Agriculture in Alberta
Agriculture is a cornerstone of Alberta’s economy and cultural identity. Covering over 50 million acres of farmland, Alberta is a leading Canadian producer of livestock, oilseeds, and grains. With fertile prairies and grasslands, Alberta boasts robust wheat, barley, canola, and pulse crops and is globally known as a major exporter of high-quality beef. The province also has a significant dairy industry, with nearly 500 farms producing more than 835 million litres of milk annually.
Alberta Agriculture Associations and Organizations
There are many different groups that are working to support farmers, ranchers and agricultural researchers in Alberta. Here are links to some of the ones we found to be important to know about. Please let us know if we missed any!
ABP is at the heart of Alberta’s cattle and beef industry. We work on behalf of more than 18,000 beef cattle producers to maintain the Canadian beef advantage.
Representing approximately 13,000 canola farmers in Alberta, The Alberta Canola Producers Commission was founded in 1989 and is the province’s first checkoff producer organization.
Alberta’s chicken sector is collaborating to grow, create shared value and ensure chicken is consumers’ preferred and trusted protein.
We empower the sheep industry through education, innovative research, and advocacy. Our focus is on working in the best interests of our producers by building connected relationships through accountability and transparency.
Alberta Milk is a non-profit organization that represents the province’s dairy farmers and supports farmers to produce safe, nutritious food in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable way.
The Alberta Pork Producers Development Corporation (Alberta Pork) is a non-profit organization representing the province’s registered hog producers before government, industry partners, media, the general public and other interest groups.
Advocating for Innovative, Sustainable Agriculture in Alberta
What is the Connection between Water and Agriculture in Alberta?
Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership in Alberta
Agricultural sustainability refers to farming practices that meet the needs of producers while emphasizing environmental stewardship, economic viability, and social responsibility. Implementing sustainable, innovative agricultural technologies and practices helps bridge the gap between productivity and conservation, promoting long-term resilience in agricultural systems.
In 2023, the governments of Canada and Alberta launched the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) with a 5-year investment of $508 million to deliver grant programs. Alberta producers, farmers, processors, and organizations can apply for these cost-shared grant programs. Alberta offers numerous funding opportunities to build resiliency and support sustainable growth in the agricultural and agri-food sectors.
