Commercial Arable Wheat Production

Introduction
• Wheat production in Canada is a relatively
new activity to the country’s economy.

• Canada ranks as one of the world’s leading

producers of wheat.
 Factors influencing wheat cultivation

1. There must be large expanses of FLAT and

fertile land.

2. The soil must be fertile. The soil where the

wheat is grown is called CHERNOZEMS (we
will learn more about this soil type when we
do vegetation and soils).
 3. Climatic Requirements
• There must be warm summer temperatures,
15°C for the ripening and harvesting of crops.

• The rainfall must be light, on average 400mm

-500mm. Traditionally, wheat requires
375mm of rain and 120 days of frost free
sunshine in order to mature.
Location of Main Wheat producing areas
 Types of Wheat
• Some examples of the
varieties include...

• The hard red Winter

wheat

• The hard red Spring

wheat

• The Durum wheat

 Production Details
• This Wheat Production is an example of
Monoculture (only wheat is produced).

• Many of the farms are larger than 500ha and

consist of extremely large, rectangular fields. This
allows the use of large machines.

• Wheat production is highly mechanized (very

little people are employed). Those who are hired,
consist of seasonal and contract labourers.
• The most common type of
machinery is the Combined
Harvester. It cuts, threshes
and winnows the grain.

• Threshing is where the

stems and husks of (grain
or cereal plants) are beaten
with a machine or flail to
separate the grains or
seeds from the straw.

• Winnowing is when the

grain is separated from the
chaff by use of a wind
current
• The wheat is carried and stored in Silos and
then transported by rail and sold to the
Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) (
http://www.cwb.ca/public/en/). The CWB is
the body who determines the quota and
pricing of wheat.
 Problems affecting Commercial Arable
Farming in Canada
1. Soil impoverishment as a result of the
monoculture system.

2. Wind erosion occurs when the wheat is

harvested and the soil is left bare. To prevent
this, wind belts or tree belts are planted to
shield the soil from the wind.
 (3)Climatic Hazards
• A late frost in spring or an early frost in
autumn may damage the crop.

• Heavy thunderstorms in summer may destroy

the crop in the field, as can a hailstorm.

• Heat waves can scorch the crop and warm

weather can lead to insect infestations.
(4) Good weather can result in over-production
and prices go down. Bad weather can cause a
drop in production and causes prices to
increase (this is then passed on to the
consumer when they purchase items like
bread).
 (5) Insect Pests and Diseases
• Insect pests and diseases can kill entire fields of
crops.
• Wheat is affected by insects such as Aphids,
Sawflies and Grasshoppers.

• Fungal diseases like Smut, Leaf Rust and Stem

Rust also cause problems.

• To control the insects, aerial spraying of fields is

undertaken.
 Home –Work (10 marks)
• Draw a map of Canada showing the main wheat
exporting ports of Prince Rupert, Vancouver, New
Westminster, Churchill, St. John and Halifax.

• Include the 3 Wheat producing provinces of Alberta,

Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
• Include and properly label the Great Lakes.
• Include the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Hudson
Bay.
• Also include part of the neighbouring USA.
• Include all MAP elements.