The Canadian agricultural sector encompasses a wide range of crop and livestock production, but two key segments clearly dominate the ecosystem: wheat cultivation and beef cattle farming. Together, they generate over $42 billion in annual revenue—nearly half of all primary agricultural income—and are foundational to employment, exports, and innovation throughout the agri-food chain.
In 2024, wheat cultivation brought in $16.1B in revenue, driven by record yields in the Prairies and strong demand on export markets. At the same time, beef production reached $25.8B, benefiting from high market prices due to a shrinking North American herd.
These two pillars form the backbone of a sector set to play a key role in global food security and the transition toward more sustainable agriculture.
Three indicators highlight the size, profitability, and growth pace of the wheat and beef segments.
Total value of grain sold on domestic and export markets.
Revenue from the sale of feeder cattle and breeding cows, boosted by record-high prices.
Weighted average: 15.9% in wheat cultivation and 8.3% in beef cattle farming.
By 2030, the gradual easing of input costs and the adoption of precision tools (remote sensing, variable-rate application, genomics) are expected to strengthen margins, although climate volatility remains a major unknown.
Global demand for protein and grains—driven by population growth and the rise of middle classes in Southeast Asia and North Africa—will continue to boost Canadian exports.
In this environment, wheat producers are focusing on drought-resistant varieties, while beef producers are accelerating investments in genetics and traceability to meet international buyers’ ESG expectations—key levers to maintain the competitiveness of a sector already driven by its two major pillars: wheat and beef.
Three indicators highlight the size, profitability, and growth pace of the wheat and beef segments.
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