Taking action in support of our vital natural resource sector

Farming in Canada is serious business! Like other natural resource sectors, the farming sector contributes massively to the livelihoods of Canadians in several direct and indirect ways.

For example, hundreds of thousands of farming jobs exist across the country; in turn, these workers supply the raw goods needed by the much larger Canadian food manufacturing and processing industries to create many of the agricultural products we see stocked on the shelves in our grocery stores.

With Canada having so much land area spanning multiple landscapes, it’s no wonder that Canadian farmers produce such a diversity of crops and livestock products. From blueberries and cranberries to beef and pork, we really are blessed with an abundance of natural resources.

And while we’re busy feeding ourselves and the world, farmers across Canada are intently focused on reducing their environmental footprint by taking up more eco-friendly practices. It’s a win-win-win situation for Canadian workers, our economy and the global environment when our agricultural sector is strong.

Here are several facts on farming in Canada coupled with infographics. We encourage you to download and share them with whoever you’d like! Also see:

• 6 Reasons Why You Should Choose Canadian Beef
• Farming in Saskatchewan: 26 Facts
• Where Does Your Turkey Dinner Come From?

Canadian Farming Infographics: 35 Facts & Statistics

Number of people directly or indirectly employed by the canola industry across Canada: 207,000

Number of farms growing canola across Canada, producing ~20 million tonnes of canola annually: 43,000

Between 1981 & 2011, Canadian canola farmers reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by: 71%

Contribution of beef to Canada's economy each year: $22 billion

Number of jobs supported by Canada's beef and cattle industry: 228,000

Number of farms and ranches with cattle in Canada: 60,000

Number of farms in Ontario, growing more than 200 different agricultural commodities across the province: 49,600

Number of jobs supported by Ontario's agri-food sector, adding $46.3 billion to the provincial economy each year: 861,000

Number of bee farms in Ontario, amounting to the second-largest amount of beekeepers of any Canadian province: 2,506

Number of farms found across Manitoba, generating billions of dollars in economic activity each year: 14,791 (2016)

Number of people directly employed by agriculture in Manitoba: 23,180 (2020)

Number of pork farms located across Manitoba averaging 5,000 head per farm, the largest pig farms in Canada: 595

Number of farms located across Saskatchewan: 34,500. Canada's "breadbasket" is recognized as one of the most productive farming regions globally!

Amount of Canada's total cultivated farmland found in the province of Saskatchewan: 40%

Amount of Canada's total agri-food product exports accounted for by Saskatchewan: 23%

Number of farms in Alberta: 46,000. The province is also home to one of the world's most productive agricultural economies.

Number of eggs produced by Alberta's egg-farming families every year: 780 million

Number of milk-producing farms in Alberta, producing over 835 million litres of milk in the 2020/21 dairy year: 494

Number of different vegetable and fruit crops grown across Canada: 125+

Value added to Canada's economy by the agriculture and agri-food sector in 2018: $143 billion

Number of jobs in Canada accounted for by the agriculture and agri-food sector in 2018: 1 in 8

Contribution by the canola industry to the Canadian economy each year, a sector that also supports 207,000 jobs across the nation: $30 billion

Number of hectares covered by farms across Canada in 2018, accounting for 7% of Canada's land area: 64 million

Canada one of the world's top 5 wheat exporters, with an average of $7 billion worth exported each year.

Canada is the 6th largest global exporter of beef, accounting for 4.6% of the world's exports in 2018.

Canada is the 2nd largest global producer of cranberries, with $88 million of fresh cranberry exports in 2016.

Canada is the world's #1 exporter of oats, accounting for more than 70% of the world trade in oats.

Canada is the #1 producer and exporter of fresh and frozen blueberries, with exports valued at $238 million in 2018.

Canada is the world's 3rd largest exporter of pork, with more than $3.8 billion worth of exports in 2018.

Canada is the #1 producer and exporter of canola in the world. Canola exports add more than $26 billion to the Canadian economy each year.

Canada is the world's 2nd largest producer and exporter of mustard seed, and is home to 28% of the global supply.

Canada is the world's #1 producer and exporter of flaxseed, with exports to more than 50 countries in 2017.

Canada is the world's #1 producer and exporter of maple syrup, with around 80% of the global supply.

Canada is the world's #1 producer and exporter of lentils and dry peas, with pulse exports to over 120 countries in 2018.

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Want to learn more about other cool natural resource facts? If you loved these ones about farming in Canada, you'll want to join us on social media and stay up-to-date on current news, trends and analysis regarding all of Canada's other natural resource industries today! We hope to see you there!

Check out this amazing entry in our pumpkin carving contest! 🎃 #CanadianAgriculture#CanadianResources#ThankAFarmerhttps://t.co/uZDt2Kpjce pic.twitter.com/62ZknMHJp6

— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) October 31, 2021