Brad Stelfox

Rural Growth
Stress on water systems
• In 1950, Alberta irrigated 180,000 hectares of land. In 2000, 520,00 hectares were being irrigated.
• In 1950, Alberta had 20,000 drilled water wells. In 2000, there were 325,000.

Questionable Environmental Impacts
• Alberta’s cattle population in 1950 was 1.8 million. In 2000, the cattle population was 5.7 million.
• In 1950, Alberta supported 68,000 farms. In 2000, the number dropped to 29,000 as agriculture tended towards larger farms. ...