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The Changing Nature of Farming

Food from the Land. The Changing Nature of Farming. 1950s: Canadians spent ~ 25% of their income on food Today: Canadians spend ~ 11% of their income on food Includes meals eaten outside the home Why do you think this is so???. Food for thought. “ Buy land, they’ve stopped making it!”

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The Changing Nature of Farming

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  1. Food from the Land The Changing Nature of Farming

  2. 1950s: Canadians spent ~ 25% of their income on food • Today: Canadians spend ~ 11% of their income on food • Includes meals eaten outside the home Why do you think this is so??? Food for thought

  3. “Buy land, they’ve stopped making it!” - Mark Twain Do you know where the valuable farm land is located in Canada? What is WHEre?

  4. Provincial shares of farmland, 2001

  5. Canada Land Inventory (1960s and 1970s) • Government surveyed most land in Southern Canada • Goal: Determine the quality of land for agriculture • 7 Classes • 1 = Excellent conditions • 0.5% Canada • 6 = Land has serious limitations. Lands can only be used for rough grazing • 1.8% Canada • 7 = No capability for farming OR was not classified • 86.8% Canada Why There?

  6. Why there? • Most of Canada’s best farmland = within 80 km of the largest 23 cities • Some of this land converted to urban uses cannot be replaced because lack of other suitable land and climate conditions

  7. Source: http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/CLI/frames.html Soil Capability for Agriculture

  8. Agriculture and fish industry contributes more than 8% to Canada’s GDP • 1/5 jobs is related to the agricultural sector of the economy • Growing, processing, transportation, and food sales • Agriculture = important part of Canada’s trade with other countries WHY care?

  9. Only Prairie provinces: Export > Import agricultural products Why Care?

  10. Evolution of prairie farm, 1988 & 2005

  11. Current trends • 1880s – 80% of Canadians farmed the land • Today – less than 3% of Canadians farm WHY?

  12. Number of farms…. …decrease Number of workers… …decrease Average farm size… …increase Current Trends

  13. Number & Size of farms in canada,1941 - 2001

  14. Average herd size1971- 2001

  15. Organic Farming • Over the last six years (1999-2004), the number of certified organic producers has increased by around 70% and the number of acres under organic production has tripled. • Source: Canadian Organic Growers Inc., Organic Statistics 2004, CANADA and The Canadian Organic Grower magazine, various issues. Current Counter Trends

  16. THE IMPACT OF ALL THESE CHANGES • To be assessed… ….By your class! • TASK: Search for headlines, stories, and images that reflect the changing nature of farming on the prairies and the social and economic implications for communities.

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