Grains

What a wide variety of crops we grow in our province.  From north to south, the growing conditions change so much.  In southern Alberta, they can grow terrific corn crops - we all know about Taber corn, don't we?  But they can also grow sugar beets.  These two crops cannot grow in Northern Alberta. But, in northern Alberta, blueberries and saskatoons grow by the millions! Even from the western part of Alberta to the eastern part, crops will differ.   Another factor affecting the type of crops grown is the soil.  We have black fertile soil, to grey wooded soil, sandy soil, perma-frost soil, marshland, rocky soil, clay, peat soil... Different crops grow better in some soils than others do.

But almost everywhere in Alberta, you will find wheat, oats, barley, and canola.  These are the most common grains. Farmers harvest their grains and sell it to the grain handlers, who store it in the grain elevators.

Grains provide us with energy!  "Grain for the brain!" is another saying.  We see grain products in every one of our cereals, breads, porridges, bagels, buns, crackers, muffins, cookies, cakes, and pancakes.

What are all the other types of grain that grow in Alberta?   How can you tell which grain is which?  How do farmers know when the grain is ready?

Farmers also grow grasses as hay for cattle, and you can see hay bales everywhere across our province too.  Round bales, rectangular bales, old bales, new bales, green bales, yellow bales, brown bales.  Bales in piles, bales for miles.