Agriculture in CanadaAgriculture in Canada

Hi! I’m Farmer Hi! I’m Farmer Brown and this is Brown and this is my cow Moolina. my cow Moolina.

You may remember You may remember me from such me from such

songs as BINGO songs as BINGO and The Three and The Three Daughters of Daughters of

Farmer Brown. But Farmer Brown. But today I am here to today I am here to

tell you about tell you about Agriculture in Agriculture in

Canada.Canada.

Now Here’s The Deal…Now Here’s The Deal…

Now folks, any time you Now folks, any time you see words in a see words in a white white

boxbox,, this is the this is the information that y’all will information that y’all will need to include in your need to include in your

notes. Now make notes. Now make Farmer Brown happy Farmer Brown happy

so I don’t have to bust a so I don’t have to bust a moo-ve doing the Milk moo-ve doing the Milk

Rap!Rap!

Some Farming Facts…Some Farming Facts…

The Agri-Food Industry is the second largest in Canada, and possibly the most important.

Less than 1% of Canada’s population are farmers.

Only 13% of the rural population is represented by farmers.

Now when you think of a Now when you think of a farm, you probably think farm, you probably think of my arch-nemesis Old of my arch-nemesis Old

MacDonald. Boy do MacDonald. Boy do Moolina and I get sick of Moolina and I get sick of

hearing about him!hearing about him!

Howdy folks! I’m Old Howdy folks! I’m Old MacDonald, and on my farm MacDonald, and on my farm

you will find pigs, sheep, you will find pigs, sheep, cows, horses, chickens, cows, horses, chickens, maybe a goat or two and maybe a goat or two and

some crops (but they never some crops (but they never get mentioned in the song).get mentioned in the song).

““Back in the day”, Old Back in the day”, Old MacDonald’s farm was MacDonald’s farm was

the type you would see—the type you would see—a family farm. Today’s a family farm. Today’s

farms are all about farms are all about business. Let’s take a business. Let’s take a

look.look.

A Modern FarmA Modern Farm

Modern farms are run like a business, rather than to sustain a small group of people. They often specialize in one or two types of products and sell to a direct market.

Canada’s Second-Largest IndustryCanada’s Second-Largest Industry

The agri-food The agri-food system provides system provides

Canada with about Canada with about 1/3 of our GDP each 1/3 of our GDP each year. That includes year. That includes

revenue from revenue from Agriculture, Agriculture,

Forestry, Fishing Forestry, Fishing and Hunting; Crop and Hunting; Crop Production; and Production; and

Animal Production. Animal Production.

You’re right, You’re right, Moolina… that Old Moolina… that Old MacDonald does MacDonald does

need a dose of reality. need a dose of reality. Anyway, let’s show Anyway, let’s show

these fine young these fine young whippersnappers whippersnappers what Canada’s what Canada’s

farming picture looks farming picture looks like today.like today.

Old MacDonald Says…Old MacDonald Says…

My farm has My farm has Canada’s most-Canada’s most-

produced livestock! produced livestock! Can you guess Can you guess

what it is?what it is?

What Do We Grow In Canada?What Do We Grow In Canada?

Farmer Brown Says…Farmer Brown Says…

That MacDonald, That MacDonald, thinks he’s so cool, thinks he’s so cool, just because he has just because he has beef cattle… we’ll beef cattle… we’ll

show him, since our show him, since our farm is on some of farm is on some of

the best land in the best land in Canada!Canada!

Moolina wonders Moolina wonders if you know where if you know where

the best land is the best land is for farming in for farming in

Canada.Canada.

Okanagan Okanagan ValleyValley

PrairiesPrairies

Niagara Niagara RegionRegion

Holland Holland MarshMarsh

Annapolis Annapolis ValleyValley

Did You Know…?Did You Know…?

And I bet that Old And I bet that Old MacDonald didn’t MacDonald didn’t know that we use know that we use

agricultural agricultural products for many products for many

things besides things besides food!food!

Of course I Of course I know! Check know! Check out the next out the next

slide!slide!

Farming is More Than Food!Farming is More Than Food!

So, Farmer Brown, So, Farmer Brown, if that’s your if that’s your realreal

name… why don’t name… why don’t you explain to these you explain to these

people what people what Agribusiness is?Agribusiness is?

No problem, No problem, OldOld

MacDonald…MacDonald…

What’s Agribusiness?Agribusiness refers to the important

businesses involved in food production, including:

farming seed supply chemical supply (fertilizers,

pesticides) machinery wholesale and distribution processing marketing retail sales

Parts of the industryParts of the industry

I was wondering the I was wondering the same thing Moolina. same thing Moolina. There are lots of job There are lots of job opportunities in our opportunities in our “field”… I hope that “field”… I hope that

young people will young people will consider some of the consider some of the

following jobs.following jobs.

A Career In Agribusiness?A Career In Agribusiness?

1 in 7 Canadians are employed by this industry!

Plenty of job opportunities exist in: Fitness, Nutrition and Health Care Hospitality and Tourism Agriculture and Production Retail Education Sales, Delivery and Marketing Science and Research

You’re right Moolina, You’re right Moolina, although there are lots although there are lots of jobs in the Agri-Food of jobs in the Agri-Food

industry, we are also industry, we are also facing some tough facing some tough

times as farmers. It times as farmers. It goes way beyond the goes way beyond the whole Farmer Brown whole Farmer Brown vs. Old MacDonald vs. Old MacDonald

rivalry!rivalry!

Current Issues In Current Issues In AgribusinessAgribusiness

Fewer people are interested in being farmers

Financial Issues Loss of land due to

urbanization Controversy over certain

farming practices (fertilizers, pesticides, Mad Cow disease)

““Oh dear, we are Oh dear, we are in trouble!”in trouble!”

Where Have All The Where Have All The Farmers Gone?Farmers Gone?

As you can see, Canada’s population is increasing, and the number of farmers we have is decreasing.

Fewer Farmers!Fewer Farmers!

In Canada, we rely on less than 1% of our population to provide us with food!

Why So Few Farmers?Why So Few Farmers?

There is a lack of interest in farming due to several factors:

It’s hard work. The population of farmers is aging. Many farms are

run by people aged 35 or older, and 35% are aged 55 or older.

It costs a lot of money to start up a farm. (It can cost between $800 000 and $1.4 million)

Farming can be a risky business investment. Farmers are not seen as valuable in our society.

Financial IssuesFinancial Issues

Many farmers (64%) of small farms require a second job to make ends meet.

Farmers argue that the subsidies provided by the Canadian government are not sufficient to compete with U.S. subsidies, which are larger.

More Financial IssuesMore Financial Issues

Due to varying prices of Due to varying prices of crops, it can be a real gamble crops, it can be a real gamble

as to whether a farmer will as to whether a farmer will make a profit each season. make a profit each season. Not only do farmers rely on Not only do farmers rely on

supply and demand, but they supply and demand, but they also depend on the growing also depend on the growing

season to be favourable, and season to be favourable, and fertile land conditions.fertile land conditions.

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1997-98

1998-99

1999-2000

2000-01

2001-02

2002-03

WheatPrices

Canadian Wheat Canadian Wheat Prices Per BushelPrices Per Bushel

Building On Our Farmland?Building On Our Farmland?Often it is more Often it is more profitable to sell profitable to sell

farmland to builders farmland to builders and then get the money and then get the money for the land than it is to for the land than it is to

farm.farm.

TorontoToronto

Controversies Galore…Controversies Galore…

The occurrence of Mad The occurrence of Mad Cow Disease has put Cow Disease has put

many farming practices many farming practices into question. This has into question. This has not been good news for not been good news for

Canadian beef and Canadian beef and dairy farmers.dairy farmers.

Other ConcernsOther Concerns

Environmentalists Environmentalists are worried about are worried about the effects of the effects of pesticides and pesticides and fertilizersfertilizers

Farmers’ use of Farmers’ use of biotechnology (using biotechnology (using technology to modify technology to modify living organisms) living organisms)

Wow, Farmer Wow, Farmer Brown, you have Brown, you have actually given me actually given me a lot of “Food For a lot of “Food For Thought” today. I Thought” today. I didn’t think you didn’t think you had it in you!had it in you!

That’s great, Old That’s great, Old MacDonald. MacDonald. Moolina and I Moolina and I had fun too.had fun too.

So, do you So, do you want to call want to call off our silly off our silly

rivalry then?rivalry then?

Of course not!Of course not!

And Finally….And Finally….