Page 2 - RealDirtENG2020

Table of contents
Chapter 1: Canadian farms and farmers – who is growing our food?
• What does it mean to farm in Canada?
• Who is growing our food?
• Female and farming
• Indigenous agriculture
• Getting into farming
• Conventional and organic farming
• The corporate farm question
• The biggest change? Size
• Family is at the heart of Canada’s farms
• Regional roundup
8 Chapter 2: Crops and plants
• A Canadian oil for the world: canola
• Grains,oilseeds,andspecialtycrops
• Pulses
• Fruits,vegetablesandfungi
• Growingcropsindoors
• Medicinalandceremonialcrops
• Wine,beer,andothercraftbeverages
• TheultimateCanadiancrop:maplesyrup
16 Chapter 3: Farm animals
• Turkeys and chickens
• Hens and eggs
• Dairy cattle
• Realdealaboutveal
• Beefcattle
• Pigs
• Sheep,goats,andguardiananimals
• Insectsarefarmanimalstoo
• Thebuzzonhoney
• Whataboutfurfarming?
• Fishfarming
24 Chapter 4: Humane treatment of farm animals
• Why are most farm animals raised indoors in Canada?
• Keep farm animals healthy – practise biosecurity
• Whycan’ttheyhavemorespace?
• Genetics and animal breeding
• Arethererulesforraisingfarmanimals?
• Livestock on the move
• Animalcarepractices
• Animalwelfareandanimalrights
Ashley Colvin
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30 Chapter 5: Food security, eating local and the cost of food
• The cost of food
• Food insecurity
• The luxury of choice
• Food labels and claims – What do they really mean?
• Plant-based proteins
• Buying organic
• Making healthy food choices
• What is supply management?
• Eating locally
• Imports and exports
• Workinginagriculture
• Seasonalagriculturalandtemporaryforeignfarmworkers
38 Chapter 6: Environment, climate change and sustainable farming
• Soilhealthandorganicmatter
• Growingcropssustainably
• Pollinators,beehealth,andneonics
• Farmingandtechnology
• Greenerenergyonthefarm
• Farming’scarbonfootprint
• Livestock as part of the solution
• Goingtheextramileforwildlife
• Manure, fertilizers, phosphorus, and water • What about plastics and packaging?
• Food waste
48 Chapter 7: Healthy and safe food
• Foodsafetyrulesforfarmers
• Traceability
• Keepingfarmanimalshealthy
• Whenanimalandhumanhealthmeet • Antibioticsandresistance
• Rawfactsaboutrawmilk
• DNA barcoding
• Hormones,livestock,andmeat • What about pesticides?
• GMOs
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Chapter 8: Food, farming and the future
• Mentalhealthonthefarm • Changingconsumertrends • Facingthefuture
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The Real Dirt on Farming
Holly McFarlane
Farm photos in this book are all taken of Canadian farms, or of Canadian farmers. Many were winning entries in Farm & Food Care’s Farm Photo Contest. Photo credits are listed, where available. Sources, where noted, are available in the online version of this publication at: www.RealDirtonFarming.ca Front cover photo credits: Sheri Mangin, Ashton Irwin, Sarah Sebastian, Jodie Aldred and Coralie Spratt Back cover photo credits: Alycia Walker, Nancy French Photography, Grieg Seafood BC and Amy Haak