Agriculture: Agriculture on Prince Edward Island

Agriculture on Prince Edward Island

Agdex #: 0/0
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Revised: November 2009

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Prince Edward Island is a great place to farm. The Island has a total land area of 1.4 million acres with approximately 620,000 acres cleared for agricultural use. Agriculture is very important to the rural way of life on P.E.I. with 4.5 percent of the population living on farms; 1.5 percent higher than the national average. The 2006 census listed 1,700 farms primarily engaged in growing crops and raising livestock on P.E.I.

Potatoes represent Prince Edward Island's single largest agricultural commodity in terms of farm cash receipts. In 2008, Island producers harvested 89,000 acres of potatoes totaling 24.5 million hundredweight (cwt) of product. The value of the crop is subject to global market fluctuations. Over the last five years values have ranged from $150 to $205 million. Prince Edward Island potatoes are processed into frozen potato products and chips. They are also supplied to the fresh table market in eastern Canada, the United States and overseas. Prince Edward Island seed potatoes are shipped across Canada and around the world to other potato producing regions. Approximately 85,000 acres of potatoes have been planted in 2009.

Grains and Oilseeds are the largest groups of crops grown on P.E.I. Grains are primarily grown in rotation with potato crops. In 2008, Statistics Canada estimated that there were 139,000 acres of wheat, oats, barley and mixed grain and 18,000 acres of soybeans seeded on the Island. Barley accounted for 77,000 acres. In 2009, soybean seeded acreage is estimated at 27,000 acres. Milling wheat is grown for the production of flour. One third of the soybean acreage in 2008 was exported to Japan to be processed into tofu and miso. Canola is being grown and pressed for oil that is used for food and fuel. The remaining grains and soybeans are fed to livestock on the Island. The total value of the 2008 grain and oilseed crop was estimated to be $14 million.

Fruit Production is very diverse on P.E.I. Lowbush blueberries make up the largest acreage of commercial fruit crops. Commercial cranberry bogs and strawberry fields are located across the province. Strawberry nursery stock is produced for export to southern USA. Twenty thousand apple trees fill Island orchards. Specialty fruits including raspberry, gooseberry, rose hips, and highbush blueberry are produced in small acreages. Rising interest in black currant, grape and haskap berry have resulted in new developments of these crops.

Beef production on Prince Edward Island involves 35 percent of farms, greater than any other type of farming operation. The beef industry is comprised of two main sectors; cow-calf operations where calves are raised to the feeder stage and beef feedlots that purchase the feeders to finish for market. The average cow-calf herd is 40 cows. Calves are sold to feedlots throughout the Maritimes, Ontario and Quebec. Feedlot operations are intrinsically linked to the potato sector by incorporating cull potatoes, potato by-products and crops used in the potato rotation such as barley, soybeans and forage into the beef feed ration. There are several small abattoirs that process beef for the local market and one federally inspected facility, Atlantic Beef Products Inc., which processes beef for the Maritime market and for export to the United States.

Vegetables are an important cash crop for many farmers and are a source of fresh and processed product for consumers in Atlantic Canada. A core group of diversified growers produce a significant percentage of the fresh market vegetable acreage. Cauliflower, carrots and brussel sprouts are shipped to off-island processors. Rutabaga, carrots, onions and cabbage are stored and sold throughout the year to local, national and international markets.

Dairy production has become highly specialized and mechanized. Quality standards are very high. Rigid inspection programs cover every phase of production, from the health of the cow through to the finished product. There are approximately 215 dairy farms on PEI with milk cow herds ranging in number from 20 to more than 250 cows. Annual milk production exceeds 94 million liters. Fifteen percent is used to supply the fresh market and the balance is manufactured into butter, cheese, ice cream and other dairy products. Breeding stock is sold to dairy farms across Canada and internationally. Quota price was $28,000 per kg in April 2009.

Hog Production has tapered and the industry is in a period of transition. Due to low market prices, many farmers have exited the industry. Many of the remaining farms are confined housing operations with highly mechanized, temperature controlled barns. Several large operations produce high quality, disease free breeding stock to supply local operations and for exporting within Canada and worldwide.

Organic Farming is continuing to expand across Prince Edward Island. There are approximately 55 certified producers in the province who produce crops and/or raise livestock. Increasing demand for food grade quality cereals and soybeans is stimulating the expansion of field crops. Consumer support for purchasing local food has encouraged producers to explore market opportunities at farmer's markets or through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) ventures. Farmers may label their products as “Certified Organic” when they are produced according to a national standard, pass an annual inspection and detailed records of production practices are maintained.

For more information about the Agriculture Industry on Prince Edward Island, please contact:
Agriculture Information Desk:
Charlottetown Research Center
(902) 368-4145
1-866-PEI-FARM (734-3276)
e-mail: peiextension@gov.pe.ca