AGRICULTURE IN THE HUB REGION

The Alberta HUB region contains over 3 million cultivated acres spread over 9 counties/M.Ds. which is 12% of Alberta's total cultivated acres. Much of the Alberta HUB region contains black chernozemic soil or dark brown chernozemic soil which is very fertile and can produce high agriculture yields.

The growing conditions of the Alberta HUB region are long summer days with moisture in the range of 60 to 100mm of average spring moisture content.

Climate averages (degrees) : Spring 4.5C/39.6F Summer 17C/62.8F Fall 5.1C/41.2F Winter -16.6C/2.1F LAND IN CROPS

The Alberta HUB region has seen major growth in the Agriculture sector with Gross Farm Receipts reaching nearly to $1.5 billion (measured in acres) 2011 2016 dollars in 2016. County of Vermilion River 728,723 728,580

Minburn County 467,317 496,297 GROSS FARM RECEIPTS 371,871 398,381

St Paul County 376,027 329,226 2011 2016 Two Hills County 330,077 293,577 County of Vermilion River $ 278,186,370 $ 405,991,767 Bonnyville M.D. 250,968 239,816 Minburn County $ 212,292,483 $ 283,877,909 County 205,180 209,995 Lamont County $ 116,937,707 $ 181,264,477 202,273 184,950 St Paul County $ 107,679,940 $ 163,658,520 86,778 97,619 Two Hills County $ 99,240,963 $ 138,178,237 Alberta HUB Region Total 3,019,214 3,013,441 Bonnyville M.D. $ 69,016,957 $ 102,415,084 * Source: Federal Census & Community Smoky Lake County $ 73,170,574 $ 91,129,377 Thorhild County $ 58,069,920 $ 73,844,150 HIGHLIGHTS Lac La Biche County $ 20,420,884 $ 31,802,783

Alberta HUB Region Total $1,035,015,798 $1,472,162,304 Ÿ The Alberta HUB region is home to Lakeland College with one of the largest student managed farms at the Vermilion campus with applied research in livestock * Source: Federal Census & Community and crop production.

Ÿ Major Ag-based companies in the Alberta HUB region include Buhler Industries, Cargill, Viterra and Richardson Pioneer.

Ÿ Numerous agriculture service companies exist across the Alberta HUB region. CROP PRODUCTION

The main crops being grown in the Alberta HUB region include, Canola, Wheat, Barley, Oats and Dry eld peas. Other crops produced include Lentils, Hemp, Quinoa and Lentils. KEY REGIONAL ADVANTAGE

2006 2011 2016 Share of Alberta HUB offers an excellent “Northern Advantage” when it Alberta comes to growing Hemp for bre. Number of Farms (acres) 5,809 5160 5207 2016 Industrial hemp is adapted to a wide variety of soil and climatic Total Crop Land (acres) 2,746,414 3,019,214 3,013,441 11.9% conditions of Alberta. Hemp is a photoperiod (light) sensitive crop. Therefore, in northern portions of the province that enjoy longer days Canola (acres) 633,366 868,107 934,415 15.1% in late spring/early summer the same hemp variety can grow much taller plants and produce 20-30% higher yields of stalks than in the Wheat (acres) 562,398 659,039 755,794 10.8% southern regions. Located in Vegreville, the Alberta HUB region has the only Pilot-Scale Decortication Facility in Alberta. It is North Barley (acres) 431,331 366,997 371,694 10.8% America's largest research and development facility. This is the rst process required in Industrial Hemp Fibre manufacturing. Oats 218,626 128,916 143,489 17.0% The Alberta HUB region saw an incredible growth in the Value of Dry Field Peas (acres) - 164,489 62,409 8.6% Livestock and Poultry from 2011 to 2016: increasing by 258% Lentils (acres) - 150 2600 n/a Hemp (acres) - - 3500 n/a MARKET VALUE OF POULTRY Flax (acres) - 3000 3442 n/a & LIVESTOCK Rye (acres) - - 3856 n/a

Alfalfa / Alfalfa Mixtures 552,737 519,474 421,129 13.7% 2011 2016 * Source: Federal Census & Community County of Vermilion River $112,034,824 $283,193,398

Based on the number of acres in crops the Alberta HUB region provides an Minburn County $60,469,573 $157,190,933 excellent source of feedstock when it comes to Biomass/Biobre processing. Alberta HUB region potential biomass generation: Two Hills County $31,424,181 $77,290,468 Lamont County $31,081,349 $95,106,331 Cereal crop - 952,947 tonnes ( 2016 approximate totals ) Canola - 700,822 “ ( “ “ “ ) Bonnyville M.D. $48,638,313 $132,832,078 Dry Field Peas - 123,366 “ ( “ “ “ ) St. Paul County $66,329,461 $165,495,317 Total 1,777,135 tonnes Smoky County $32,013,765 $83,835,340 This does not include Biomass created via the forestry and livestock sectors located in the Alberta HUB region. Lac La Biche County $15,644,158 $46,360,069

Thorhild County $22,041,174 $43,166,027

Alberta HUB Region Total $419,676,798 $1,084,469,961

* Source: Federal Census & Community

For more information on the Alberta HUB Region, please contact: Northeast Alberta Information HUB Ltd. Ph: (780) 645-1155 | E-mail: [email protected] www.albertahub.com

Alberta HUB strives for accuracy- however, numbers are approximate & subject to change.