the focus in B.C. seems to be on small, with four in 10 farms showing less than $10,000 in receipts, more than double the national average. In 2016, 41.6 per cent of B.C.
farms were classed as small, while the national figure was 17.7 per cent. There were 17,528 farms in B.C., down 11.3 per cent from 2011, nearly double the decline nationally. B.C. ranked fifth in the number of farms, accounting for 9.1 per cent of the total nationally.
That included 12,340 acres in fruits, berries and nuts.
The total farm area over which farmers had stewardship in B. C. decreased 0.8 per cent from 2011 to 6.4 million acres in 2016. The drop in total farm area was accompanied by a 3.1per cent decline in cropland to 1.4 million acres.
While the total farm area fell, average farm size grew from 327 acres in 2011 to 365 acres in 2016. This five-year period saw shifts of area away from hay and certain horticultural production (sod and nursery) to field crops and fruits, berries and nuts.
B.C. had the second largest area
under glass, mostly in large operations. Many sold food products directly to consumers. B.C. also reported the highest rate of off-farm work and the second highest rate of direct marketing. However, there are also large operations in fruits, berries and nuts, greenhouse production, livestock, poultry and field crops. B.C. also has the highest
proportion of female farm operators, at 37.5 per cent, up from 36.5 per cent in 2011. Across the country, women accounted for 28.7 per cent of all farm operators.
And, they’re older, with 58.5 per cent of B.C. farm operators 55 and older.
But, the proportion under 35 increased to 6.9 per cent from 5.4 per cent in 2011. The average age of B.C. farmers has gone up from 55.7 to 56.3 years over the last five years. Fewer than a quarter of B.C. farm operators worked more than 40 hours a week, down from 25.7 per cent five years ago, and the lowest
level in the country. The national average is more than a third. But, more than half B.C. farm
operators have an off-farm job, down from 52.6 per cent five years ago, but still the highest in Canada. Nationally, 44.4 per cent of farm operators worked off-farm. Across the country, the 2016 ag census included 193,492 farms, a decrease of 5.9 per cent from the previous census in 2011, the lowest in the past 20 years. However, the average area per farm has increased, from 779 acres in 2011 to an average of 820 acres in 2016.
In all, there were 43,631 acres in apples on 3,835 farms; 2,211 acres of pears on 1,341 farms; 1,608 acres of plums on 1,372 farms; 5,420 acres of cherries on 1,324 farms; 6,590 acres of peaches on 911 farms; 436 acres of apricots on 436 farms; 31,241 acres of grapes on 2,036 farms; 10,155 acres of strawberries on 2,144 farms; 5,651 acres of raspberries on 2,391 farms; 18,134 acres of cranberries on 280 farms; and 196,026 acres of blueberries on 3,922 farms.
British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Summer 2017
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