Taking action in support of our vital natural resource sector

Did you know that Newfoundland and Labrador is home to over 400 farms, and of these, nearly a quarter are vegetable and melon producers?!

Who would have thought that the Atlantic Province, as remote and cold as it can be, is a considerable source of agricultural products for Canadians.

Needless to say, Newfoundland and Labrador is heavily dependent on its natural resource sectors such as mining, fisheries, forestry, oil and gas, hydro, and of course, agriculture.

Farming creates huge benefits for communities across the resource-rich province. For example, Newfoundland and Labrador farm cash receipts totalled $144.5 million in 2021. Locals love supporting their resources too, as 46.5 per cent of farms in the province reported direct sales to consumers in 2020.

Newfoundland and Labrador's farming sector also adheres to environmentally conscious practices that reduce impacts on vegetation, animals and soil. In 2021, 8.7 per cent of farms in Newfoundland and Labrador used renewable energy in some way, shape or form!

Farmers in Newfoundland and Labrador are an integral part of our agricultural sector and are a shining example of Canada’s commitment to supporting people, prosperity and the planet. To celebrate this achievement, we’ve compiled some facts on farming in the province below. Also see:

• Farming in Canada: The Facts (35 Infographics)
• Farming in Saskatchewan: 26 Facts
• Farming in Alberta: 30 Facts
• Farming in Manitoba: 27 Facts
• Aquaculture & Farming in Nova Scotia: 25 Facts

17 Facts on Farming in Newfoundland & Labrador

#1 - Newfoundland & Labrador is home to more than 400 different farms.³

#2 - Farm cash receipts totalled $144.5 million in 2021, an increase of 14.3% from 2020.¹

#3 - In 2021, 23.5% of farms in Newfoundland and Labrador were classified as vegetable and melon producers.²

#4 - Newfoundland and Labrador farms reporting field vegetables production primarily grew carrots, rutabagas and turnips, and cabbages in 2021.²

#5 - In 2021, farms classified as beef and feedlots comprised 37.1% of total farm area and 12.8% of the total farms in Newfoundland and Labrador.²

#6 - In 2020, dairy and milk farms accounted for 38% of farm operating revenues reported in Newfoundland and Labrador.²

#7 - In 2021, 8.7% of farms in Newfoundland and Labrador produced renewable energy.²

#8 - The total farm area in Newfoundland and Labrador stood at 49,425 acres in 2021.²

#9 - In 2021, the average area per farm in Newfoundland and Labrador was 144 acres.²

#10 - Cropland made up 39% of farm area in in Newfoundland and Labrador.²

#11 - In Newfoundland and Labrador, farm cash receipts for fruit production rose 32.8% in 2020 to $1.2 million.³

#12 - In terms of berries in Newfoundland and Labrador: ³

• strawberries are the largest crop by value.

• cranberries are largest by crop volume.

• blueberries are the largest crop by area.

#13 - In 2020, the largest agriculture commodities were dairy, chicken, eggs, vegetables, and greenhouse and nursery products in Newfoundland and Labrador.³

#14 - Farmers in Newfoundland and Labrador had 11,400 cattle in 2020.³

#15 - There were 2,400 sheep in Newfoundland and Labrador, with 1,800 lambs born in 2020. ³

#16 - Newfoundland and Labrador milk production was 48.7 million litres in 2020.³

#17 - In 2020, the value of milk production Newfoundland and Labrador was $46.4 million.³

Sustainable Farming in Newfoundland & Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador farmers are behind several examples of sustainable agricultural practices in the province. The Department of Fisheries and Land Resources (FLR), Agriculture Production and Research Division, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and Memorial University-Grenfell Campus are leaders in agriculture and food-related research within the province.

For example, the Provincial Agriculture Research and Development Program (PARDP) aims to support farmers with sustainably increasing agricultural production in Newfoundland and Labrador. The program is achieved this through providing farmers opportunities to:

• Enhance competitiveness and profitability
• Improve environmental sustainability
• Support emerging technologies

As global demand for food increases, it is crucial that programs such as this support efforts in providing sustainably produced Canadian goods to domestic and international markets. Additionally, Canadians from coast-to-coast need to be vocal in their support for our family farms!

Make your voice heard and support Canada’s resource families, such as the hard-working farmers in Newfoundland and Labrador!

Join Us Today!

Join us on social media to learn more about how Canadian farmers are an integral part of our communities and country as a whole. We hope to see you online!

Sources

_{1 - Stats Canada. Agriculture and food statistics. Accessed August 5, 2022. Retrieved from ( https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/subjects-start/agriculture_and_food)}

 _{2 - Stats Canada. Vegetable and melon farms make up the biggest share of farms in Newfoundland and Labrador. Accessed August 5, 2022. Retrieved from (https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/96-325-x/2021001/article/00001-eng.htm)}

 _{3 - Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Interesting Facts About Our Agriculture Industry. Accessed August 5, 2022. Retrieved from (https://www.gov.nl.ca/farm-guide/interesting-facts-about-our-agriculture-industry/)}