.canadaaction.ca/alberta-farming-facts -
Good Morning #Canada
For Day #7 of The Dirt on Canadian Farming, we head west young man to a province we don't want to leave, but we wish their government would just go away.
Alberta's oil industry overshadows the importance and size of their agricultural sector. It's one of only two provinces where the number of farms increased in the most recent StatsCan reports (2021), and their farms generate the highest revenues per operator in the country. Due to the dry climate, they have invested heavily in irrigation, and over 72% of all irrigated farmland in Canada is in Alberta. Oil seed and grains, and beef cattle, dominate with almost 70% of their 40K farms involved in those products. Alberta ranks worldwide as a top exporter of beef, wheat, canola, and pulse crops. Which is interesting because if they separated, they would be surrounded by border checkpoints and tangled up in customs negotiations as a tiny country.#CanadaIsAwesome #AllHatAndNoCattle
https://www.canadaaction.ca/alberta-farming-factsBonus content - Through this series, I learned what a Pulse Crop was. They even have their own website.
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Bonus content - Through this series, I learned what a Pulse Crop was. They even have their own website.
A tip of the Stetson to the Stampede with this #CountryMusic tune.
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A tip of the Stetson to the Stampede with this #CountryMusic tune.
Good Morning #Canada
Day #8 of The Dirt on Canadian Farming takes us back east to New Brunswick, which is not that "new" BTW. If it seems like we're jumping around the country in this series, with no logic, well, congratulations, you're paying attention.
New Brunswick's agricultural and agri-food sector reached a record of $1.23 billion in farm cash receipts in 2023, with potatoes, blueberries, maple syrup, and dairy all key products. Within that number lies good and bad news. The province had one of the largest decreases in farm operators in the country, but profits per farm have increased. Blueberry farms increased, and the province is 2nd in Canada in production. In 2024, New Brunswick announced the Agricultural Sustainability Program to assist farmers with reducing tillage, maintaining ponds and wetlands, and protecting pollinator habitat, critical and marginal landscapes, trees, riparian areas and crop management.#CanadaIsAwesome #Farming
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/95-640-x/2016001/article/14803-eng.htm -
Good Morning #Canada
Day #8 of The Dirt on Canadian Farming takes us back east to New Brunswick, which is not that "new" BTW. If it seems like we're jumping around the country in this series, with no logic, well, congratulations, you're paying attention.
New Brunswick's agricultural and agri-food sector reached a record of $1.23 billion in farm cash receipts in 2023, with potatoes, blueberries, maple syrup, and dairy all key products. Within that number lies good and bad news. The province had one of the largest decreases in farm operators in the country, but profits per farm have increased. Blueberry farms increased, and the province is 2nd in Canada in production. In 2024, New Brunswick announced the Agricultural Sustainability Program to assist farmers with reducing tillage, maintaining ponds and wetlands, and protecting pollinator habitat, critical and marginal landscapes, trees, riparian areas and crop management.#CanadaIsAwesome #Farming
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/95-640-x/2016001/article/14803-eng.htmGood Morning #Canada
As the sun comes up over the grain elevator, we discover we are in Saskatchewan for Day #9 of The Dirt on Canadian Farming. And it's flat.... like crazy flat.
Saskatchewan is commonly known as Canada’s breadbasket because of the volume and diversity of crops that they grow. The province had set a target of $20B in exports by 2030 - which was achieved in 2023 with export revenues of $20.2B, placing them at #2 in Canada. The 34K farms in Saskatchewan manage over 40% of Canada’s farmland, and they are likely the top producer of any grain, oilseed, or pulse crop you can think of. For example - Saskatchewan produced 87% of Canada's chickpeas and was responsible for 91% of chickpeas exports. Which tells me Canadians don't really like chickpeas. The province is also a leader in new technology with GPS guided machinery and numerous testing sites for robotic farming. And don't forget the pigs - they exported 2M in 2023.#CanadaIsAwesome #Bread #Oink
https://www.canadaaction.ca/saskatchewan-farming-facts -