Canada's 2021 Census of Agriculture: A closer look at farming across the regions

Jun 16, 2022

Data from the 2021 Census of Agriculture revealed that the agriculture sector continues to play an important role in the Canadian economy and society, with 189,874 farms, 262,455 farm operators and 242,052 paid employees.

The Canadian farming industry is adapting quickly with increases in land sustainability practices, renewable energy production and technology use.

Each region of Canada has its own story to tell about how it contributes to the country's vast array of agricultural commodities.

Today, Statistics Canada is pleased to announce the release of 11 articles profiling farm and farm operator trends in Canada's provinces and territories.

These profile articles look at key trends from 2016 to 2021, and compare them against national totals. These articles are published in Canadian Agriculture at a Glance.

Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.