Without agriculture, civilization could not have existed. There wouldn’t possibly be any industries or cities, and there definitely wouldn’t be any markets or food providers. Everything has a starting point, and so did Canadian agriculture.

Agriculture in general began long ago when animals were first domesticated. As for Canada, agricultural evidence shows that over 2000 years ago, natives had established successful agricultural practices in Canada and the United States. But of course, nothing starts out perfect. The crops then were very limited and it basically consisted of corn, beans and squash. However, when the Europeans arrived on Canada, seeds were introduced and many native villages began using them for planting crops.

The following are time periods stating agricultural events through Canadian history. They are divided in year periods.

1604 – 1763

Early European agriculture in Canada, consisted little more then gardens tended within trading forts and missions. The first real attempt to begin farming was in 1606 at a French trading post in Arcadia, Nova Scotia. As time went on, more Europeans more Europeans brought their agricultural practices to Canada, especially in the Maritimes regions. A few more skills and tools were discovered such as tilling the land by hand, use of shovels, hoes and rakes. Harvesting of crops was also improved by using scythes and sickles. Animals were then used for agricultural purposes as well such as Oxen. After all these new discoveries, the first “real” farm began in 1617 in a Quebec fur- trading post. It took 8 years to just get 6 hectares under culturvation. At that time, a lot of work had to be done to clear the land and cultivate it. By 1640’s, settlements were raising enough crops to feed themselves, and in 1660, there was a beginning of small trades and exports of grown foods.

1760 – 1867

Large-scale settlement started in Ontario in 1784 and so did large-scale agriculture. Different crops were grown and so did our first major export. Wheat was very popular and demanding at that time, so we began exporting wheat to Lower Canada (Quebec) and to Great Britain. Land, by this time, was tilled by Oxen with walking ploughs and harrows made of timbers with spikes driven through as teeth. However, things weren’t looking so good. The first 12 years resulted in more failures then successes mainly due to bad weather, grasshoppers, mice and flooding. However, eastern agriculture was developing greatly in Canada due to the invention of iron ploughs, horse-powered seeders and reapers, and stationary thrashing machines.

1867 – 1940 (after confederation)

Agriculture in western Canada began in the 1870’s. There were big changes to agriculture during this time involving the Dominion Land Act, and the Canadian Pacific Railway. All these gave benefit to Canadian agriculture one way or the other. By 1900 to 1920’s, steamed powered engines were used to lessen the work of agriculture harvests. Many things have changed, but still many remained. Grain and Wheat was still our most valued crop along with many more now. Then came World War I. Canada of course, was helping in the way, but the war helped finance more machinery for agriculture. But that didn’t last long. Many young farmers left to join armies and there was a boom in prices. 1929 left the entire world in economic slump due to the Great Depression. It was worsened by The Great Drought from 1929 to 1937. Not much agricultural growth happened during this time, for no one really cared anymore. The Parries and other regions were covered with dust, insects and black skies. This caused farmers to flee from their homes and many other residents as well. This eventually ended, but after this dismal, World War II began. Once again, young farmers left to join armies and there was another proceeding drought and depression. Not much agriculture was accomplished during this time, and when the second was finally over, not much of the farmers went back to agriculture so it made farms join together so that they could afford equipment. This eventually went on until again the world was in a working mood. More agriculture began to develop and prosper, and more farmers, set up work.

Over these periods, agriculture has changed much and much of that change was depended on the world and the nations of the world. So you can see, without economy, without other countries, without support, agriculture and civilization could not have existed and the world would have been a much different place without it.