 SASKATCHEWAN
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The Growth of the Saskatchewan Economy
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THE SASKATCHEWAN ECONOMY TODAY
AGRICULTURE - growing crops and raising animals
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SASKATCHEWAN
|
The Growth of the Saskatchewan Economy
|
THE SASKATCHEWAN ECONOMY TODAY
AGRICULTURE - growing crops and raising animals
Saskatchewan is known as "Canada's Breadbasket". About 45 percent of the total area of Saskatchewan is farmland.
- Most of the farmland is used for growing crops.
- Wheat is the most important field crop.
- Barley is also an important grain that is grown.
- Some other crops are canola, oats, rye, flax, mustard and lentils.
- The grain is sold to many other countries (the United States, Mexico, South Korea, Iran, Japan and China).
- Beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry, hogs and exotic animals are raised on some farms.
Mining is Saskatchewan's third largest industry after oil and gas and agriculture. The province is in part of the Canadian Shield, an area where many minerals and metals are found. Uranium is produced in northern Saskatchewan. Potash, coal, oil and natural gas and other minerals are produced in southern Saskatchewan.
- Saskatchewan produces a third of the world's supply of potash and uranium. Uranium is used to fuel nuclear power plants.
- Saskatchewan is the second largest oil producing province and the third largest natural gas producing province in Canada. Homes are kept warm with natural gas furnaces.
- Coal in mined in the southern part of the province. About 70 percent of Saskatchewan's electricity comes from coal-fired power stations.
- There are small gold mines north of La Ronge. Gold is used to make very thin wire.
- Other minerals found in Saskatchewan include salt and sodium sulphate. Sodium sulphate is used in detergent (dishwashing and laundry powder). Salt is used to season food, to soften water and to melt ice on sidewalks and streets.
- Diamonds were first discovered north of Prince Albert in 1988. Exploration is still continuing.
- FISHERIES - Fishermen catch and sell fish ( whitefish, pickerel, pike, and trout) from Saskatchewan lakes and rivers.
- FURS - Beavers, minks, muskrats, coyotes, foxes, martens and fishers are trapped for their fur coats.
- FORESTRY - Most of the lumber harvested in Saskatchewan is softwood ( spruce and jack pine). Wood is processed at Hudson Bay, Glaslyn, Meadow Lake, Big River and Carrot River.
Industry has developed slowly in Saskatchewan. Food processing plants include meatpacking, oilseed products, flour milling, the production of beer, soft drinks and animal feed. Other major products include agricultural implements, agricultural chemicals, ready-mix concrete and machine shop products.
The government-owned Saskatchewan Power Corporation generates the electricity used in the province. About 70 percent of the province's electricity is produced by three coal-fired plants in southeastern Saskatchewan (Boundary Dam just south of Estevan, Poplar River power station near Coronach, Shand Power station near Estevan) , 25 percent by hydroelectric power plants in central and northeastern Saskatchewan, and 5 percent by natural gas plants in west central Saskatchewan. In June/06 the Centennial Wind Power Facility was officially opened. near Swift Current (in southwestern Saskatchewan).
DAMS AND RESERVOIRS
