Food from the Land
THE CHANGING NATURE OF FARMING
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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???
WHAT IS WHERE?
“Buy land, they’ve stopped
making it!”
- Mark Twain
Do you know where the
valuable farm land is
located in Canada?
PROVINCIAL SHARES OF FARMLAND, 2001
WHY THERE?

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


6 = Land has serious limitations. Lands can only be used for
rough grazing


0.5% Canada
1.8% Canada
7 = No capability for farming OR was not classified

86.8% Canada
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
SOIL CAPABILITY FOR AGRICULTURE

Source: http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/CLI/frames.html
WHY CARE?
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?

Only Prairie provinces:
 Export
> Import agricultural products
EVOLUTION OF PRAIRIE FARM, 1988 & 2005
CURRENT TRENDS

1880s – 80% of
Canadians farmed the
land
Today – less than 3% of
Canadians farm

WHY?
CURRENT TRENDS
Number of farms….
…decrease

Number of workers…
…decrease

Average farm size…
…increase

NUMBER & SIZE OF FARMS IN CANADA,
1941 - 2001
AVERAGE HERD SIZE
1971- 2001
CURRENT COUNTER TRENDS

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.
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.