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Most Beef-cow Herds and Cattle Ranches

Subcontract and Farm Operator Data
Alberta has the most beef cattle in Canada and the second largest total farm area

Release appointment: May ten, 2017

For the first fourth dimension since the 2001 Census, Alberta reported an increase in beefiness cattle inventory, despite fewer farms reporting beef cattle.

Alberta in one case again reported the largest cattle herd in Canada in 2016, accounting for only over 2-fifths of the national total. Alberta also accounted for ii-fifths of all beefiness breeding stock nationally and nearly iii-fifths of all feeder cattle.

Although full farm numbers were down from five years before, Alberta connected to have the second largest number of farms in Canada post-obit Ontario.

Alberta too ranked 2nd in terms of both total farm area and field crop area. Canola remained the leading field crop by area in 2016, up slightly from 2011, while spring wheat and barley surface area edged downward.

Area planted with sweet corn was down by over 1-3rd from 2011, while greenhouse flower and vegetable area were almost one-tenth college.

Just under one-half of farm operators in Alberta reported having an off farm chore in 2015, the 2d highest rate in the country post-obit British Columbia.

Primary agriculture represented 1.5% of provincial gross domestic product (agricultural GDP) in 2013. This percentage increased to 4.0% when agricultural input and service providers, primary producers, food and potable processors, and food retailers and wholesalers industries were taken into account (Statistics Canada. 2013. Special tabulation, based on 2013 gross domestic product by manufacture – provincial and territorial).

Agricultural operations in Alberta employed 33,498 people in 2015.

Chart 1 Total number of cattle and calves, Canada, 2016

Data table for Chart 1
Information table for Chart i
Table summary
This tabular array displays the results of Information tabular array for Chart 1. The data is grouped by Province (appearing equally row headers), Percent (appearing as column headers).
Province Percent
Quebec 9.0
Ontario 13.0
Manitoba eight.8
Saskatchewan 20.7
Alberta 41.6
Other 7.0

Fewer farms in Alberta

The 2016 Demography of Agriculture counted twoscore,638 census farms in Alberta, downwards 6.0% from 2011 and similar to the 5.9% decline at the national level. Despite the decrease, Alberta connected to have the 2nd largest number of farms in the state post-obit Ontario.

Chart 2 Total number of farms, Alberta, 1921 to 2016

Data tabular array for Nautical chart 2
Information table for Nautical chart ii
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Nautical chart 2. The information is grouped past Year (actualization as row headers), Number of operations (thousands) (appearing as cavalcade headers).
Year Number of operations (thousands)
1921 82,954
1931 97,408
1941 99,732
1951 84,315
1956 79,424
1961 73,212
1966 69,411
1971 62,702
1976 61,130
1981 58,056
1986 57,777
1991 57,245
1996 59,007
2001 53,652
2006 49,431
2011 43,234
2016 40,638

Alberta leads in beef

Once again, Alberta had the most cattle in Canada in 2016, bookkeeping for 41.6% of the national herd. Alberta'south feeder cattle (steers and heifers for feeding or slaughter) accounted for 59.six% of the national total, while its beef convenance stock (beef cows and heifers for beef herd replacement) deemed for 42.3%.

For the commencement time since the 2001 Census, Alberta reported an increment in the number of beef cattle (beef cattle for breeding and beef cattle for feeding/slaughter). This contrasted with the continued decline at the national level (-2.4%). Alberta'south beef cattle inventories rose ane.three% from 2011 to 3.34 million head — despite fewer farms (-9.0%) reporting beef cattle. Close proximity to processing capacity and availability of feed and pasture land provide Alberta's beef sector with a comparative reward over other provinces. In addition, volatility in the beef sector from 2011 to 2016, partially due to toll fluctuations, may have affected beefiness cattle inventories.

The number of dairy cows in Alberta decreased 0.8% from 2011 to 80,014 head in 2016, while the number of farms reporting dairy cows declined by 12.6%.

While there were fewer dairy cows, this was offset by increased production per beast, attributable to improved fauna nutrition, genetics and production practices.  Annual milk production increased 11.0% to 732.3 1000000 litres from 2011 to 2016 (CANSIM tabular array 003-0011, accessed Apr 25, 2017).

From 2011 to 2016, the number of pigs in Alberta rose past iv.vi% to 1.5 meg head, while the number of farms reporting pigs increased 41.iii%. The growth was due to better market place conditions, which boosted the toll of pigs relative to the menstruation preceding the terminal census. Prior to the 2011 Demography of Agriculture, the grunter sector had been beset by loftier feed costs, illness and depression pig prices, resulting in significantly fewer farms and a smaller sus scrofa herd (CANSIM tabular array 002-0068, accessed April 25, 2017).

Full farm area down, but cropland up

Alberta reported the 2nd largest full farm area over which farmers had stewardship in 2016, following Saskatchewan. The total farm surface area in Alberta declined 0.5% from 2011 to 50.three meg acres in 2016. This subtract came about equally the sector shed lower quality and non-agricultural lands and upgraded or divested by and large less productive pasture lands.

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Total farm area, which is state owned or operated by an agricultural functioning, includes:

  • cropland;
  • summerfallow;
  • improved and unimproved pasture;
  • woodlands and wetlands;
  • all other land (including idle state, and land on which farm buildings are located).

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While the full subcontract surface area roughshod, the boilerplate farm size grew from 1,168 acres in 2011 to one,237 acres in 2016 and the area of cropland increased by 4.8% to 25.3 meg acres. This five-year catamenia saw shifts of area abroad from hay to field crops.

Table i
Components of cropland in percent, Alberta, 2011 and 2016
Tabular array summary
This table displays the results of Components of cropland in percentage. The information is grouped by Component of cropland (appearing as row headers), 2011 and 2016, calculated using Pct of cropland units of mensurate (actualization as column headers).
Component of cropland 2011 2016
Percent of cropland Table 1 Note1
Field crops 78.6 83.two
Hay 21.3 16.vii
Others Tabular array 1 Note2 0.1 0.1
Total cropland 100.0 100.0

Canola is the leading crop

Oilseed and grain blazon operations accounted for roughly one-third of farms in the province. Canola remained the leading field crop by surface area reported in Alberta in 2016, followed by jump wheat and barley. Alberta ranked second in terms of field crop area.

Chart 3 Total number of farms by farm type, Alberta, 2016

Information table for Chart iii
Data table for Nautical chart 3
Tabular array summary
This tabular array displays the results of Data table for Chart 3. The information is grouped past Operation blazon (actualization as row headers), Number of operations (thousands) (actualization as column headers).
Performance type Number of operations (thousands)
Oilseed and grain 13,451
Beef 12,282
Other ingather vii,414
Other animal 5,101
Greenhouse and nursery 605
Dairy 411
Sheep and goat 399
Poultry and egg 373
Vegetable and melon 299
Grunter and pig 166
Fruit and tree-nut 137
Table 2
Largest 3 field crops, Alberta, 2011 and 2016
Table summary
This tabular array displays the results of Largest 3 field crops. The information is grouped by Field crop (actualization as row headers), 2011 and 2016, calculated using Acreage units of measure (appearing every bit column headers).
Field crop 2011 2016
Acreage
Canola six,071,744 6,165,746
Leap wheat 5,971,359 5,728,527
Barley 3,610,111 iii,413,856

Expanse planted with sweet corn downwardly by over one-third

The total field vegetable surface area in Alberta decreased five.7% from 2011 to x,108 acres in 2016, due in large part to a decline in sweet corn.  Area planted with sweet corn has fallen by 38.4% since 2011 to 2,475 acres. As a result, sugariness corn barbarous to second, passing the leading spot in field vegetable area to light-green peas (three,721 acres).

The total area of state defended to fruits, berries and nuts production declined 17.ane% to 2,164 acres. The leading fruit crops in 2016 were Saskatoon berries (1,314 acres) and strawberries (205 acres).

The area defended to greenhouse flower and vegetable product rose viii.6% from 2011 to 12.0 million square feet in 2016. Greenhouse area dedicated to vegetable production increased by 8.v%, while area dedicated to greenhouse flowers grew by 8.7%.

Alberta's beekeepers reported the highest number of honeybee colonies in Canada. From 2011 to 2016, the number of honeybee colonies in Alberta increased 29.2% to 304,846. Alberta deemed for 39.5% of national honeybee colonies.

Alberta has the second highest proportion of female person operators

There were 57,605 farm operators in Alberta in 2016, downwardly 7.2% from 2011 and exceeding the decline in the number of farms (-6.0%).

Alberta had the second highest proportion of female person operators in 2016, following British Columbia. Women deemed for 30.eight% of subcontract operators in Alberta, upwardly from 29.0% in 2011.  Nationally, women deemed for 28.7% of farm operators.

From 2011 to 2016, the proportion of farm operators in the oldest historic period category (55 years and older) rose to 56.v%.  The proportion of young operators (under 35 years former) rose to 8.5%. Over the v-twelvemonth period, the average operator age rose from 54.5 years to 55.vii years.

Table 3
Proportion of farm operators by age group, Alberta, 2011 and 2016
Tabular array summary
This table displays the results of Proportion of subcontract operators past historic period group. The information is grouped by Historic period grouping (appearing as row headers), 2011 and 2016, calculated using Percent of subcontract operators units of measure out (appearing equally cavalcade headers).
Age group 2011 2016
Percent of farm operators Table 3 Annotationi
Under 35 years old vii.3 8.v
35 to 54 years old 43.1 35.0
55 years and older 49.6 56.5
Total farm operators 100.0 100.0

In 2015, 35.3% of farm operators in Alberta worked more than forty hours a week on average on farm operations, compared with 37.eight% in 2010.  At the national level, this percentage was 37.five% in 2015.

Meanwhile, fewer farmers worked off the farm in 2015, with 47.iii% of farm operators in Alberta reporting an off farm task compared with 52.0% in 2010. Nationally, 44.4% of farm operators worked off the farm. Despite the subtract, Alberta reported the second highest rate of off-farm work following British Columbia.

Gross farm receipts and operating expenses grow

Gross farm receipts reached $17.7 billion in 2015, while operating expenses totalled $fifteen.0 billion. On average, for every dollar in gross farm receipts, farms in Alberta incurred 84 cents in operating expenses in 2015, down slightly from 85 cents in 2010.

The expense-to-receipt ratio varied among farm types. In 2015, operations classified as dairy and milk had of the most favourable expense-to-receipt ratio at 0.75, a deterioration from 0.73 in 2010.

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The expense-to-receipt ratio is the average amount of operating expenses incurred for a dollar in farm receipts. The ratio is calculated in current dollars.

Price indices were used to obtain constant dollar estimates of receipts, expenditures and upper-case letter values in order to eliminate the impact of price changes in year-to-year comparison.

Census Day was May 10, 2016. Farmers were asked to study their receipts and expenses for the terminal consummate financial or calendar year (2015).

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Other agronomics highlights in Alberta

  • In Alberta, four.7% of farms reported having renewable free energy producing systems in 2015, compared with 5.iii% of farms nationally.
  • In Alberta, 24.8% of farms were incorporated in 2016, upwards from 17.half-dozen% in 2011. Nationally, incorporated farms accounted for 25.one% of the total farms in 2016.
  • The 2016 Census of Agriculture marked the first fourth dimension farm operators were asked to report whether they had a written succession program. In 2016, viii.five% of farms in Alberta had a written succession plan compared with 8.4% nationally.
  • The proportion of farms producing organic products in Alberta edged up 0.2 percentage points to 1.0% in 2016. Nationally, farms producing organic products accounted for 2.ii% of all farms in Canada in 2016.
  • In Alberta, 25.7% of farms reported using automatic steering technology in 2015.
  • In Alberta, 5.ane% of farms reported selling agricultural products directly to consumers in 2015.
  • The value of the state and buildings per acre in Alberta increased 26.5% (in 2016 constant dollars) from 2011 to $ii,354 in 2016. At the national level, this value was $2,696 per acre.

Canada 150: Farming in Alberta

Alberta joined Confederation on September 1, 1905. In 1911, the start demography year in which the province of Alberta was included, there were 60,559 farms reported, 17.four one thousand thousand acres of farm land and 739,725 cattle. In 2016, agronomical producers reported 50.3 meg acres of farm country and five.2 million cattle, seven times more in 1911.

Statistics Canada would like to thank the farming customs of Alberta for their participation and assistance in the 2016 Demography of Agronomics.

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Demography subcontract: An operation is considered a census farm (agricultural operation) if information technology produces at least one of the post-obit products intended for sale:

  • Crops: Hay, field crops, tree fruits or nuts, berries or grapes, vegetables, seed;
  • Livestock: Cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, game animals, other livestock;
  • Poultry: Hens, chickens, turkeys, chicks, game birds, other poultry;
  • Animate being products: Milk or cream, eggs, wool, furs, meat;
  • Other agricultural products: Christmas trees, sod, greenhouse or nursery products, mushrooms, dear or bees, maple syrup and its products.

The data for Yukon and the Northwest Territories are non included in the national totals because of the different definition of an agricultural performance in the territories and confidentiality constraints. The data for Yukon and the Northwest Territories are presented separately.

Farm type: Subcontract type is established through a process that classifies each census farm according to the predominant type of production. This is washed past estimating the potential receipts from the inventories of crops and livestock reported on the questionnaire and determining the product or group of products that make up the bulk of the estimated receipts. For instance, a census farm with full potential receipts of 60% from hogs, 20% from beef cattle and twenty% from wheat, would be classified equally a hog and pig farm. The farm types presented in this document are derived based on the 2012 North American Industrial Classification Organization (NAICS).

P.T.O. hp (Power Take Off horsepower): The mensurate of the ability available from a tractor engine to bulldoze implements.

Gross farm receipts: The Census of Agriculture measures gross farm receipts for the calendar or accounting year prior to the demography. Gross farm receipts (before deducting expenses) in this assay include:

  • receipts from all agricultural products sold;
  • program payments and custom work receipts.

The following are not included in gross farm receipts:

  • sales of forestry products (for example: firewood, pulpwood, logs, contend posts and pilings);
  • sales of capital items (for example: quota, land, machinery);
  • receipts from the auction of any goods purchased only for retail sales.

Total operating expenses: The Census of Agriculture measures operating expenses for the calendar or accounting year prior to the demography. Full operating expenses include:

  • any expense associated with producing agricultural products (such every bit the cost of seed, feed, fuel, fertilizers, etc.).

The following are not included in total operating expenses:

  • the buy of land, buildings or equipment;
  • depreciation or capital cost allowance. Depreciation represents economical "wear and tear" expense. Capital cost allowance represents the corporeality of depreciation written off by the taxation filer as allowed by tax regulations.

2010 to 2015: Some data refer to a reference period other than Census Day. For example, for financial data the reference period is the calendar or accounting (fiscal) year prior to the census.

Subcontract operator: According to the census, a farm operator is any person responsible for the direction decisions fabricated for an agronomical functioning as of May 10, 2016.

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Contact information

For more information, or to enquire most the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free ane-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).

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Source: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/95-640-x/2016001/article/14808-eng.htm

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