Prince Edward Island Agriculture

Introduction

PEI General Agriculture Facts

▪# 1 industry - followed by tourism▪620,000 acres (approx.) out of possible

1.4 million▪Generated $400 million in total farm cash

receipts in 2010▪1700 farms* (2006 census)▪Farms are family owned and operated

PEI General Agriculture Facts

▪Average farm size - 350 acres▪Average farm capital- $869,985▪16% of Island’s workforce▪4.5% of Islanders are farmers (higher

than national average of 2.4%)▪Our entire economy affected by

agriculture

Potato Production

Food Country - The Family Farm

Potato Production

▪360 Farms (84,500 acres)▪Commodity generating the highest farm

cash receipts ▪PEI Potato Board▪3 sectors▸Table - 30% of total acreage▸Seed - 10% of total acreage▸Processing - 60% of total acreage

Rick Mercer – Harvesting Potatoes

Potato Harvest

Dairy Production

Dairy Production

▪Stable- Supply Management▸a marketing system where producers control

the production (supply) of a particular commodity (product).

▪200 dairy farms▪15,000 dairy cows (11,666 in production)▪Holstein most popular breed▪Most herds have purebred and

registered cattleMilking a Cow

Dairy Production

▪Average herd size is 60 cows▪Average production per cow is 8,500

liters per year (100 glasses/day) ▪Quota Price $28,000▪Annual milk production exceeds 101

million liters▪Dairy Farmers of PEI▪Breeding stock sold throughout world

CharolaisHereford

Shorthorn

Beef ProductionBeef Operation

Beef Production

▪35% of all farms (approx. 450 farms)▪2 sectors: Cow/calf and Feedlot▪feeders marketed annually▪Average herd size 40 head▪Beef plant - Atlantic Beef Products Inc.-

located in Borden/Carleton▪Co-op Atlantic Tender Beef Classic brand▪PEI Cattle Producers

Hog Production

▪25 farms – bio security procedures▪2 sectors▸Weaner production ( up to 30 lbs)▸Finishing production ( up to 200 lbs)▪89,310 pigs marketed in 2010, 13 million

in farm cash receipts▪Industry is in transition/crisis▪The Hog Farm Transition Program

Duroc

Hampshire

Landrace

Yorkshire

Swine Breeds

Vegetable Production

Vegetable Production

▪110 farms (excluding potato farms)▪2000 acres▸Carrots (665 acres)▸Rutabagas/turnip (510 acres)▸Brocolli (200 acres)▸Cauliflower (200 acres)▸Cabbage (175 acres)▸Onions (100 acres)

Vegetable Production

▪Smaller acres of:▸Lettuce (40 acres)▸Pumpkins (25 acres)▸Cucumber (15 acres)▸Beans (15 acres)▸Peppers (12 acres)▸Garlic (10 acres)▸Beets (5 acres)▸Tomatoes (5 acres)

▪Local fresh markets▪Organic market▪Processing (Island Quality Vegetables

Inc.)▪High labour requirement▪Growing interest in processing crops

Food Country - Brookfield Gardens

Vegetable Production

Eggs and Poultry▪Supply-managed commodities▪2 sectors▸Eggs ▸Meat poultry▪In 2010, 8 producers averaged 3.398 million

dozen eggs ▪1.611 million eggs were consumed on PEI,

1.785 went to breaking plants in Ontario & Quebec

▪10 producers producing chicken and turkey

Meet a Canadian Egg Farmer

The Fur Breeders▪12 mink farms▪Produce pelts for European market

(volatile world economy makes it hard to predict future markets)

▪pelting equipment is automated and computerized and the animals are euthanized painlessly using the most humane method, in a carbon monoxide chamber.

▪The PEI Fur Breeders Association

Fruit Production▪Largest acreage of commercial fruit crops is

lowbush blueberries (13,000 acres, 10 million lbs.)

▪Smaller acres of strawberries & raspberries ▪Increasing interest in commercial cranberry

bogs ▪Strawberry nursery stock exported to US▪20,000 apple trees in production▪UPEI and AgriFood Canada are both

conducting research around the health benefits of rose hips

Organic Production▪55 certified organic producers▪3 years since last application of synthetic

chemicals and fertilizer▪2000 acres currently certified▪Crops and livestock▪Local market- Farmers Market▪Market demand is increasing▪CSA – Community Shared

Agriculture

Charlottetown Farmers Market

Forage Production

▪Over 135,000 acres of hay yielding about 2 ton/acre

▪Species of grass/legumes grown▸Red clover▸Alfalfa▸Timothy ▪Stored as hay or silage

alfalfa

red clovertimothy

Forage Production

Forage Production

▪weight of a 4 X 4 round bale is between 800-1000 pounds

▪cost of a round bale is between $15 - $20

▪one bale will feed 10 beef cows a day

Grains & Oilseed Production

▪Largest group of crops (139,000 acres)▪Most grain fed to livestock▪Grown in rotation with potato crops▪77,000 acres of wheat, oats, barley and

mixed grain, grain corn▪Soybeans (55,000 +, for overseas

market 1/3 to Japan for tofu)▪New opportunities in fuel production

Food vs. Fuel

Cereal Production

▪Smaller amounts of rye and milling wheat grown (for flour production)

▪Harvesting begins in mid-August and ends in early October

▪Straw is baled (square or round) for bedding

Sustainable Farming

▪“We don’t own the land, we borrow it from our children.”

▪Farming in a sustainable manner▸Enhanced Environmental Farm Plan▸Watercourse Buffer Zones▸Agricultural Crop Rotation Act ▸ALUS Program