Yet even with rich soils, a proliferation of greenhouses, and increased demand for produce at the retail level, the number of farms has fallen due to consolidation while individual crop plantings have declined as well (though acreage has remained the same).
What’s driving this trend? Urban and suburban growth, soaring property prices, more expensive farm equipment, and a smaller contingent of younger generation growers. As a result, acreage devoted to several crops—including sweet corn, potatoes, green beans, and peas—has fallen. On the other side of the equation, acreage has risen for broccoli and asparagus. Most significantly is the fall of field-grown tomatoes and cucumbers, which are thriving in greenhouse production in Leamington and elsewhere in the provinces.
Imports, Exports, and Yield
Despite consolidation and some lower crop volumes, Ontario exports have increased in recent years. To balance out supply and demand, imports have also risen. What may appear as a contradiction, lower acres planted yet increasing exports, is in fact a more complex formula that includes year-to-year crop choices, weather, and technologies that have increased efficiency and yields.
“If you look at census data, there is always variability in production and acres planted,” comments Wayne Caldwell, interim dean and professor in rural planning at Ontario Agricultural College. “For example, last year there was a lot less wheat because of weather; the decline was from weather and not from farmland size. Also, year to year, crops are driven by price. If corn is higher, farmers may try to plant more corn that year.” Further, he adds, even though statistics show fewer acres planted and fewer farms, production is still going up—which explains increases in exports.
“Yes, we are losing farmland in Ontario, but the counterpoint is significant increases in yield,” Caldwell explains. “Hectares planted would have very little to do with yield. Yield per acres has more to do with weather, genetics, and technology. For example, when I was a kid, corn farmers expected 100 bushels per acre. Today, they’re yielding 200 bushels per acre.”
The Role of Technology
Technological innovations range from seed genetics and hybrids to new growing practices and mechanized equipment advances. Any combination of these practices increases efficacy in the field by allowing fewer and more targeted inputs. One such innovation is no- and low-till growing to maintain soil nutrients and limit erosion. Another is a modern combine that can record yields as crops are harvested, and process the data to determine soil quality, fertilizer needs, and other information important to a healthy crop. The use of drones and satellite imagery are gaining acceptability as well, to measure changes over time and help growers analyze heat stress, nitrogen application rates, and other factors, optimizing field condition.
