Why did the number of farms in Saskatchewan decline after the 1930s?

The number of farms in Saskatchewan peaked in the 1930s at approximately 142,000 before experiencing a significant decline, falling by more than two-thirds by the early 21st century.1

This reduction was primarily driven by the modernization of agriculture following World War II. As farming techniques evolved, the industry shifted toward larger operations, leading to a dramatic increase in the average farm size. This structural change in the rural landscape reduced the need for the smaller, traditional family farms that had previously defined the province's agricultural sector.21

The decline in the number of farms also had broader social and economic consequences. As the rural population decreased due to these agricultural shifts, many smaller urban centers—which had originally been established to service the rural population—lost their purpose and disappeared as inhabitants migrated to larger cities. This transition was further marked by the consolidation of grain-handling infrastructure, such as the replacement of numerous wooden grain elevators with fewer, larger concrete or steel facilities, and the subsequent closure of many railway branch lines.2