Farm and Farm Operator Information
Alberta has the about beef cattle in Canada and the second largest total subcontract area

Release date: May ten, 2017

For the offset time since the 2001 Demography, Alberta reported an increase in beef cattle inventory, despite fewer farms reporting beef cattle.

Alberta once once again reported the largest cattle herd in Canada in 2016, accounting for just over two-fifths of the national full. Alberta also deemed for ii-fifths of all beef breeding stock nationally and nearly three-fifths of all feeder cattle.

Although total farm numbers were downwards from five years earlier, Alberta connected to take the 2nd largest number of farms in Canada following Ontario.

Alberta likewise ranked second in terms of both total subcontract area and field crop area. Canola remained the leading field crop by area in 2016, upwards slightly from 2011, while bound wheat and barley area edged down.

Area planted with sweet corn was downwards past over ane-third from 2011, while greenhouse flower and vegetable area were almost i-tenth higher.

Merely nether half of subcontract operators in Alberta reported having an off farm job in 2015, the 2d highest rate in the state following British Columbia.

Primary agriculture represented 1.5% of provincial gross domestic production (agronomical Gross domestic product) in 2013. This percentage increased to four.0% when agricultural input and service providers, primary producers, food and drink processors, and nutrient retailers and wholesalers industries were taken into account (Statistics Canada. 2013. Special tabulation, based on 2013 gross domestic production by industry – provincial and territorial).

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

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

Data table for Chart 1
Data table for Nautical chart ane
Tabular array summary
This tabular array displays the results of Information table for Nautical chart 1. The data is grouped by Province (actualization as row headers), Percent (appearing as column headers).
Province Percent
Quebec 9.0
Ontario thirteen.0
Manitoba viii.8
Saskatchewan 20.seven
Alberta 41.6
Other vii.0

Fewer farms in Alberta

The 2016 Demography of Agriculture counted 40,638 census farms in Alberta, down 6.0% from 2011 and similar to the 5.ix% decline at the national level. Despite the decrease, Alberta continued to have the 2nd largest number of farms in the country following Ontario.

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

Data table for Nautical chart two
Information tabular array for Chart 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Information tabular array for Chart two. The information is grouped by Year (appearing as row headers), Number of operations (thousands) (appearing as column headers).
Twelvemonth 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 more, Alberta had the most cattle in Canada in 2016, accounting for 41.vi% of the national herd. Alberta'south feeder cattle (steers and heifers for feeding or slaughter) deemed for 59.6% of the national total, while its beef breeding stock (beefiness cows and heifers for beef herd replacement) accounted for 42.3%.

For the first time since the 2001 Census, Alberta reported an increase 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's beef cattle inventories rose 1.3% from 2011 to 3.34 million head — despite fewer farms (-9.0%) reporting beef cattle. Close proximity to processing chapters and availability of feed and pasture state provide Alberta'due south beefiness sector with a comparative advantage over other provinces. In add-on, volatility in the beef sector from 2011 to 2016, partially due to price fluctuations, may take affected beefiness cattle inventories.

The number of dairy cows in Alberta decreased 0.8% from 2011 to lxxx,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 animal, owing to improved animal nutrition, genetics and production practices.  Annual milk production increased 11.0% to 732.3 meg litres from 2011 to 2016 (CANSIM table 003-0011, accessed April 25, 2017).

From 2011 to 2016, the number of pigs in Alberta rose by iv.half-dozen% to 1.five million caput, while the number of farms reporting pigs increased 41.iii%. The growth was due to better market conditions, which boosted the price of pigs relative to the period preceding the last census. Prior to the 2011 Demography of Agriculture, the pig sector had been aggress by loftier feed costs, disease and low pig prices, resulting in significantly fewer farms and a smaller pig herd (CANSIM table 002-0068, accessed Apr 25, 2017).

Total farm area downwards, only cropland up

Alberta reported the second largest total farm expanse over which farmers had stewardship in 2016, following Saskatchewan. The total farm surface area in Alberta declined 0.five% from 2011 to 50.3 1000000 acres in 2016. This subtract came about equally the sector shed lower quality and non-agricultural lands and upgraded or divested more often than not less productive pasture lands.

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Full farm area, which is land endemic or operated past an agricultural operation, includes:

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

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While the total subcontract area barbarous, the boilerplate farm size grew from 1,168 acres in 2011 to 1,237 acres in 2016 and the area of cropland increased past 4.8% to 25.three one thousand thousand acres. This five-year period saw shifts of expanse away from hay to field crops.

Tabular array 1
Components of cropland in percentage, Alberta, 2011 and 2016
Table summary
This table displays the results of Components of cropland in percentage. The data is grouped by Component of cropland (appearing as row headers), 2011 and 2016, calculated using Percent of cropland units of measure (actualization as column headers).
Component of cropland 2011 2016
Pct of cropland Tabular array i Annotation1
Field crops 78.6 83.2
Hay 21.iii 16.7
Others Table 1 Note2 0.one 0.1
Full cropland 100.0 100.0

Canola is the leading crop

Oilseed and grain blazon operations deemed for roughly one-third of farms in the province. Canola remained the leading field ingather by area reported in Alberta in 2016, followed by jump wheat and barley. Alberta ranked 2d in terms of field crop surface area.

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

Data tabular array for Chart 3
Data table for Chart three
Table summary
This table displays the results of Data table for Chart 3. The information is grouped by Operation blazon (appearing as row headers), Number of operations (thousands) (appearing as cavalcade headers).
Operation type Number of operations (thousands)
Oilseed and grain thirteen,451
Beef 12,282
Other ingather 7,414
Other animal 5,101
Greenhouse and plant nursery 605
Dairy 411
Sheep and goat 399
Poultry and egg 373
Vegetable and melon 299
Grunter and hog 166
Fruit and tree-nut 137
Table 2
Largest three field crops, Alberta, 2011 and 2016
Table summary
This tabular array displays the results of Largest three field crops. The data is grouped by Field crop (appearing equally row headers), 2011 and 2016, calculated using Acreage units of measure (appearing every bit cavalcade headers).
Field crop 2011 2016
Acreage
Canola 6,071,744 six,165,746
Spring wheat 5,971,359 v,728,527
Barley 3,610,111 3,413,856

Surface area planted with sweet corn downward by over 1-3rd

The total field vegetable surface area in Alberta decreased 5.7% from 2011 to x,108 acres in 2016, due in big role to a pass up in sweet corn.  Expanse planted with sweet corn has fallen by 38.iv% since 2011 to ii,475 acres. Equally a upshot, sweet corn fell to second, passing the leading spot in field vegetable surface area to green peas (iii,721 acres).

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

The area dedicated to greenhouse flower and vegetable production rose 8.six% from 2011 to 12.0 1000000 foursquare feet in 2016. Greenhouse area dedicated to vegetable product increased by 8.5%, while area defended to greenhouse flowers grew by eight.vii%.

Alberta'southward 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 accounted for 39.v% of national honeybee colonies.

Alberta has the 2nd highest proportion of female operators

There were 57,605 farm operators in Alberta in 2016, down 7.two% from 2011 and exceeding the decline in the number of farms (-six.0%).

Alberta had the second highest proportion of female operators in 2016, following British Columbia. Women accounted for 30.8% of farm operators in Alberta, up from 29.0% in 2011.  Nationally, women accounted for 28.7% of farm operators.

From 2011 to 2016, the proportion of farm operators in the oldest age category (55 years and older) rose to 56.five%.  The proportion of young operators (nether 35 years old) rose to 8.5%. Over the five-year menstruation, the average operator age rose from 54.5 years to 55.7 years.

Tabular array 3
Proportion of farm operators by age group, Alberta, 2011 and 2016
Table summary
This table displays the results of Proportion of farm operators past historic period grouping. The information is grouped by Age group (appearing equally row headers), 2011 and 2016, calculated using Percent of farm operators units of measure out (appearing as column headers).
Age group 2011 2016
Pct of farm operators Tabular array 3 Note1
Under 35 years old vii.iii 8.five
35 to 54 years onetime 43.1 35.0
55 years and older 49.half-dozen 56.5
Total farm operators 100.0 100.0

In 2015, 35.3% of farm operators in Alberta worked more than 40 hours a week on average on subcontract operations, compared with 37.viii% in 2010.  At the national level, this percentage was 37.5% in 2015.

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

Gross farm receipts and operating expenses abound

Gross subcontract receipts reached $17.7 billion in 2015, while operating expenses totalled $15.0 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 almost 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 uppercase values in order to eliminate the impact of price changes in year-to-twelvemonth comparison.

Census 24-hour interval was May 10, 2016. Farmers were asked to report their receipts and expenses for the terminal complete fiscal or calendar year (2015).

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Other agriculture highlights in Alberta

  • In Alberta, 4.seven% of farms reported having renewable energy producing systems in 2015, compared with 5.3% of farms nationally.
  • In Alberta, 24.8% of farms were incorporated in 2016, up from 17.6% in 2011. Nationally, incorporated farms accounted for 25.one% of the total farms in 2016.
  • The 2016 Census of Agriculture marked the first time farm operators were asked to report whether they had a written succession programme. In 2016, 8.5% of farms in Alberta had a written succession programme compared with 8.4% nationally.
  • The proportion of farms producing organic products in Alberta edged up 0.two per centum points to i.0% in 2016. Nationally, farms producing organic products deemed for 2.ii% of all farms in Canada in 2016.
  • In Alberta, 25.7% of farms reported using automated steering engineering in 2015.
  • In Alberta, 5.1% of farms reported selling agricultural products directly to consumers in 2015.
  • The value of the land and buildings per acre in Alberta increased 26.v% (in 2016 constant dollars) from 2011 to $2,354 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 census year in which the province of Alberta was included, there were 60,559 farms reported, 17.4 million acres of farm land and 739,725 cattle. In 2016, agricultural producers reported l.3 million acres of farm land and 5.two million cattle, 7 times more than in 1911.

Statistics Canada would similar to thank the farming customs of Alberta for their participation and help in the 2016 Demography of Agriculture.

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Census farm: An operation is considered a demography subcontract (agricultural performance) if it produces at least one of the post-obit products intended for sale:

  • Crops: Hay, field crops, tree fruits or basics, berries or grapes, vegetables, seed;
  • Livestock: Cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, game animals, other livestock;
  • Poultry: Hens, chickens, turkeys, chicks, game birds, other poultry;
  • Animal 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 not included in the national totals because of the dissimilar definition of an agricultural operation in the territories and confidentiality constraints. The data for Yukon and the Northwest Territories are presented separately.

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

P.T.O. hp (Power Have Off horsepower): The mensurate of the power available from a tractor engine to drive implements.

Gross farm receipts: The Census of Agriculture measures gross subcontract receipts for the calendar or accounting yr prior to the census. Gross farm receipts (before deducting expenses) in this analysis 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, argue posts and pilings);
  • sales of uppercase items (for example: quota, state, machinery);
  • receipts from the sale of any appurtenances purchased only for retail sales.

Total operating expenses: The Demography of Agriculture measures operating expenses for the agenda or accounting year prior to the census. Total operating expenses include:

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

The post-obit are non included in total operating expenses:

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

2010 to 2015: Some information refer to a reference menstruation other than Demography Twenty-four hours. For example, for financial information the reference menstruation is the calendar or accounting (financial) year prior to the census.

Farm operator: According to the census, a farm operator is whatever person responsible for the management decisions made for an agronomical operation every bit of May 10, 2016.

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Contact data

For more information, or to ask nearly the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact u.s. (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 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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