Stampede Agriculture - Ask Farmer Dave

Aggie Days

Have you ever wondered...

How many eggs one hen can lay in a year?

What it is like to drive a tractor or brand a calf?

How does that wheat in the field end up turning into a cookie?

How that milk gets out of the cow and into the carton?

If you have ever had any questions about where

your food comes from or what life on a farm

is like, FARMER DAVE is here to help!

About Farmer Dave

Dave is a farmer, born and raised in Alberta who is passionate about agriculture education.

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Submit your questions to FARMER DAVE and your name will be entered into a draw to win some cool agricultural prizes for you and your class. Your question could also end up featured in the award winning Aggie Days insert published by the Calgary Herald.

Take a look at some of the other questions we’ve already answered!

Question: What is no-till? Rachel

Answer: No-till is a method of planting crops with as little soil disturbance as possible. This means instead of plowing and overturning the soil, we create a tiny path for the seed to drop into. This keeps our helpers, the worms, untouched. It also keeps the ground covered with the dead plants from last year’s crop. This cover keeps valuable moisture in the soil.

Question: How much does a tractor cost? Taylor - Ralph McCall School
Answer: A brand-new tractor can range in price from $30,000 for a small chore tractor to as much as $350,000 for a large field tractor.

Question: Is grain actually healthy for you? Mitch - Ralph McCall School
Answer: Grain is healthy for you as it contains fibre and proteins that our bodies require and is recommended in the Canadian Food Guide as part of a balanced diet.

Question: What machines are on your farm? How do you use all of them? Emma - Ralph McCall School
Answer: A tractor is used to plant crops and pull other machines such as balers (used to make hay and straw bales) and harrows (which help to smooth the ground before planting the crop). A sprayer is a vital tool for conservation farming and is used to control plant diseases such as weeds or insects. A combine is a large machine that is used at harvest to cut, thresh and separate the grain from the straw. It also has the ability to finely chop the straw or leave a swath that can be baled for livestock feed or bedding. Trucks are used to haul grain to market and haul inputs such as fertilizer.

Question: How can you tell if an egg has a chick in it instead of a yolk inside? Brooklyn - Ralph McCall School
Answer: This process is called Candling. The egg is placed in front of a bright light to see thru the shell and tell what is inside.

Question: How do you turn wheat into bread? Gariel - Ralph McCall School
Answer: The wheat is harvested from the field, then delivered to the mill and ground into flour. Other ingredients like eggs, water and yeast are added to make dough. The dough is then baked and voila you have bread.

Question: Why is there NOT a category for candy in the Canada food Guide? Logan - Ralph McCall School
Answer: Candy is not part of any of the essential food groups and contains no nutritional value.

Question: What kind of crops do you grow and harvest? Why did you pick those crops? Caelan - Ralph McCall School
Answer: On my farm we grow wheat, canola and barley. These crops grow well and are suitable for our climate. The crop rotation we use is cereal crop, cereal crop and then oilseed. Wheat and barley are both a cereal crop and canola is an oilseed crop. In the spring wheat is planted first as it takes the longest time to mature. Canola is planted next and swathed to help it ripen evenly. Swathing is when the crop is cut and placed in a swath to help it finish mature and dry out and then is combined. Barley has the shortest growing season so it is planted last. We straight cut the wheat and barley which means the combine cuts and threshes the grain all in one operation.

Question: How long does it take for a wheat seed to grow into a plant? Madi - Ralph McCall School
Answer: It takes wheat seed approximately 100 days from the time it germinates until it becomes a mature plant ready to be harvested.

Question: Do cows like being milked? Cheyenne - Ralph McCall School
Answer: Cows do like being milked as they produce milk everyday and only have so much room to store it.

Question: How long have you been a farmer? Kaidan - Ralph McCall School
Answer: I was raised on a farm and have been a farmer for 38 years.

Question: Are your kids farmers too? Brenda K - Ralph McCall School
Answer: My children all work away from the farm, but come home at harvest time to help out. Two of them are employed in agriculture related industries.

Question: Is it easy to harvest food? Why or why not? Emily - Ralph McCall School
Answer: Harvesting food is easier today due to modern machinery and technology. The biggest hurdle a farmer faces during harvest is the weather. It is very important for the farmer to get the crop off as soon as possible because rain or frost can adversely affect the quality of the grain and also what the farmer is paid.

Question: How many bushels of canola do you get when you harvest a hectare of land? Matthew – Carseland School
Answer: An average yield of is 2.25 tonnes per hectare which is equivalent to filling 98 laundry baskets full of canola.

Question: Why do horses wear shoes? Sydney
Amswer: Horses wear shoes to protect their feet, the same as we do. They also give them extra traction when pulling heavy loads.

Question: Is mud food for a pig? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: Pigs like to bathe in mud to keep themselves cool but do not eat it. Pigs eat healthy grains like corn, barley and soybeans, mixed in with vitamins and minerals.

Question: What do you need to have a farm? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: In order to have a farm, you first must rent or purchase some land. Then depending on the type of farm you will need many more things like animals, barns and machinery.

Question: Do cows have one baby or more at a time? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: Cows usually have one calf at a time, however twins are not uncommon.

Question: How long does a lamb's hair grow? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: A lamb's hair or wool usually grows about 10 centimetres and then the sheep is sheared for the wool. The sheep will be shorn many more times in its lifetime.

Question: How long do you train horses for? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: It can take years to train a horse, depending on what you want them to do. A ranch horse can take six months to a year to train and as the horse matures it continues to learn.

Question: How long do hens sit on their eggs for? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: Hens incubate their eggs to keep them warm and on average it takes 19 to 21 days before a chick is born.

Question: At what age do they kill cows for meat? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: Animals raised for meat are generally slaughtered at 14 to 16 months old. The meat is processed and inspected. Before it is sent to your local butcher or grocery store.

Question: Which one of a hen’s feather do you need to pluck so that it can't fly? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: Chickens can't fly. Their wings are used to help them jump up on roosts. Chickens are generally kept inside so they are protected from predators.

Question: How much milk can a dairy cow produce per day? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: An average dairy cow consumes 120 litres of water to produce 30 litres of milk per day.

Question: How many babies does a rabbit have at a time? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: A rabbit has an average of six babies, but can have as many as twelve at one time.

Question: How long is a cow pregnant for? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: A cow is pregnant the same amount of time as a human -- nine months.

Question: How do you clean a horse’s hooves? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: A Ferrier uses a hoof pick to clean dirt and debris from under the horse's hooves. He or she may also use other tools such as a hoof clipper and file to shape the hoof and prevent it from cracking, much the same as the way we look after our finger and toe nails.

Question: Why are there white and brown eggs? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: Egg colors are determined by the genetics or breed of the chicken.

Question: How does a baby chick hatch? St. Mark’s Grade 3 Class
Answer: When a chick is about two days away from hatching it develops a hard tooth on its beak. It then begins to tap on the shell for many hours before the shell actually breaks and allows the chick to emerge. The tooth falls off shortly after the chick hatches.

Question: How much does one male pig cost? Mo Lowe Say - Buchanan School
Answer: An average male pig at six months of age will weigh approximately 100 kilograms and sell for about $145.00. A neutered male pig is called a barrow and a mature male pig is called a boar.

Question: How much do two male cows cost?? Mo Lowe Say - Buchanan School
Answer: Male cattle are either called bulls or steers. A male that has been neutered is called a steer and are seldom kept past 2 years. Bulls are usually kept with a farmer's herd for breeding purposes and therefore are kept longer. In my herd I have kept bulls for up to eight years. A four year old market bull weighing 1000 kgs would sell for approximately $1300.

Question: How long does it take to start a farm? Ceayra - Buchanan School
Answer: My great-grandfather homesteaded about 100 years ago and the farm has been in my family ever since. It depends on what type of farm you want to start and the condition and location of the land. Starting a farm doesn't take that long, but finishing it may never happen as it will continue to grow and change.

Question: How much money does it cost to develop a farm? Ceayra - Buchanan School
Answer: It is very difficult to answer that question. There are a lot of factors involved depending on what type of farm you would develop including the amount of land required, type of machinery, breed of animals, etc.

Question: What does it take to be a farmer? Ceayra - Buchanan School
Answer: In order to be a farmer today you must have the traditional values that farmers have had for many years. You need a basic love and respect for the land and animals; enjoy hard work; understand how to operate machinery (much of which is equipped with GPS technology). Be able to run a computer as this important tool is used to market products, check weather patterns and enable farmers to advance in the agriculture industry.

Question: About how many people does it take to run a good farm? Lyla - Buchanan School
Answer: To operate a farm successfully depends on the type and size of the operation. On my farm there are three full time people who work at seeding, spraying, haying and calving. At harvest we require as many as seven people to run equipment such as a combine, swather, baler, grain cart and trucks. It is very important to harvest the crop when the weather permits as moisture can damage it.

Question: About how much money does it cost to run a farm every year? Lyla - Buchanan School
Answer: The amount of money to run a farm yearly varies greatly depending on the size and type of farm and whether you rent or own the land. It would be more expensive to run a grain operation than a cattle operation as more machinery such as a large tractor, seeding equipment, sprayer, swather, grain trucks and grain storage and handling equipment is required.

Question: How much does a farm cost in Alberta? Marcel - Buchanan School
Answer: No two farms are the same. The cost to purchase a farm in Alberta would vary depending on the size, quality and location of the land.

Question: Why did you want to become a farmer? Marcel - Buchanan School
Answer: I grew up on a farm that was started by my great grandfather and then farmed by my grandfather and father, so you can say that farming has always been in my blood. I love the outdoors, watching my crops grow and working with animals. I take great satisfaction in my job and know that without farmers the world would go hungry.

Quesiton: Do you like to be a farmer? Marcel - Buchanan School
Answer: Yes very much, see above

Question: How many chicks can a mother chicken can born? Lisa - Buchanan School
Answer: A chicken will lay an average of five eggs per week or 260 per year. If all the eggs are fertilized successfully that would mean a hen could be a mother 280 times in a year.

Question: Do cows get sick? Lisa - Buchanan School
Answer: Cows are just like people. Farmers take great care to make sure that their animals remain healthy by providing good feed, clean water, bedding and the necessary minerals and vitamins to keep them healthy.

Question: Is it hard to do all the jobs on the farm? Lisa - Buchanan School
Answer: It takes hard work to complete all the jobs on the farm. In the spring we get machinery and fields ready to plant the crop at about the same time we are calving. After we plant our crops the cows are moved out to the pasture. Once the crop has grown, it is sprayed for weeds and then the hay is baled. In the fall, the crop is harvested and the grain must be transported from the field to bins for storage. After harvest, field work is completed to ensure a good crop for the next year. The calves are then weaned from the cows and sent to market. All the winter feed must be stored and the grain from harvest must be delivered to market and the cattle must be cared for. Some of the hardest jobs on the farm are management decisions.

Question: Do you need to buy animals? Lisa - Buchanan School
Answer: Animals need to be purchased for breeding purposes. On my farm we buy young cows for breeding replacements and bulls that may be of a different breed to introduce new genetics into our herd.

Question: How much money does a cow cost? Lisa - Buchanan School
Answer: One (commercial) pregnant cow in Alberta today would cost about $800.00. Cattle prices can vary significantly from year to year depending on market conditions. A purebred cow can cost significantly more, as these animals are used to improve your herd.

Question: How do you do all the farming by yourself? Jack -Buchanan School
Answer: See Lyla GR.6

Question: How do you keep bugs from eating your crop? Jack -Buchanan School
Answer: Farmers have to watch for pests which might be plant diseases, weeds or insects that can ruin a crop. Sprayers are a vital tool for conservation farming and the prevention of soil erosion as they allow the farmer to control weeds without disturbing the soil. Using GPS technology eliminates overlapping of spray solution.

Question: Are you rich by all the farming? Jack - Buchanan School
Answer: I have been very lucky to have grown up on a farm and raise three wonderful daughters. Farming has taught me to work hard, respect my neighbours and business associates, but most importantly to respect the land and care about the environment.

Question: How hard is it to plow the fields, what do you use, and how long does it take? Jacalyn - Buchanan School
Answer: On my farm we do not plow the fields, but use a no-til method of planting. This means that we only only use tillage on our fields once a year. This process helps conserve moisture and prevent erosion of the soil. It also helps eliminate exhaust emissions from our machinery and saves on the amount of fuel used. With my air-drill I can plant up to 150 hectares a day.

Question: How do you slaughter cows? Shayla - Buchanan School
Answer: Cattle are sent to a packing plant where the meat is processed and inspected. The meat is then sent to your local butcher or grocery store.

Question: What is the hardest part of farming? Ambria and Jacob - Buchanan School
Answer: There are many hard jobs on the farm, but the hardest are caused by weather. It is difficult to provide livestock with feed, bedding and water during a blizzard or to harvest crops that the wind and rain have damaged. This year, a hail storm totally destroyed all my crops and we had to work hard to salvage what little crop was left to make sure there was feed for the cattle during winter.

Question: How do cows make milk? Marra – Age 4

Answer: The cow first needs to become pregnant in order for the milk making process to begin. When the cow eats grass, grain or hay it is then digested and the milk conversion process begins. In the udder there are small organs called Alveoli which are lined with cells that secrete milk into the udder. Once the milk is in the udder it is then delivered through the teats to a calf or milking machine.

Question: Do you plant a garden for your family? What do you plant in it? Julia – St. Marks School

Answer: We have a large garden that has potatoes, carrots, beans, peas, radishes, and corn. We also have horseradish, rhubarb raspberries and asparagus which are annual plants that do not have to be planted every year.

Question: Why do animals wear ear tags? Olivia – Grade 4 Langdon School

Answer: On my farm we use two different types of ear tags: Each cow is assigned a number which is written on this tag as well as an RDIF tag (Radio Frequency Identification or RFID tag. This tag can be read electronically and checked when cattle are sent to market. It also contains information on where they were born or herd of origin.

Question: How many bushels of canola do you get when you harvest a hectare of land? Matthew – Carseland School

Answer: An average yield is 2.25 tonnes per hectare which is equivalent to filling 98 laundry baskets full of canola.

Question: Why do horses wear shoes? Sydney – 5 Years Old

Answer: Horses wear shoes to protect their feet, the same as we do. They also give them extra traction when pulling heavy loads.

Question: What is it like to have a pet that helps you on the farm? What job does your pet do for you? Illana – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: My dog's name is Joe who is a seven year old purebred border collie. Joe also works on the farm helping us when we are moving cows.

Question: How does the milk come out of the cow? Logan – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: The cow first needs to become pregnant in order for the milk making process to begin. When the cow eats grass, grain or hay it is then digested and the milk conversion process begins. In the udder there are small organs called Alveoli which are lined with cells that secrete milk into the udder. Once the milk is in the udder it is then delivered through the teats to a calf or milking machine. The dairy farmer makes sure that the teats are cleaned before the cow is milked and before the milk is delivered it is tested to make sure it is safe for human consumption.

Question: How many eggs can one chicken lay in a day? Ali – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: Chickens lay one egg per day and lay an average of 280 eggs in a year.

Question: What do pigs eat? Reagan – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: Pigs are vegetarians; therefore a typical diet for pigs would include ground (crushed) barley and/or wheat, canola meal and supplements like vitamins and minerals.

Question: How does it feel to work on a farm? Have you always lived on the farm? Brooklyn – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: I find farm work very rewarding. It is fun to watch the crops grow from seeds to maturity. Spring is a special time as I always enjoy when the baby animals are born and watching them grow, however I think fall is my favorite time of the year. I did live in the city for a short time but have spent most of my life on this farm where I grew up.

Question: What is the hardest animal to take care of on your farm? Sean – Glamorgan School

Answer: The only animals we have on the farm are cattle and they are not really that hard to look after. All animals must be fed and have clean water and bedding. The hardest part is making sure they are taken care of during bad weather.

Question: Do you the like the work that you do? What is your favourite part of your job? Aleena – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: I enjoy farming very much as I like being outdoors, however farming today is like any other business it also requires a lot of office work. The favourite part of my job would be working during harvest time.

Question: Is it hard to work on the farm? Sejal – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: There are many hard jobs on the farm, but the hardest are caused by weather. It is difficult to provide livestock with feed, bedding and water during a blizzard or to harvest crops that the wind and rain have damaged. This year, a hail storm totally destroyed all my crops and we had to work hard to salvage what little crop was left to make sure there was feed for the cattle during winter.

Question: What is the name of your dog? Ava – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: My dog's name is Joe who is a seven year old purebred border collie.

Question: What animals do you have on your farm? Spencer – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: On our farm we have cattle, horses, donkeys, dogs and cats.

Question: How long does it take to milk one cow by hand? Is it fun? Gabrielle – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: It can take an experienced milker fifteen to twenty minutes to milk a cow. There is a technique to milking cows as the cow has four teats and the milker has two hands and the cow must be milked out evenly. Milking cows by hand is a very hard job and requires a lot of strength in the hands wrists and forearms. In comparison a milking machine can milk the same cow in approximately five minutes.

Question: What is your piece of machinery? Why is it your favourite? Ella – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: If I had to pick one machine it would be the combine. This machine allows me to harvest my crops so that I may be paid for them and harvest is the time of year I enjoy most.

Question: What is your favourite animal? Novack – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: I don't really have a favourite animal, I like all of them.

Question: How does the meat arrive in the supermarket for us to buy? Bruce – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: Animals are sent to be processed and inspected before the meat is then shipped to your local supermarket for purchase. The meat is sent in refrigerated trailers to prevent any spoilage and keep it fresh.

Question: Do you like pigs? Do you have any pigs on your farm? Jordan – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: Yes I do like pigs. We do not have any on our farm today but did have when I was growing up.

Question: What machinery do you use the most on your farm? Logan – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: Tractors are used a lot on our farm as they do many different tasks for us such as seeding, harrowing, cultivating, pulling machines such as balers and swathers. We use tractors equipped with front end loaders for moving bales, loading manure and dirt.

Question: Is milking goats easy? Is it like milking a cow? Regan – Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: Milking goats is similar to milking cows, and also requires a certain technique that is perfected through a lot of practice.

Question: What kind of crops are on your farm? Miss Harris’ Class - Glamorgan Elementary School

Answer: On my farm we grow wheat, canola, barley and corn and hay for feed for our cows.

Question: Why do cows give us milk? Noor – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: Milk is a staple in most diets, therefore dairy farmers raise cattle to provide us with milk. The average dairy cow can provide approximately 25 to 30 litres of milk per day.

Question: Is it hard to drive a tractor? Marwa – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: Today's modern farm tractors are not hard to drive but the operator must be experienced in using modern technology as most tractors are equipped with computers that help control many functions like steering , seeding rates, depth control for planters and precision implement controls.

Question: Is it hard living on a farm? Miya – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: I have always enjoyed living on the farm. I love the outdoors, watching my crops grow and working with animals. I take great satisfaction in my job and know that without farmers the world would go hungry. There are many hard jobs on the farm, but the hardest are caused by weather. It is difficult to provide livestock with feed, bedding and water during a blizzard or to harvest crops that the wind and rain have damaged. This year, a hail storm totally destroyed all my crops and we had to work hard to salvage what little crop was left to make sure there was feed for the cattle during winter.

Question: Is it easy to milk a cow? Ayah – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: It can take an experienced milker fifteen to twenty minutes to milk a cow. There is a technique to milking cows as the cow has four teats and the milker has two hands the cow must be milked out evenly. Milking cows by hand is a very hard job and requires a lot of strength in the hands wrists and forearms. In comparison a milking machine can milk the same cow in approximately five minutes.

Question: Does it smell a lot on a farm? Kassem – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: Most modern farms today employ systems to minimize odour by having enclosed manure holding facilities and direct injection into the soil so that the manure may be used effectively for fertilization.

Question: How long have you lived on a farm? Reeham – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: I was raised on a farm and have been a farmer for 38 years. I have lived on my farm for all of my life except for a short time when I lived in Calgary.

Question: Is it fun being on a farm? Taher – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: Yes it is fun being on the farm. It is fun to walk out the door everyday and be at your place of work, to have your family work with you and have pride in what you do. I like being on the farm because there are so many different jobs to do.

Question: How do you bottle milk? Kassem – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: Milk is sent from the farm to the dairy where it is pasteurized and inspected and then put into the containers that you find at the grocery store.

Question: How do you take a calf out of a cow when it's born? Marwa – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: Most calves are born naturally without assistance from the farmer, but sometimes complications can arise during calving like a breech birth, and a veterinarian may be called for assistance to make sure both the calf and cow are kept alive and healthy.

Question: Why did you choose to be a farmer? Noor – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: I grew up on a farm that was started by my great grandfather and then farmed by my grandfather and father, so you can say that farming has always been in my blood. I love the outdoors, watching my crops grow and working with animals. I take great satisfaction in my job and know that without farmers the world would go hungry.

Question: What kind of food is there to eat on a farm? Ahmad – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: During the summer months we eat fresh produce from the garden: peas, beans, potatoes, raspberries, and asparagus. We also raise our own beef cattle for meat for our family. When I was growing up on the farm, we had pigs, chickens and turkeys as well that gave us meat. My parents also hand milked cows so we had fresh milk and also raised chickens for eggs.

Question: What crops do you grow in your field? Noor – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: On my farm we grow wheat, canola and barley. These crops grow well and are suitable for our climate.

Question: Do you have a scarecrow on your farm? Miya – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: Just me when I get up too early in the morning.

Question: What animals live on a farm? Marwa – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: There are many different animals that can live a farm. Some farms have: pigs, cows, chickens, turkeys, horses, goats, donkeys, sheep, llamas, alpacas, bison, elk, ducks, and geese.

Question: What’s the hardest part about living on a farm? Marwa – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: There are many hard jobs on the farm, but the hardest are caused by weather. It is difficult to provide livestock with feed, bedding and water during a blizzard or to harvest crops that the wind and rain have damaged. This year, a hail storm totally destroyed all my crops and we had to work hard to salvage what little crop was left to make sure there was feed for the cattle during winter.

Question: How do you shield your crops from the winter? Abdurahman – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: There are a limited number of frost free days to grow crops so it is important to seed early in spring so the crops may be harvested in the fall. Some farmers grow crops which are called winter crops (winter wheat and rye). These crops are planted in the fall and when the weather gets cold they go into a dormant stage and then begin to grow again in the spring when it gets warm. We store our harvested grain in graineries or large plastic bags to protect it from snow and moisture which causes it to spoil.

Question: How much does a farm cost? Marwa – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: No two farms are the same. The cost to purchase a farm in Alberta would vary depending on the size, quality and location of the land.

Question: How much does a combine cost? Do you use one? Kassem – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: New large combines can cost over $300,000.00. We have two of these on our farm and use them in the fall of every year to harvest our crops.

Question: Do farmers work at night? Abdurahman – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: Farmers have a limited time in the spring and the fall to seed and harvest crops so sometimes they must put in long hours in order to get these jobs done. Weather is often the determining factor, as there are a limited number of frost free days in which to grow crops so it is important to seed early. In the fall, rain or snow is very damaging to the quality of our grain so farmers may choose to work well into the night to complete their harvest. During calving season it is not uncommon to check animals every four hours when a cow is delivering a calf.

Question: How do you water crops? Reeham – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: On our farm we do not have access to irrigation. Some farmers use irrigation systems such as wheel moves, which move in a straight line to apply water or a center pivot system which moves in a circle to water crops.

Question: Do people buy stuff from you? Ayah – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: Yes we sell, grain, hay and cattle.

Question: How long does it take to build up a farm? Noor – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: My great-grandfather homesteaded about 100 years ago and the farm has been in my family ever since. It depends on what type of farm you want to start and the condition and location of the land. Starting a farm doesn't take that long, but finishing it may never happen as it will continue to grow and change.

Question: What kind of tools do you use on a farm? Miss Crumb – Calgary Islamic School

Answer: Most of the tools we use on our farm are in the form of machinery (tractors, combines, swathers, balers, trucks, sprayers etc.). We also have an array of shop tools for maintenance and repair of our machines such as welders, air compressors, cutting torches, impact wrenches and a complete line of hand tools.

Question: How many calves did a cow give birth to in their life time? Taylor – RJ Hawkey School

Answer: Cows on our farm generally have their first calf when they are two or three years old. On average we keep a cow for ten years so that cow would have had eight calves in her lifetime.

Question: Does anyone farm goats for food here in Alberta? Bow Valley College - ESL Literacy Students

Answer: There are several people who raise goats in Alberta. Please let me know if you would like to contact a goat farmer to discuss this further.

Question: About how much wheat is needed to produce a loaf of bread? Philip– Dalhousie Elementary

Answer: A bushel of wheat weighs 60 pounds or 27 kilograms. It would take approximately one pound or 454 grams of wheat to produce a loaf of bread. Wheat is the main ingredient in most of the bread we eat, but it can also be made from other grains such as barley, oats, corn, rye or rice.

Question: Can a city kid become a good farmer? Nathan - Ecole Chinook Park School

Answer: Yes you certainly can become a good farmer if you are willing to learn. Having an appreciation of the land and things that grow are the first step to success. If you plan to have animals you must have love and respect for them. I always say one of the best teachers in the farming business is experience and no matter how long you farm you will never stop learing.

Disclaimer

The information, stories and opinions published on this site, are written, submitted and posted by an independent source and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Calgary Stampede organization. The Ask Farmer Dave website acts solely as a resource for students, educators and the general public to share stories and information on Southern Alberta farming practices. Any trademarks, images or patents referred to via this website are the property of their respective owners.