Fig. 40 Alberta Farms Classified by Operating Arrangement, 1991-2011
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture, 1991-2011
1991 1996 2001 2006 2011
62.7% 60.9% 56.7% 56.3% 56.6%
25.0% 23.7% 26.1% 25.2% 22.5%
4.3% 4.5% 4.0% 2.9% 2.9%
6.4% 8.9% 11.4% 13.6% 15.8%
1.1% 1.6% 1.4% 1.4% 1.8%
0.6% 0.3% 0.4% 0.6% 0.5%
*
Includes institutions, community pastures, etc.
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture, 1991-2011
1.
Total Wheat
Spring wheat
Durum Wheat
Winter Wheat
2.
Canola
3.
Hay and Fodder Crops
4.
Barley
5.
Oats
6.
Dry Field Peas
7.
Mixed Grains
8.
Forage Seed
9.
Flaxseed
10.
Mustard Seed
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture, 2011
Acres
Top Ten Crops Grown in Alberta, 2011
5,219,532
3,610,111
5,971,359
536,018
196,326
Sole Proprietorship
Partnership With No
Written Agreement
Partnership With a
Written Agreement
706,726
891,580
Non-Family Corporation
Other Types*
6,071,744
Family Corporation
62,958
Total (Top Ten Crops)
TOTAL (ALL CROPS)
23,669,541
24,102,289
201,511
131,933
69,743
6,703,703
1991
1996
2001
2006
2011
62.7%
60.9%
56.7%
56.3%
56.6%
25.0%
23.7%
26.1%
25.2%
22.5%
6.4%
8.9%
11.4%
13.6%
15.8%
Per Cent Distribution
Sole Proprietorship
Partnership With No Written
Agreement
Partnership With a Written
Agreement
Family Corporation
Non-family Corporation
Other
Types
Farm classified by operating arrangement indicates
that sole proprietorships remained the predominant
type of farm operating arrangement in Alberta.
However, the proportion has declined over the
years from 62.7 per cent in 1991 to 56.6 per cent in
2011,
while the proportions of partnerships and
corporations have increased. In 2011, partnerships
without written agreements were the second most
common type, accounting for 22.5 per cent of farms
in the province, while the proportion of family
corporations was 15.8 per cent. Non-family
corporations accounted for 1.8 per cent of all farms
compared to 1.1 per cent in 1991.
In 2011, the top ten crops grown in Alberta
accounted for 98.2 per cent of the total area of
land in crops. While total wheat remains the
province's leading field crop at 6.7 million acres,
canola acreage increased significantly since
2006,
by 49.2 per cent, to 6.1 million acres, taking
the second place of the top ten crops.
For the first time, canola acreage surpassed the
acreage of spring wheat (6.0 million acres), the
major component of total wheat.
Some specialty crops and pulses also saw
marked increases. These included dry peas (up
20.3
per cent to 706,726 acres), lentils (up 803.2
per cent to 97,775 acres), and sunflowers (up
236.8
per cent to 6,035 acres).
Alberta Agriculture Statistics Yearbook, 2012
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