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STEWARDS OF THE LAND
Farmers and ranchers have long been some of our greatest stewards of the land, adapting constantly and looking to the future with every action. Their knowledge and respect for the earth, and dedication to best production practices provide a safe, nutritious and affordable food supply while keeping the land and soil healthy now and for future generations.
TODAY'S FARM
Farming is the practice of growing plants and raising animals for food. Many years ago, most farms were small and farmers grew crops and raised a variety of animals. But times have changed, and farms can look vastly different today.
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Learn more by exploring Ag in the Classroom's snapAG sheet on FARMING BASICS below.
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ALBERTA AGRICULTURE STATS
FARMING
BASICS
Growing food requires a lot of technical information. Much of what a farmer knows is passed down from generation to generation and is a culmination of years of practical experience. Many farmers build on that knowledge through further education. More than 50% of farmers in Canada have university level education and study their entire careers to stay on top of advances in agriculture.
Every type of farming requires a great
deal of specific knowledge, as well as specialized equipment. Farmers have to be as cost-efficient and as productive as possible with the resources they have (equipment, land, number of workers, etc.) in order to make a living. This translates into focusing on raising specific animals or growing specific crops. Location and markets are also important. For example, dairy farms are often located near cities because that’s where they sell their milk.
Created by the National Farm Animal Care Council, Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals have been designed to guide farmers, handlers, transporters, and processors in their practices.
Farmers and ranchers are continually working to improve animal care and welfare. The well-being of their animals is their number one priority.
Check out our animal publication series to learn more about Pollinators and Pigs More to come soon!
Animal Care & Code of Practise
There are approximately 12. 3 million cattle in Canada. This includes approximately 10.8 million beef cattle and 1.4 million dairy cattle. Almost all dairy and beef farms in Canada are family owned!​
There are around 300 hog farms in Alberta, with almost 1.5 million pigs.
GRAINS
WHEATS, OATS & BARLEY are grains in commonly grown Alberta.
Wheat is the third largest production crop in the world and one of AB’s largest
commodities. Oats grown in Alberta are used both for human and animal consumption. Barley is used for three purposes: animal feed, malt, and food barley for human
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Every type of farming requires a great
deal of specific knowledge, as well as specialized equipment. Farmers have to be as cost-efficient and as productive as possible with the resources they have (equipment, land, number of workers, etc.) in order to make a living. This translates into focusing on raising specific animals or growing specific crops. Location and markets are also important. For example, dairy farms are often located near cities because that’s where they sell their milk.
Check out our WHAT'S IN THE FIELD series to learn more!
Did you know that of the 2,800 registered farms in Canada, Alberta is home to 250 registered broiler chicken farms and 170 registered egg farms?
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