census 2011


Statistics Canada has released the results of its 2011 Census of Agriculture.  

According to the report, the number of farms nationally has dropped by 10.3%, and in Saskatchewan farm numbers are down 16.6 % to 36,952 farms

While the number of farms is dropping, the average size of the farm is increasing. The average size of Canadian farms increased to 778 acres, and in Saskatchewan, the average farm size increased 15.1% to 1,668 acres.

Stats show nationally the number of farms with gross annual receipts of $500,000 was up 25.7 percent since the 2006 census.

Not surprisingly, the census shows farmers are getting older, an indication of the impact of the baby boom generation on agriculture. Stats show nationally, the average farm operator is now 54 years of age.

And it also seems that farmers are becoming more tech-savvy. The report shows 44.8% of all farms have access to high-speed Internet, with the percentage of farms using the Internet for farm business climbing to 55.6% in 2011.