Student worksheet

Note: The information used in this lesson is no longer being updated.

Retrieving data from E-STAT

1. At the E-STAT Table of contents page.
2. Under the heading, Land and Resources, select Environment.
3. Under Environment module, select Environmental impact.
4. Under Environment Statistics, Ecoregions, select Ecoregions.
5. Under Geography, select Mixed Wood Plains ecozone.
6. Select the following 16 Characteristics:
   • Total cropland area, 1971, ha
   • Area sprayed for insects, 1971, ha
   • Area sprayed for weeds, 1971, ha
   • Total area fertilized, 1971, ha
   • Select the same 4 characteristics for 1981 and 1991 and 1996 data.
7. Under Choose an output format, Click Reduce or Sort Geo List.
8. Under 1- Select geographic areas to include, select Lower St. Lawrence Lowlands (08132).
9. Under Screen Outputs, select Bar Chart. This bar chart should show all 16 characteristics.

Answer the following questions:

1. Review the data you have retrieved on pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer use in that region. Have farmers continuously increased or decreased the amount of chemicals over those 25 years?

2. Why do you think the amount of chemicals used by farmers has changed over the 25 years?

3. Why is agricultural use of chemicals a concern to some people? List three reasons.

4. How is the agriculture industry responding to the concerns regarding the agricultural use of chemicals?

5. Why do farmers use chemicals on their farms? Give one reason for each:

   • pesticides
   • herbicides
   • fertilizers