Other Types of Saskatchewan Farms

Grain Farms

One of the most common types of farms in Saskatchewan is grain farms. Grain farms grow only grain and do not have any live stalk (farm animals). When the grain is growing it is called a ‘crop’. The types of crops most commonly found in our province are wheat, barely, canola, oats, peas, and corn. There is a lot of work involved when growing a crop. A farmer has to put nutrients into the soil for the crop to eat while growing (fertilizing), plant the crop (seeding), kill all the weeds (spraying), and harvest the crop (combining). Sometimes grain farmers also have to cultivate the land, swath the crops, pick rocks, rake hay, and make bails. Farmers also rely on Mother Nature too to water their crops with rain and provide enough sunlight for their crops to grow properly. Without the cooperation from Mother Nature, a farmer’s crop will not grow like it should and provide plenty of grain for the farmer to use and/or sell. Ranch

Now this ranch does not mean ranch dressing. This ranch means the type of farm that raises cattle. Cattle are raised to be eaten as beef and used to make leather. Cattle are the only kind of live stalk raised on a ranch and the farmer that raises the cattle is called a rancher. A rancher’s job is very time consuming and busy. Ranchers work every day of the year and there is very little time off, especially during calving season. Calving season is the time of the year (usually in the spring) when calves are born. Cattle have different names, just like mommies, daddies, and children do. Mommy cattle are called cows and daddy cattle are called bulls. Baby cattle are called calves. Some cattle are also known as steers and heifers. There are many different breeds of cattle too, just like there are many different breeds of dogs, and we will see a few of them, such as Red and Black Angus, when we go to the Agribition. Dairy Farms

On a Dairy farm, dairy cows are raised to make milk. Dairy cows can only be a female, since females are the only cattle that have teats and udders (glands that produce milk similar to the glands found in a woman’s breast). Dairy farmers milk their cows either by hand or by using a machine and then this milk is then cleaned (this is called pasteurizing) before being sold to companies such as Dairy Land. Then the milk is sold and packaged into milk jugs and cartons to be sold at grocery stores. The milk in your fridge (unless it is powdered) always comes from a dairy farm. Mixed Farms

On a mixed farm, both crops and live stalk are found. This live stalk includes cattle, pigs, chickens, horses, sheep, goats, etc. This farm usually grows grain to feed their live stalk. For example, a farmer will grow hay to feed his cattle and horses. A farmer of a mixed farm is very busy tending to his crops, as well as doing all of the chores that are involved with raising farm animals. Just like the rancher, these chores to not only include feeding the animals, but cleaning the barn, and making sure there is always water for them to drink and shelter for them to rest in. If an animal gets sick, the farmer must help it get better by giving it extra care and sometimes medicine. The farmer of a mixed farm also has to act much like a farmer of a grain farm and fertilize, spray, seed, and harvest his crops so that they produce lots of grain at the same time as looking after the live stalk. Other Types of Saskatchewan Farms

There are many other types of farms found in Saskatchewan and are becoming more and more popular every year. These farms include poultry farms (chickens and turkeys), swine farms (pigs), and game farms (animals such as bison, elk, ostriches, deer, etc). Much like ranches and their cattle, these farms raise their animals to be sold as food. Your chicken, turkey, bacon, and pork chops all come from a farm just like your steak. If it wasn’t for these farms, where would you get your meat from?

Saskatchewan Farms Name: ______

Use the information at each of the stations to find the information needed to answer the questions.

1. The most commonly grown crops in Saskatchewan are ______, ______, ______, ______, ______, and ______.

2. Farmers also have to rely on ______to grow a good crop.

3. A farm known to raise cattle is known as a ______.

4. There are many different names for cattle. These names are ______, ______, ______, ______, and ______.

5. Farm animals are raised to become ______.

6. ______and ______are found on mixed farms.

7. What kinds of animals can be found on a mixed farm? ______

8. The milk in your fridge comes from what kind of farm? ______