University of Lethbridge Celebrates Agriculture Awareness Week

Agriculture has always been a major part of the Albertan economy.

The University of Lethbridge Agricultural Students Society is taking this week to remind everyone of Alberta’s rich agricultural history.

Staff and students will be celebrating Agriculture Awareness Week, from March 14th to the 18th, and using the week to increase awareness of agriculture by hosting a series of events.

They will begin the week by hosting presentations by expert speakers that will discuss topics like animal health, food genetics and technology in the food system.

There will also be a farrier demonstration, where people can watch the proper procedure for shoeing a horse. The student union will also be hosting “Cow pie bingo” on Friday.

According to a fact sheet published by the Government of Alberta, the province:

• Uses about 209,789 square kilometres for crop and livestock production. That’s about 30 per cent of Alberta’s land area
• Is Canada’s second-largest agricultural producer, earning 22 per cent of Canada’s farm cash receipts
• Relied on agriculture for $4.7 billion of their GDP in 2008
• Is the largest cattle producing province in Canada. It led the nation in cattle and calf inventories, with an estimated 5.4 million head as of January 2009 – 41 per cent of the Canadian total

Schools mentioned: The University of Lethbridge