Agriculture in Canada

What resources are required for farming in Canada?

A suitable climate and fertile soils.

What are the main problems faced by farmers in Canada?

Soil deterioration, urbanization, and climate change.

What percentage of the Canadian economy does farming account for?

Close to 10%.

What is the annual revenue generated by farming in Canada?

Over $108 billion.

What is intensive farming?

Farming that requires a large amount of labor, machinery, or fertilizer, typically on small farms.

What are examples of intensive farming?

Chickens, pigs, and fruit.

What is extensive farming?

Farming that requires small amounts of labor, machinery, or fertilizer, typically on large farms.

What are examples of extensive farming?

Wheat, corn, and cattle.

What are the five major agricultural production sectors in Canada?

Grains and oilseeds, red meats, dairy, horticulture, and poultry and eggs.

Which agricultural sectors in Canada have a domestic orientation?

Horticulture, poultry and eggs, and dairy.

What challenges do farmers face due to climate?

Short or cool growing seasons, insufficient moisture, and poor weather.

What terrain challenges do farmers encounter?

Infertile soil, hilly or uneven terrain, and low-lying or wet terrain.

What pest challenges do farmers face?

Shortage of beneficial insects, excess harmful insects, and invasive weeds.

What is Class 1 farmland?

Land with no significant limitations to crops.

What is Class 2 farmland?

Land with moderate limitations that require good conservation practices.

What is Class 3 farmland?

Land with severe limitations to crops.

What is Class 4+ farmland?

Land where no crops can be grown.

What percentage of Class 1 land in Canada is within view of the CN Tower?

37%.

What percentage of Class 2 land in Canada is within view of the CN Tower?

20%.

What is the total area of Class 1 land in Canada?

Less than the size of New Brunswick, accounting for 0.5% of Canada's land surface.

What percentage of Canada's land surface is capable of agriculture?

Only 11%.

Where is 50% of Canada's Class 1 land located?

Ontario.

What is a significant issue facing Ontario's farmland?

It has the most urbanization in Canada.

Soil deterioration

Soil still in place, but poorer in quality.

Urbanization

The growth of cities and the migration of people into them.

Climate change

Long-term alteration of temperature and weather patterns.

Horticulture

(from Latin: horti + culture) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants.

Domestic Orientation

Agricultural productions that generally stay in Canada once produced or harvested.

Export Orientation

Agricultural productions that both stay within Canada and are often exported to other countries.

Which agricultural sectors in Canada have a export orientation?

Grain, oilseeds, and red meats.

What are natural resources?

Substances that satisfy human needs or desires, taken from nature, including agriculture, water, fishing, forestry, mining, and energy.

What distinguishes renewable resources from non-renewable resources?

Renewable resources can be replaced through natural means in a relatively short period, while non-renewable resources cannot be replaced or take a very long time to replenish.

Give an example of a renewable resource.

Fish

Give an example of a non-renewable resource.

Oil

What is sustainable yield management?

The use of a renewable resource at a rate that allows the resource to renew itself, such as ensuring the number of fish caught does not exceed the number reaching maturity.

What percentage of Canadians are farmers today?

Less than 3%

What is a net exporter?

A country that exports more agricultural products than it imports.

What two factors determine the location of Canada's farmlands?

Soil and climate.

What is the minimum annual precipitation required for crops in Canada?

400mm.

What are the major types of farming in Canada?

Ranches, dairy farms, tender fruit farms, vegetable farms, and wheat farms.

What is urban sprawl?

The growth of cities that threatens the future of Canadian farms by covering agricultural land with urban development.

What historical event is referred to as the Agricultural Revolution?

The period likely starting in the Middle East 10,000 years ago, involving the cultivation of vegetables and domestication of animals.

What are some issues facing the farming industry?

Erosion and climate change, deforestation, and pollution from fertilizers.

What are some solutions for sustainability in farming?

Keeping track of growing seasons, stricter laws on land use, reducing waste, and using more environmentally friendly fertilizers.

What is agribusiness?

Agricultural business associated with production, storage, and distribution.

What is one advantage of agribusiness?

Tax benefits and consistent income for farmers.

What is one disadvantage of agribusiness?

Higher risks and a high level of investment/borrowing before profits are seen.

Why is water considered one of Canada's most valuable natural resources?

It is vital for ecosystems and maintaining quality of life.

What percentage of the world's total renewable freshwater does Canada have?

9%.

What is the runoff rate?

The amount of water moving over the ground, which determines the size of the water supply.

What factors affect runoff rates?

Slope of the land, temperature, vegetation cover, soil and rock types, and intensity of precipitation.

What challenges does Canada face regarding its water supply?

Some regions do not receive enough rain to meet their needs, leading to water shortages and droughts.

What are the Great Lakes?

A shared resource between the United States and Canada, suffering from pollution and requiring a Water Quality Agreement for improvement.

Where is the fishing industry in Canada primarily based?

Both the West Coast and East Coast, as well as large freshwater lakes and rivers.

What type of fish are groundfish?

Bottom feeders found on the ocean floor, such as cod, haddock, and halibut.

What type of fish are pelagic fish?

Fish caught near the surface, such as tuna, salmon, and mackerel.

What are shellfish?

Fish without backbones but with protective shells, including mussels, scallops, shrimp, oysters, and lobsters.

What was the significance of the fishing industry in Canada during the early 1500s?

It was the oldest Canadian industry, with European ships setting up fishing stations off the coast of Newfoundland.

What is the Grand Banks?

The Continental Shelf that supports the Atlantic Fisheries, known for its daily catch of various fish.

What are common types of shellfish caught on the East Coast?

Lobster, crab, oysters, clams, shrimp, and scallops.

What are the two major types of fisheries?

Freshwater and saltwater fisheries.

What is recreational fishing?

Fishing done for pleasure or competition.

What distinguishes subsistence fishing from recreational fishing?

Subsistence fishing is done for survival, while recreational fishing is for pleasure.

What is commercial fishing?

The activity of capturing fish and seafood for commercial profit.

What percentage of fishers are employed in offshore fishing?

15% of fishers are employed in offshore fishing.

What percentage of the total Atlantic catch is harvested by offshore fishing?

Offshore fishing harvests about 90% of the total Atlantic catch.

What are the main fishing methods used in the Pacific fisheries?

Gill nets, purse seines for inshore fishing, and troll lines for offshore fishing.

What are the five reasons for the collapse of the East Coast fish industry?

Overfishing, foreign fishing, improved fishing technology, changes in natural conditions, and destructive fishing practices.

How does overfishing occur?

When the catch allowed by the government is too high and fish populations are overestimated.

What impact did foreign fishing have on the East Coast fish industry?

Countries like Japan and Russia caught more fish, leading to depletion of local stocks.

What advancements in technology have affected commercial fishing?

Bigger engines, sonar, and satellite technology have made it easier to find fish.

How does climate change affect fish populations?

It increases ocean temperatures, making conditions unfavorable for some fish species.

What is bycatch?

The unintended capture of non-target species during fishing.

What is fish farming, and what percentage of global fish consumption does it account for?

Fish farming (aquaculture) accounts for over 50% of the fish consumed worldwide.

What are some environmental threats to commercial fishing?

Climate change, pollution, and the introduction of invasive species.

What is the significance of the Pacific fishery?

It is most famous for salmon fishing, which accounts for 40-60% of its total value.

What is the role of the commercial fishing industry in Canada's economy?

It contributes $6 billion a year and employs approximately 70,000 people.

What are trawlers and draggers in the context of fishing?

Trawlers are factory ships for catching fish, while draggers use large nets that can damage ecosystems.

What are the main types of fish caught in the Pacific fisheries?

Salmon, halibut, cod, herring, flounder, oysters, and clams.

What are the three main types of forests in Canada?

Softwood forests (60% cover), hardwood forests (12% cover), and mixed forests (22% cover).

What logging method involves cutting all trees in an area at once?

Clear-Cutting

What is the purpose of shelterwood logging?

To clear-cut parts of a forest while leaving some seed-bearing trees to regenerate the area.

What is selective cutting in forestry?

A technique where only trees of a certain type, size, or quality are cut.

Name two issues affecting forests.

Soil erosion and air pollution.

What are the two main types of mines?

Surface mines and underground mines.

What is the main characteristic of surface mining?

It is used when an ore body lies near the Earth's surface.

What are the impacts of open pit mining?

Destruction of vegetation, large volumes of waste rock, disruption of groundwater, and production of dust.

What is underground (shaft) mining?

Mining that is done completely underground using tunnels blasted deep into the earth.

What are some environmental issues caused by mining?

Acid rain, abandoned mines, and loss of jobs.

What is the significance of Canada's forests in terms of global ranking?

Canada has the third largest forest area in the world, after Russia and Brazil.

Which provinces are the leading forestry provinces in Canada?

British Columbia and Quebec.

What types of trees are found in Canada's boreal forest?

Black and white spruce, balsam fir, birch, aspen, and poplar.

What percentage of Canada's forest cover is made up of hardwood forests?

12%

What is the main use of potash mined in Saskatchewan?

For salt and fertilizer.

What are the main minerals mined in Canada?

Potash, zinc, copper, diamonds, coal, and gold.

What is the impact of acid rain on forests?

It kills forests and aquatic life and releases harmful compounds from rock.

What is a major challenge facing the Canadian mining industry?

Competition from countries with cheaper labor and less environmental regulation.

What is the purpose of aerial spraying in forest management?

To control pests and diseases affecting trees.

What is the role of the Rick Mercer Report in discussing forestry?

It highlights issues like heli-logging and the challenges faced by forests.

What is the ecological impact of abandoned mines?

They leave scars on the Earth's surface and can be dangerous.