Unit 3: Resource CanadaUnit 3: Resource Canada

6-Agriculture6-Agriculture

7-Water7-Water

8-Fishing8-Fishing

9-Forestry9-Forestry

10-Mining10-Mining

11-Energy11-Energy

Chapter 6: AgricultureChapter 6: Agriculture

Key Terms:Key Terms:– net exporternet exporter– hectare (ha)hectare (ha)– growing seasongrowing season– degree daysdegree days– genetic engineeringgenetic engineering– insecticides, herbicidesinsecticides, herbicides– inputs/outputsinputs/outputs– intensive/extensive farmsintensive/extensive farms– market/truck farmingmarket/truck farming

IntroductionIntroduction

Next to air, correct temperature and water, Next to air, correct temperature and water, food is most essential to our survivalfood is most essential to our survival

Until the 1900s, most Canadians worked on Until the 1900s, most Canadians worked on farms. Over the 1900s, it changed to less farms. Over the 1900s, it changed to less than 3%. than 3%.

In spite of this, Canada is a net exporter of In spite of this, Canada is a net exporter of food; we export more food than we import.food; we export more food than we import.

Canada's Farmland Resource (p.82)Canada's Farmland Resource (p.82)

Hectare (ha): a measurement of land area. Hectare (ha): a measurement of land area. One ha measures 10m by 10m, or 100m2One ha measures 10m by 10m, or 100m2

There is an average of 1.7ha of farmland There is an average of 1.7ha of farmland per person in Canada, a high number. Only per person in Canada, a high number. Only Australia has more.Australia has more.

Use this data to answer question #1, p.82Use this data to answer question #1, p.82

Farmland Location: the role of soils Farmland Location: the role of soils and climate (p.84)and climate (p.84)

SoilSoil and and climateclimate determine the location of good determine the location of good farmlandfarmland

Soil:Soil:– There are 2 main types of agricultural soils:There are 2 main types of agricultural soils:

1.1. GrasslandGrassland: good natural fertility: good natural fertility

2.2. ForestForest: lower natural fertility than grassland. Mixed and : lower natural fertility than grassland. Mixed and deciduous forest soils have greater fertility than coniferous deciduous forest soils have greater fertility than coniferous forest soilsforest soils

Answer #4, p.84, using figure 6.4 and a Answer #4, p.84, using figure 6.4 and a precipitation map of Canadaprecipitation map of Canada

Climate Factors:Climate Factors:

PrecipitationPrecipitation– Most crops in Canada require at least 400mm of Most crops in Canada require at least 400mm of

annual precipitation, which limits farming areas annual precipitation, which limits farming areas unless irrigation is possibleunless irrigation is possible

Climate Factors:Climate Factors:

Degree days: another useful calculation of Degree days: another useful calculation of the growing season. the growing season. – They are found by calling every degree above They are found by calling every degree above

5.6C in a day a degree day, and adding them 5.6C in a day a degree day, and adding them up for a year.up for a year.

– A map of degree days for Canada appears on A map of degree days for Canada appears on p.86. Use it to answer questions #7-9, p.86-87.p.86. Use it to answer questions #7-9, p.86-87.

Quality Farmland (p.87)Quality Farmland (p.87)

The Canada Land Inventory for Agriculture The Canada Land Inventory for Agriculture (CLI) rates farmland from class 1 (highest (CLI) rates farmland from class 1 (highest quality) to 6 (lowest quality)quality) to 6 (lowest quality)

Look at Figure 6.2, p.83 to answer these Look at Figure 6.2, p.83 to answer these questions:questions:– Why do NL, NT & YT have such low numbers Why do NL, NT & YT have such low numbers

overall?overall?– Why does PEI have such a high number in Why does PEI have such a high number in

column A but a low number in column B?column A but a low number in column B?

HomeworkHomework

Question #3a, p.83. Track your diet for 1 Question #3a, p.83. Track your diet for 1 day (today!). We'll analyze it next class.day (today!). We'll analyze it next class.

Agriculture: Past to PresentAgriculture: Past to Present

The PastThe Past– 100 years ago, nearly 75% of Canadians lived 100 years ago, nearly 75% of Canadians lived

in rural areas, and more people worked in in rural areas, and more people worked in farming than in anything elsefarming than in anything else

– Work was done by human muscle with some Work was done by human muscle with some animal (horse, oxen) assistance. Farms were animal (horse, oxen) assistance. Farms were about 40ha in sizeabout 40ha in size

– Farms had a variety of crops and animals. Only Farms had a variety of crops and animals. Only what was not used by the family was sold for what was not used by the family was sold for profitprofit

Agriculture: Past to PresentAgriculture: Past to Present

The PresentThe Present– Today, most Canadians live in urban areas and Today, most Canadians live in urban areas and

less than 3% work in agricultureless than 3% work in agriculture– Farms are specialized, mechanized and Farms are specialized, mechanized and

computerized and are about 240ha in size.computerized and are about 240ha in size.– Farmers need technical skills to be successful, Farmers need technical skills to be successful,

so many are college-educated and rely on so many are college-educated and rely on outside research for help.outside research for help.

Genetic Engineering:Genetic Engineering:

Manipulating DNA in plants and farm Manipulating DNA in plants and farm animals to produce better growing animals to produce better growing characteristics and tastecharacteristics and taste

This is controversial because no one knows This is controversial because no one knows what effects it will have on us years from what effects it will have on us years from nownow

Herbicides & InsecticidesHerbicides & Insecticides

Herbicides (weed-killers)Herbicides (weed-killers) Insecticides (insect-killers) and artificial Insecticides (insect-killers) and artificial

fertilizers have increased the crop yield, but fertilizers have increased the crop yield, but many contain known carcinogensmany contain known carcinogens

The result? Farmers today produce far more The result? Farmers today produce far more per hectare with less effortper hectare with less effort

Questions:Questions:

#14, p.89. Use either graph paper or MS Excel. #14, p.89. Use either graph paper or MS Excel. Use the graph to answer these questions:Use the graph to answer these questions:

1.1. Why was there a large increase in farm size from:Why was there a large increase in farm size from:

a.a. 1911-19211911-1921

b.b. 1941-19511941-1951

c.c. 1951-1961?1951-1961?

2. Why has the amount of farm labour gone down?2. Why has the amount of farm labour gone down?

3. Why has the number of farms gone down while total 3. Why has the number of farms gone down while total farmland went up?farmland went up?

Farmers as Business ManagersFarmers as Business Managers

A farm is run like many other businesses and A farm is run like many other businesses and farmers require business skills to be farmers require business skills to be successfulsuccessful

They must know about cash flow, They must know about cash flow, loans/mortgages, grants, interest rates and loans/mortgages, grants, interest rates and moremore

In spite of the large land holdings and In spite of the large land holdings and expensive equipment involved, many farmers expensive equipment involved, many farmers make less than the average city dwellermake less than the average city dweller

Farming Inputs and OutputsFarming Inputs and Outputs

Input: the costs of running a farmInput: the costs of running a farm Output: the earnings from a farmOutput: the earnings from a farm Profits are determined by Profits are determined by deducting the deducting the

inputs from the outputsinputs from the outputs

Types of Farming (p.93)Types of Farming (p.93)

Intensive Farms:Intensive Farms:– Inputs and outputs per Inputs and outputs per

hectare are highhectare are high– Found in densely Found in densely

populated areas, where populated areas, where land values are highland values are high

– Require large amounts of Require large amounts of labour or equipmentlabour or equipment

– High yields per hectareHigh yields per hectare– Farms include fruit, dairy, Farms include fruit, dairy,

vegetable, tobacco, vegetable, tobacco, flowers, poultry, …flowers, poultry, …

2004's late harvest brought out co-operation in the farming industry. Nine 2004's late harvest brought out co-operation in the farming industry. Nine huge John Deere harvesters line up for a photo on the Starland Hutterite huge John Deere harvesters line up for a photo on the Starland Hutterite

Colony near Delia, AlbertaColony near Delia, Alberta

Types of FarmingTypes of Farming Extensive Farms:Extensive Farms:

– Inputs and outputs are Inputs and outputs are relatively lowrelatively low

– Located in areas with low Located in areas with low population and low land population and low land valuesvalues

– Lower yields per hectareLower yields per hectare– Products are less Products are less

perishable; they don’t have perishable; they don’t have to be sold or processed right to be sold or processed right awayaway

– Farms include hardy Farms include hardy vegetables, cattle, sheep, …vegetables, cattle, sheep, …

Types of FarmingTypes of Farming

Prairie Wheat Farms (SK, AB)Prairie Wheat Farms (SK, AB)– Average 420haAverage 420ha– Produce only wheat and Produce only wheat and

grains, using combines & grains, using combines & large tractorslarge tractors

– Sell $59 000 in crops, cost Sell $59 000 in crops, cost $440 000 to start$440 000 to start

– Require 90-100 day growing Require 90-100 day growing season, 400mm rain, dry fall season, 400mm rain, dry fall harvest, fertile soil over level harvest, fertile soil over level landland

Types of FarmsTypes of Farms

Cattle Raising (AB, SK)Cattle Raising (AB, SK)– Average 640haAverage 640ha– Need little machinery and Need little machinery and

equipmentequipment– Income is $74 000, but cost Income is $74 000, but cost

$470 000 to start$470 000 to start– Require 200mm rain, rolling, Require 200mm rain, rolling,

grass-covered hills, valleys grass-covered hills, valleys with water, soil suitable for with water, soil suitable for hay and feed grainshay and feed grains

Types of FarmingTypes of Farming

Dairy Farms (QC, ON)Dairy Farms (QC, ON)– Average 132haAverage 132ha– Income is $142 000, Income is $142 000,

cost $605 000 to startcost $605 000 to start– Need barns, hay/grain Need barns, hay/grain

machinery, milking & machinery, milking & refrigeration equipmentrefrigeration equipment

– Require 650mm rain, Require 650mm rain, short, mild winters and short, mild winters and warm summers warm summers

Types of FarmingTypes of Farming

Tender Fruit Farms Tender Fruit Farms (Okanagan Valley,BC and (Okanagan Valley,BC and Niagara Fruit Belt, ON)Niagara Fruit Belt, ON)– Average 29 haAverage 29 ha

– Income is $50 000, cost Income is $50 000, cost $450 000 to start$450 000 to start

– Need large amounts of labourNeed large amounts of labour

– Fruits are perishableFruits are perishable

– Require fertile, well-drained Require fertile, well-drained sandy loam soil and a long sandy loam soil and a long growing seasongrowing season

Apple trees, Okanagan Valley

Fruit farm, Niagara fruit

belt

Types of FarmingTypes of Farming Vegetable Farms (Vegetable Farms (Montreal, Montreal,

Vancouver, Toronto)Vancouver, Toronto)– Also called Also called Market gardeningMarket gardening

or or truck farmingtruck farming; products are ; products are shipped fresh to markets by shipped fresh to markets by trucktruck

– Average 55haAverage 55ha– Income is $115 000; cost $570 Income is $115 000; cost $570

000 to start000 to start– Lots of labour requiredLots of labour required– Many specialized machinesMany specialized machines– Requires a moist climate and Requires a moist climate and

level, fertile land with loam or level, fertile land with loam or peat soils and good drainagepeat soils and good drainage

Fruit & vegetable farm near Toronto, ON… home of the

worst hockey team ever.

Changes in Canadian AgricultureChanges in Canadian Agriculture

Short-term ImpactsShort-term Impacts– Climate: a tornado ripping up a cornfieldClimate: a tornado ripping up a cornfield

– Market conditions: price of tomatoes drops after Market conditions: price of tomatoes drops after a screening of the latest 'Killer Tomatoes' moviea screening of the latest 'Killer Tomatoes' movie

Changes in Canadian AgricultureChanges in Canadian Agriculture

Long-Term Impact: changes in social Long-Term Impact: changes in social attitudesattitudes– Red meat is bad for you because of mad cow Red meat is bad for you because of mad cow

disease, so chicken is a better choicedisease, so chicken is a better choice– Drink more water (instead of other drinks like Drink more water (instead of other drinks like

milk or juice)milk or juice)– Eggs are bad; they raise your cholesterol.Eggs are bad; they raise your cholesterol.

Questions: #23 & 24, p. 98Questions: #23 & 24, p. 98

Changes in Canadian AgricultureChanges in Canadian Agriculture

Questions: #23 & 24, p. 98Questions: #23 & 24, p. 98

Read the 'Niagara fruit belt' case study Read the 'Niagara fruit belt' case study (pages 98-101) and respond to questions 25 (pages 98-101) and respond to questions 25 & 26(p.101).& 26(p.101).