STATISTICAL PROFILE OF HALIFAX AND HANTS COUNTIES. Prepared By: Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture

Transcription

1 STATISTICAL PROFILE OF HALIFAX AND HANTS COUNTIES Prepared By: Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture

2 1.0 Introduction Agriculture in the Local Economy Agriculture in Halifax and Counties are characterized by a diversity of farm production activities including dairy, beef, poultry, and beef. The direct economic impact of these activities is significant. In 2000, agriculture in Halifax and Counties generated close to $71.3 million I farm receipts or about 15.5% of all receipts in Nova Scotia. Operating expenses associated with farms in Halifax and Counties during the same year amounted to approximately $61.3 million. Farm businesses have a strong local orientation they both buy and sell in their local community. Indeed, the farm sector creates significant economic activity in the city of Halifax and towns of Windsor and Bedford, which act as a service centers for the approximately426 farms located in the counties. Agri-related businesses located in the towns of Halifax, Bedford and Windsor includes processors, retailers, wholesalers and contractors. The total direct and indirect jobs associated with agriculture and their linkage to other industrial sectors in Halifax and is conservatively estimated at 6395, or approximately 3.0% of all jobs in the local economy. The port of Halifax is one of the busiest and safest on the eastern seaboard. this port allows many producers in Halifax and Counties, as well as many others in Nova Scotia to export their commodities to larger markets in the United States, such as Boston and New York. Halifax also allows producers to seek specialty markets in Europe and Asia. Given the availability of prime agricultural soils, the current level of farm production and the established agri-related business infrastructure that exists in Halifax and Windsor, it is evident that agriculture will continue to be significant economic activity and land uses in the area surround Halifax and Counties for many years to come

3 1.1 Population and Population Change Between 1996 and 2001 the total population of Halifax and Counties augmented by 4.5%, increasing from 381,388 to 398,692 (Table A). The only areas of the Counties to experience a population decrease were the town of port and the Municipality of West. The town of Bedford experienced the largest growth in population between 1996 and 2001 at 18.1%, while adding more than 2,500 citizens. The town of port saw the largest decline in population at 3.9%. Table A: Population of Halifax and Counties and Census Subdivisions, % Change Halifax and Counties 381, , % Halifax 342, , % Halifax (urban) 113, , % Dartmouth (urban) 65,629 65, % Bedford (urban) 13,638 16, % Halifax Regional Municipality 149, , % 38,537 39, % Municipality of East 19,767 20, % Municipality of West 13,792 13, % Windsor (urban) 3,726 3, % port (urban) 1,252 1, % Source: Statistics Canada Economic Profile In 2001 Halifax and Counties had a total experienced labour force 1 of 213,245, which represents 48.2% of the total experienced labour force of Nova Scotia (Table B). in these two counties the direct jobs that exist because of agriculture are 1,250, which is about 0.58% of the total labour force in Halifax and Counties. This is about half the provincial average. The lack of agricultural jobs is due to the mass urbanization in Halifax which has five urban centers (Halifax, Bedford, Lantz, Sackville, and Dartmouth). In these urban centers many of these jobs 55% of all jobs are in the Health and Education, Business Services, and Wholesale and Retail industries. Table B: Halifax and Counties, Experienced Labour Force by Industry, 2001 Industry Nova Scotia Halifax & % of Nova Scotia's ELF % of Halifax & Counties' ELF Total - Experienced labour force (ELF) % 100.0% Agriculture % 0.6% 1 Refers to persons 15 years and over, excluding institutional residents, who were employed or unemployed during the week (Sunday to Saturday) prior to Census Day, and who had last worked for pay or in selfemployment in either 2000 or

4 Other resource-based industries % 1.8% Manufacturing and construction industries % 11.4% Wholesale and retail trade % 16.1% Finance and real estate % 6.5% Health and education % 18.2% Business services % 20.5% Other services % 24.9% Figure 1: % of Experienced Labour Force by Industry: Halifax and Counties vs. Nova Scotia, % 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% Halifax & Counties Nova Scotia 5.00% 0.00% Agriculture Other resource-based industries Manufacturing and construction industries Wholesale and retail trade Finance and real estate Health and education Business services Other services 1.3 Agricultural Profile of Halifax and Counties Number of Farms In 2001, the total number of reported farms in Halifax and Counties was 426 (13% of total farms in province), which was down from the 496 farms reported in Beef (27.9%), 2 In 1996 and 2001, the Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture defined a census farm as an agricultural operation that produces at least one of the following products intended for sale: crops (hay, field crops, tree fruits or nuts, berries or grapes, vegetables, seed); livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, game animals, other livestock); poultry (hens, chickens, turkeys, chicks, game birds, other poultry); animal products (milk or cream, eggs, wool, furs, meat); or other agricultural products (Christmas trees, greenhouse or nursery products, mushrooms, sod, honey, maple syrup products)

5 Miscellaneous specialty 3 (24.9%), Dairy (18.8%), and Field Crop Farms (9.1%) are the leading farm types in Halifax and Counties. Between 1996 and 2001 hog, vegetable and other combination saw major declines in number of producers while field crop producers gained nearly 40 more producers (Table C). 4 Table C: Halifax and Counties, Total number of Farms by Farm Type, Farm Type # of farms % # of farms % % change Dairy % % -21.6% Cattle (beef) % % Hog 8 1.6% 5 1.2% -37.5% Poultry and egg % % Wheat 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0.0% Grain and oilseed (except wheat) Field crops (except grain and oilseed) 0 0.0% 0 0.0% 0.0% % % 39.3% Fruit % % -11.4% Miscellaneous Specialty % % Livestock combination % % -18.8% Vegetable % % -31.8% Other Combination % 9 2.1% -40.0% Total Farms % % -14.1% Source: Statistics Canada, 1996, 2001 Halifax and Counties has a much higher ratio of Dairy farm types when comparing it to the entire province (Figure 2). Table D shows that the highest proportion of these types of farms is found in the Municipality of East. 3 Miscellaneous specialty includes greenhouse flower and plant production, bulbs, shrubs, trees, sod, ornamentals, mushroom houses, honey production, maple syrup production, deer, mink, etc. 4 Farm typing is a procedure that classifies each census farm according to the predominant type of production. This is done by estimating the potential receipts from the inventories of crops and livestock reported on the questionnaire and determining the product or group of products that make up the majority of the estimated receipts. For example, a census farm with total potential receipts of 60% from hogs, 20% from beef cattle and 20% from wheat, would be classified as a hog farm. This farm type classification, referred to as "historical," is based on the Standard Industrial Classifications (SIC). 5 Total number of farms reporting total gross farm receipts greater than $2,499. In 1996 the total number of farms reporting total gross farm receipts less than $2,499 was 107; in 2001 the number was

6 Figure 2: % of Total Farms by Farm Type: Halifax and Counties vs. Nova Scotia, % 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% Halifax & Nova Scotia 5.00% 0.00% Dairy Cattle (Beef) Hog Poultry and egg Wheat Grain and oilseed (except wheat) Field crop (except grain and oilseed) Fruit Miscellaneous speciality Livestock combination Vegetable Other combination Table D: Total Number of Farms by Farm Type by Census Division, Farm Type Nova Scotia Halifax & Halifax HRM Municipality East Municipality West Total Farms Dairy Cattle (Beef) Hog Poultry and egg Wheat Grain and oilseed (except wheat) Field crop (except grain and oilseed) Fruit Miscellaneous specialty Livestock combination Total number of farms reporting total gross farm receipts greater than $2,499. In 2001 the total number of farms reporting total gross farm receipts less than $2,499 was

7 Vegetable Other combination Source: Statistics Canada, Farm Revenue Halifax and Counties reported over $70 million in farm receipts in 2000, which increased from just over $55 million in 1995 (Table E). In 2000, the farm receipts in Halifax/ Counties made up 15.5% of the total farm receipts in the province. The counties average of receipts per farm increased from $91,391 to $146,125 between 1995 and Table E: Total Farm Receipts for Halifax and Counties and Nova Scotia, % change Nova Scotia $384,333,174 $460,424, % Halifax & Counties $55,108,637 $71,309, % Halifax $15,196,469 $16,391, % $39,912,168 $54,917, % Source: Statistics Canada, 1996, 2001 The Municipality of East reported 56% of the total farm receipts in Halifax/ Counties, and had the highest receipt per farm average at close to $219,000. In 2000, the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Municipality of West both had averages below the provincial average of $117,365 (Table F). Table F: Total Farm Receipts by Census Subdivision for Halifax and Counties, 2000 Total Farms Total Farm Receipts Percentage of Total Percentage of Combined Total Receipts per Farm Halifax & Counties 488 $71,309, % $146,125 Halifax 152 $16,391, % 23% $107,842 Halifax Regional Municipality 152 $16,391, % 23% $107, $54,917, % 77% $163,444 Municipality of East 183 $40,022,983 73% 56% $218,705 Municipality of West 153 $14,894,205 37% 21% $97,348 In 2000, around 35% of the total farms in Halifax/ Counties reported receipts of $50,000 or greater. Sixty-two farms reported receipts of less than $2,500 which constitutes %12.70 which is a sharp drop from %17.74 in %34 of farms reported receipts of less than $10,000 in 2000 (Table G)

8 Table G: Total Number of Farms in Halifax and Counties by Farm Receipts, Farm Receipts Category # of farms % of total # of farms % of total Under $2, % % $2,500 to $4, % % $5,000 to $9, % % $10,000 to $24, % % $25,000 to $49, % % $50,000 to $99, % % $100,000 to $249, % % $250,000 to $499, % % $500,000 and over % % Total farms % % Figure 3: % of Total Farms by Farm Receipts Category: Halifax and Counties vs. Nova Scotia, % 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% Halifax & Nova Scotia 5.00% 0.00% Under $2,500 $2,500 to $4,999 $5,000 to $9,999 $10,000 to $24,999 $25,000 to $49,999 $50,000 to $99,999 $100,000 to $249,999 $250,000 to $499,999 $500,000 and over - 7 -

9 Table H: Total Number of Farms by Total Farm Receipts Category by Census Subdivision, 2001 Farm Receipts Category Nova Scotia Halifax & Counties Halifax Halifax Regional Munici. Munici. of East Munici. of West Total farms 3, Under $2, $2,500 to $4, $5,000 to $9, $10,000 to $24, $25,000 to $49, $50,000 to $99, $100,000 to $249, $250,000 to $499, $500,000 and over Farm Expenses In 2001, the total farm business operating expenses for Halifax/ Counties were $61,302,021. The average farm business operating expenses for farms in Halifax/ Counties were $125,619 which is higher than the provincial average of $99,081. Wages and salary, other expenses (excluding depreciation and capital cost allowance), and total feed and supplement purchases were among the greatest expenses for farms in Halifax/ Counties (Table I). Table I: Farm Business Operating Expenses for Halifax and Counties and Nova Scotia, 2001 Farm business operating expenses Farms reporting Nova Scotia Amount $ Halifax & Farms reporting Amount $ Total farm business operating Expenses 3, ,693, ,302,021 Fertilizer and lime purchases 2,820 12,909, ,175,895 Purchases of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, etc. 1,654 8,014, ,464 Seed and plant purchases (excluding materials purchased for resale) 1,729 10,315, ,195,589 Total feed and supplement purchases 2,226 84,288, ,249,881 Feed purchases from other farmers 553 4,476, ,009 Livestock & Poultry Purchases 1,397 35,804, ,393,149 Veterinary services, drugs, etc. 1,959 6,547, ,163,907 Custom work and contract work 1,762 12,309, ,134,

10 Wages and Salary 1,944 74,014, ,637,256 All fuel expenses (diesel, gasoline, oil, wood, natural gas, etc.) 3,710 20,495, ,151,659 Repairs and maintenance to farm machinery, equipment and vehicles 3,554 19,727, ,962,002 Rental and leasing of farm machinery, equipment and vehicles 723 4,669, ,776 Repairs and maintenance to farm buildings and fences 2,603 8,316, ,180,401 Rental and leasing of land and buildings 827 3,565, ,185 Electricity, telephone and all other telecommunication services 3,216 10,493, ,681,192 Farm interest expenses 1,929 24,200, ,973,060 All other expenses (excluding depreciation and capital cost allowance) 3,589 53,022, ,793,686 Land Use In 2001, land in crops accounted for 33.3% of total land use in Halifax/ Counties, while pasture land accounted for 15.1%. The remaining farmland accounted for 51.6% of the total county s farmland and includes such uses as summer fallow and Christmas tree production etc (Table J). Table J: Farmland use in Halifax/ Counties and Nova Scotia, 2001 Land Use Land in crops (excluding Christmas tree area) Halifax & Counties Nova Scotia # of s % of total # of s % of total 40, % 294, % Tame or seeded pasture 6, % 56, % Natural land for pasture 11, % 81, % All other land (including summer fallow and Christmas tree area) 63, % 573, % Total 122, % 1,005, % Farm Size In 2001, the average farm size in Halifax/ Counties was 251 s which is slightly lower than the provincial average of 256 s (Table K). The Halifax Regional Municipality and the Municipality of West both average farm sizes below the provincial average while the - 9 -

11 Municipality of East had an average farm size of 297 s which is well over the provincial average. Table K: Total Acres and Average Farm Size in Halifax and Counties and Nova Scotia, 2001 Total Farms Total Acres Average farm size (s) Nova Scotia 3,923 1,005, Halifax & Counties , Halifax , Halifax Regional Municipality , , Municipality of East , Municipality of West , In 2001, approximately 30% of all farms in Halifax/ Counties were less than 70 s in size while close to 22% of all farms were 400 s or larger. The single largest farm size category in Halifax/ Counties was s, which accounted for 20% of farms in the county (Table L). The farm size pattern in Halifax/ Counties is consistent to that of the province on a whole. Table L: Total Farms by Farm Size Category for Halifax and Counties and Nova Scotia, 2001 Total Farms Unde r 10 s 10 to 69 s 70 to 129 s 130 to 179 s 180 to 239 s 240 to 399 s 400 to 559 s 560 s & over Nova Scotia 3, Halifax & Counties Halifax Halifax Regional Municipality Municipality of East Municipality of West

12 APPENDIX A: Map of Halifax Source: Service Nova Scotia & Municipal Relations - 1 -