OUR FOOD. OUR STORY.

FUN FACTS ON CANADIAN AGRICULTURE Canada is the world’s largest producer and exporter of flaxseed, canola, pulses, durum wheat, peas, lentils, and mustard seeds Canada is the world’s largest producer of blueberries Canada produces 85% of the world’s maple syrup A farmer in 1900 produced enough food for 10 people. Today’s farmer feeds over 120 people!

Did You Know… The Canadian agriculture industry employs just over 2 million Canadians, making one in every eight jobs in Canada part of the agriculture and food industry. Canada is the fifth largest agricultural exporter in the world, producing enough food to feed Canadians  and export food to over 169 countries. Over one-quarter of Canadian farmers  are female at 27.5% and this number is growing.

Equipment Used By Canadian Farmers TRACTOR

Equipment Used By Canadian Farmers Loader or Bucket Bale Spear Snowblower

HOW A FARMER GROWS A CROP **Not all crops require all pieces of equipment. The farmer considers the crop currently in the field, the requirements of the crop that is to be planted, and the best options to reduce soil erosion and improve nutrient management**

How a Farmer Grows a Crop Step 1: Plow the Field A plow is used to break up the land for the very first time The plow is where it all begins. You need this piece of farm equipment to prepare your field for your crops. This is the farm implement that is used to break up the land for the very first time. Generally, plows turn the soil over to kill off the surface vegetation such as weeds. Plowing is primary tillage. That means that you will start with this then go to secondary tillage like a harrow. There are many types of plows such as chisel plows, moldboard plows, and disc plows.

Equipment Used By Canadian Farmers Used to break up a field Shaped like a wing to flip the soil over Moldboard Plow

Moldboard Plow working in PEI Or Click This Link

Disc Plow Used to break ground Best used in rocky or heavy soils Evenly distributes crop into field and prepares for direct seeding

Or click this link

Used after a plow to help break up clumps and Step 2: Harrow the Field Used after a plow to help break up clumps and to level the soil Harrows are secondary tillage. You use them after a plow in most cases. The idea behind a harrow is to break up the clods of soil to make it easier for plants to grow. Harrows disturb all the soil on the surface in a field. There are many different types of harrows that we use today. In most cases, the advanced harrows that you use combine different harrows in a single implement. Types of harrows you might find: disc harrows, chain harrow, roller harrow, and spring harrows.

Disc Harrows & Roller Harrows The Terradisc combines the Disc Plow & Disc Harrows so farmers can complete 2 tasks in one pass, saving time and fuel. Large equipment is often made to fold up for easier transport between fields

Step 3: Plant the Seeds Crops are planted with a seeder or planter. Some crops like cabbage are started in a greenhouse and transplanted by machines and people to fields, especially in areas with shorter growing seasons. You use a seeder to plant the seeds in the ground. There are many types of seeders that range from small simple seeders on small farms all the way up to huge air seeders. Some of the types of seeders you will see are: box drill seeder, air seeder, and planters.  Some seeders can plant spread seed and fertilizer at the same time.

Box Drill Seeder Air Seeder Box drills the most versatile seeder and can plant a variety of seedsOften used for grasses and grains Air Seeder *Air seeders tend work best with smaller seeds which means they aren’t as multi-purpose as others seeders can be.  Air seeders need to be used with round and small seeds. * Many air seeders can deliver seeds and fertilizer. * On average they are larger than other seeders.

Planters 6 Rows 24 Rows Planters are the most accurate type of seeder available with precise seed depth and planting distances. Primarily for corn and soybeans which are crops that are planted in rows. 6 Rows 24 Rows

Or click this link A planter in action, notice the “row marker” that goes out on the side, this marks the centre of the next row so the farmer can keep his rows straight and maximize the use of the fields!

Transplanting Many crops can be started in a greenhouse and then the seedlings are transplanted into fields. This allows the crops to get a head start before being exposed in the field. Crops that may be transplanted in this way include onion, leek, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes and peppers

No-Till or Conservation Till Developments in technology & equipment means traditional field preparation (plow, harrows, plant) isn’t always required! . Conservation tillage This is a technique for planting seed that minimizes the disruption of soil and therefore helps prevent soil erosion. Farmers use special equipment to plant seeds, leaving most of the residues (e.g. stalks) of the previous crop intact. Planting in this way allows the crop residue to break down, which adds organic matter (like composting) while protecting the soil from erosion. 3. No-till No-till works in the same way as conservation tillage, but there is less disruption of soil (e.g. the planter does not go as deep into the soil to plant the seeds, and no crop residue is turned over.)  No-till practices are used in 56.4 per cent of all area prepared for seed in Canada

More on No-Till Or click here

Step 4: Maintenance Crops may require fertilizers, herbicide or pesticide sprays or irrigation. Farmers regularly monitor their crops to ensure optimal growth. Farmers are very dependent on Mother Nature and the weather conditions provided. Floods, Droughts, High Winds, Too Cold or Too Hot Temperatures can all affect the growth of crops!

Liquid Manure Spreader Pipeline Manure Injection Solid Manure Spreader Farmers complete soil samples to know what nutrients their soils may require. Solid & liquid manure from animals is spread back onto the fields to boost nutrients Liquid Manure can be spread from the tank as a broad spray or an injection A pipeline Manure injection system pumps manure from holding area to the tractor applicator via a large pipe. When manure is injected, it reduces odours and also reduces nitrogen loss. The manure is injected directly into the soil rather than being spread on the top of the soil. Chemical fertilizers are also available to farmers to ensure optimal soil conditions for their crops Fertilizer Spreader Pipeline Manure Injection

Spraying Crops Crops may require farmers to apply a pesticide (to control pests/bugs), a herbicide (to control weeds or competitive growth) or a fungicide (to control fungus or fungus spores). Farmers must complete a certification process and receive a license to apply these treatments A small amount of chemical is mixed with water to be applied to the crops In Western Canada where fields are much larger, planes may be used to complete the application If left untreated, farmers can experience devastating crop loss

Irrigation is the controlled application of water through manmade systems to supply water requirements not satisfied by rainfall. Farmers irrigate their crops to ensure they have adequate water for optimal growth and improved yields. Irrigation

Finally the crop has matured and it is Step 5: Harvest Finally the crop has matured and it is ready to harvest. Machinery is used for many crops (especially grains, oil seeds and grasses) but many crops are harvested using manual labour (like strawberries, greenhouse vegetables and apples) A combine is used to harvest many crops. Combines do three functions reaping (cut the plant) the crop, threshing (separates edible from non-edible parts) the crop and winnowing (separates light chaff from grain). The leftovers from the combine thrown out the back as straw can be baled for livestock bedding. Depending on what you want to harvest, a combine will need a specific head for the job. You use a standard grain head for wheat, rye, canola and soybeans. You use a corn head, which looks like it has teeth on it for corn. Grasses are mowed (with combine or tractor & mower) and the grass is made into hay or silage. Silage has a high moisture content and is stored as wrapped round bales, in Bunkers, Silos or Ag Bags. Hay is much drier and can be left exposed to air but stored out of the elements.

Making Hay or Silage For Animals Mower Tedder Rake Square Baler Round Baler

TYPES OF GRASS STORAGE Bunker Silos Individual Wrapped Bales Upright Silos Bag Silo Bales Wrapped in Tube

Grain Harvest & Storage Combine Grain Truck Grain Cart Grain Bins

Potato Harvest & Storage Or click this link

Strawberry Harvest Many crops are still harvested by hand There are many crops that still require people to harvest them! Strawberries and greenhouse vegetables are harvested by hand because the fruit/vegetable on the plants ripen at different rates. An annual crop is picked several times in a season to harvest when the fruit/vegetable are in the best shape. Greenhouse Harvest

Raspberry Farming Or click here

My Story in Agriculture Past, Present & Future

Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture PHOTO CREDITS AITC-SK Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture AITC Manitoba Free Images John Deere Case IH New Holland You Tube Egg Farmers of Canada Pottinger