Canadian Agriculture Performing Strong Says Report

Mar 28, 2013

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Release Annual Overview Report

Things are looking good for Canadian agriculture - performing strong in the economy and high farm income levels are just a few of the things that were highlighted in the newest report released by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

"Farm performance overall continues to remain strong as the industry becomes more competitive, innovative, and profitable," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "The report shows that the agriculture and agri-food sector continues to be internationally focused, which is why our government continues to place such a strong emphasis on opening new and maintaining existing markets."

The report found that the food and beverage industry is one of the biggest manufacturing industries in the country. Additionally, the report indicates that the agriculture and agri-food system is directly providing one-in-eight jobs, employing 2.1 million people which accounts for 8 per cent of the GDP ($101.1 billion). Agriculture continues to be globally focused and Canada is the sixth-largest exporter and importer of agriculture and agri-food products in the world.

One of the notable shifts is in consumer and societal demands, with consumers looking for thinks like – more variety, convenience, more environmentally friendly/healthier food, and personal choice (organic and Halal products). Comparing our food and non-alcoholic beverages and tobacco costs relative to other parts of the world, the Canadian piece of the pie related to food, accounts for just under 10 per cent of household expenditures, which is relatively low.

While the report found that the number of family farmers continues to decline, they are also becoming larger. There are 205,730 farms in Canada with the average farm size at 779 acres.

The annual overview provides a snapshot of the agriculture and agri-food sector and illustrates the changes that have occurred over time while noting any major shifts or changes.

The full report can be read on the AAFC-AAC website at: http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1331319696826&lang=eng

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.