An Evaluation of agricultural utilization possibilities for unimproved land on farms of the Eastern Parkbelt of Saskatchewan
Date
1966
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
Abstract
1.1 The Problem Situation
Canadian agriculture is experiencing the continuation of two
major shifts. The forces of decreasing farm numbers, and simultaneous
increased total output began after World War II and have been particularly
evident in the prairie provinces in the 1960's. Annual degree of change
has been rather constant, when influences on production are omitted.
Dominion and provincial governments have become concerned with
decreasing farm numbers, and have acted primarily to assist and relieve
disturbances created by the rural to urban movement of the population.
Increasing total farm production has only recently become of concern to
senior governments and economists. In the past, maximization of total
farm production was the central objective, now a main concern is the
balancing of the supply of certain commodities in line with anticipated
demand. Interest has primarily centered around the shifting of some
resources from grain to livestock production, in line with anticipated
future consumer tastes and demands. The increase in per capita disposable
incomes in Canada, has created a greater desire for high protein foods, and
livestock products in particular.
Drummond and Mackenzie1 made estimates of livestock requirements to
meet Canadian market demands in 1980. They estimated that with a rising
productivity and improved efficiency, an increase in cattle and hog inventories
of 36 and 50 per cent respectively over the 1951-1955 levels would
meet the demands. They further suggested that Canadian livestock production
would involve more intensive grain-fed operations, with more rapid
turnover.
The prairie provinces are expected to account for a major part of
the increased livestock output. In the case of cattle, with available
grazing lands being used near capacity2, certain regions where forage and
feed grain production is relatively competitive with grain could shift to
cattle production in the next 10 to 15 years.
The problem of optimum utilization of land, labour and capital, which
occurs in various combinations in the eastern Saskatchewan parkbelt is examined
in this study. This area contains a rather unique management problem
in that arable land is interspersed in varying quantities with small unarable
blocks of bush and/or temporarily water-covered areas, which suggest
inefficient resource use at present. In initiating this study, it was felt
that reorganization of farm enterprises could enhance efficiency of resource
use, and therefore improve farm income.
The study utilized a land use survey to provide a backlog of basic
information, which was then supplemented with experimental research and
production statistics available for the area. Thereafter, a series of benchmark
farm situations were examined by means of linear programming to develop
guidelines for agricultural resource use in the eastern parkbelt region of
Saskatchewan.
The emphasis of the study is on agricultural resource utilization,
but overall results could be interpreted in multi-resource use considerations
such as widldlife, recreation and natural resource programs. These
alternative use-possibilities are becoming more important as toatal population,
per capita disposable income and leisure time increase, thereby
furthering hunting demands and placing increased pressure on wildlife
populations. These alternative possibilities should be borne in mind when
interpreting the results.
In Western Canada, a regional shift from grain to livestock production
in an area such as the Parkbelt could favourably improve total agricultural
returns. The reduction of wheat production would somewhat reduce
periodic market pressures benefitting all grain producers. As well, the
parkbelt could be a potential market for feed grains and range-reared feeder
cattle. Reorganization of farm production in the Parkbelt could therefore
be beneficial to the rest of Western Canadian agriculture.
1.2 Area Description
The park belt area dealt with in the study is located in the southeastern
region of Saskatchewan and is comprised of the Oxbow and Yorkton
soil associations. These soil associations contain approximately 6.75
million and 1.8 million acres respectively. Together they represent
approximately 60 per cent of the black soil zone3. Figure 1 designates
the area of interest in this study, and also indicates the extent of the
parkbelt in Saskatchewan.
The term 'parkbelt' is generally regarded as referring to the transsoil
is dominant. Soils in this zone developed under a grass cover, and
it is only since the beginning of settlement and the concurrent control of
prairie fires that trees have encroached on this area. Poplar trees became
established initially by seed, but more recently have spread by root suckers.
At the present time, trees or bushes occupy only a small percentage of the
total land surface but their presence in varying quantities creates management
problems. Tnese problems center around how to make use of these bushland
areas, particularly when they occur in small pockets within predominantly
arable land.
The topography of the Oxbow soil is characterized by a wavy type of
relief with a series of knolls and small depressions, whereas the Yorkton
association is very gently undulating and contains numerous wet marshy
flats and meadows. The Oxbow association tends to be better drained than
the Yorkton association.
Loam is the most common textural class on both soil types and both
soils are considered to give good response to phosphate fertilizers.
Utilization characteristics of the two soils are mainly the same; with the
Oxbow soil having a somewhat higher level of arability, while the Yorkton
soil gives slightly higher yields4.
The eastern parkbelt area generally receives a higher average rainfall
than the rest of the province. The crop seasonal period of August to
October, plus April to July inclusive has shown a forty-five year average
of 12 to 14 inches of rain per year while annual precipitation is 16 to 18
inches5. Rainfall in Saskatchewan generally increases from west to east,
while average temperatures decline. Counteracting the advantageous precipitation
and temperature conditions, the eastern parkbelt is more subject
to frost and rust damage than most of Saskatchewan6.
Census Division No. 5, encompassing the Oxbow and Yorkton soil associations
along the eastern Saskatchevran border, is principally a parkbelt
agricultural area7. Reference to Section 2.1, Table 2:2 indicates the
comparison between average farm size in Saskatchewan and Census Division
No. 5, as well as the specific Rural Municipalities in which the survey was
conducted.
1.3 Objectives of the study
The general objective of this study was an examination of farm use
possibilities for existing non-arable land areas in relation to a build-up
of the livestock economy on Parkbelt farms. To evaluate the potential of
non~arable land, numerous land resource-use alternatives and combinations
were examined simultaneously with a wide range of livestock and crop
production systems. In conjunction with the resource use study,
considerable emphasis was placed on development of coefficients suitable
to the type of farms which characterize this region.
The specific objectives of the study, in order of their approach
and examination were:
To develop specific resource combinations, assumptions, coefficients
and standards based on some prior knowledge of the area, in conjunction
with a wide range of livestock and crop production alternatives feasible
for the area. This involved selection of separate arable and non-arable
land use systems as well as combinations of the two classes of land in
joint production systems.
To determine optimum fanning systems , with emphasis on livestock production,
for a range of farms with differing land and labour complements.
The range of land complements was stated in terms of arable acres per farm,
while labor varied in total supply available by months.
To evaluate from the optimum farming systems the general potential
for more developed and/or integrated non-arable land use in terms of livestock
production.
A few objectives of lesser importance in this study were concerned
with management decisions regarding selection of roughage feeds, leased
versus owned pasture, and the pasture rotation system commensurate with an
optimum crop-livestock complement. These objectives were included as they
appeared to be of primary interest to farmers and extension workers,
particularly in an area characterized by intensive farming.
1. Drummond, W.M., and Mackenzie, W., "Progress and Prospects of Canadian
Agriculture", Royal Commission on Canada's Economic Prospects, 1957.
2. Drummond, W.M, and Mackenzie, W., op. cit., in which they suggest
grazing lands are being used near their present capacity, but pasture
improvement will be a main force in accomodating cattle increases.
3. Hitchell, J., Moss, H.C., and Clayton, J.S., Soil Survey Reoort No. 12,
University of Saskatchewan, College of Agriculture, 1947, pp. 104, 113.
4. For further information see Ibid., pp. 104-107 and 113-116, and Moss, H.C.
Average Yields of Wneat for Saskatchewan stations, 1932-1961, Department
of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, 1964.
5. Average crop seasonal rainfall as t aken from Canada Department of Transport,
Monthly Record, Meteorological Observations in Canada, 1916-1960.
6. See Guide to Farm Practise in Saskatchewan, 1963, p. .5.
7. See Figure 1 for designation of Census Division No.5.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
Agricultural Economics
Program
Agricultural Economics