Agriculture Day

SAM ODROWSKI The Standard
    
February 13th of last year marked Canada’s first ever Agriculture Day, with hundreds of events and thousands of people participating across the country.

The 2nd Annual Agriculture Day returned to Canada this February 13th, and agriculture was celebrated across the country, through events, speeches, and new agriculture programs.  

The day is meant to celebrate farmers, processors, and all people involved in the agriculture sector, as well as build a closer relationship between consumers and the people who produce their food.

Farmers came into classrooms to educate students about agriculture across the country and in Ottawa, government stake-holders, industry groups, the youth, and farmers came together to celebrate.

There are many reasons to celebrate agriculture in Canada, from its economic benefits to environmental protections, the list goes on and on.

Celebrating agriculture means celebrating family, with 97 per cent of Canadian farms being family farms. These hardworking families provide food security to Canadians and feed the people in their communities.

Another reason to celebrate agriculture is because the ag industry employs over 2 million Canadians and generates over $110 billion to Canada’s GDP, annually.

Agriculture is a large industry in Canada, the country is the fifth biggest agricultural exporter in the world.  

Farmers do lots to take care of Canada’s land, and do a lot to protect as well as preserve the environment. When operations are sustainably managed, they can help to preserve and restore animals habitats, protect watersheds, improve soil health, and water quality.
Another reason to celebrate Canada’s agriculture is because of it’s level of quality. The country ranks number one in global food safety.

Consumers are taking note of this, with surveys showing that consumers trust farmers more than any other group, and 60 per cent are interested to learn more about farming practices.

Agriculture isn’t just a business for most farmers, it’s a way of life. Farmers do what they do because they are passionate about feeding the people of Canada.

To help celebrate and support farmers in the area, try buying produce locally, and shopping at farmer markets when possible.