Wheat Farmers: The Backbone of Bread

Those bags of flour on the grocery store shelves didn’t get there without hard work from across the supply chain—starting with our wheat farmers! We’re celebrating those who grow wheat this month (and every month), so we’ve put together some fun facts about farming wheat in Alberta that you might not know about. Next time you gather with your friends over some pizza, bread, cake or other delicious wheat-based dish, whip out these facts to impress the group with all you know about growing life’s simple ingredient right here in Alberta.

1. There are 2,984 wheat farms in Alberta*.

According to the 2016 census, that’s how many farmers grew wheat on their farm that year. That doesn’t mean there’s only 2,984 wheat farmers though, as there are often many family members and hired workers that help to keep the farm running smooth through the year.

2. Many wheat farmers grow more than just wheat.

Alberta’s primary crops are wheat, canola and barley, so you could meet a farmer who grows a mix of those three plus others like flax, oats, mustard, lentils and even sugar beets. It doesn’t stop there! You’ll find many Alberta farmers not only tend to crops but livestock and poultry, too. One thing’s for sure—these farmers have their hands full.

3. Some farmers may not live where they farm.

Not all farmers own all the land they harvest or live right beside where they need to work. In fact, a lot of farmers have thousands of acres of wheat and other crops to seed, scout and harvest over the year, which takes time and effort to get to. In those busier seasons when the weather is good, farmers will often harvest late into the night in the dark to make sure the crop gets off the field at the right time. Now that’s dedication!

4. The majority of wheat farms are family owned and operated.

The same goes for all farms across Canada, no matter the crop or commodity! Big and small, farm operations look different all over the country but one thing remains—when we buy Canadian-made food, we’re supporting our neighbours and their families who work hard every day to bring us things like life’s simple ingredient.

Well, there you have it: some interesting facts you can share with your friends and family to show them how much more you know about wheat farming in Alberta. If you want to hear more from Alberta wheat farmers, check out our Ask a Farmer page.

We’ve also got interviews with Alberta wheat farmers on our blog—check out this one from Janine Paly. You can even see how wheat gets from Fields to Forks in this special episode.