STATISTICAL PROFILE OF COLCHESTER COUNTY Prepared By: Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture
1.0 Introduction Agriculture in the Local Economy Agriculture in County is characterized by a diversity of farm production activities including dairy, beef, poultry, beef and horticultural farms. The direct economic impact of these activities is significant. In 2000, agriculture in County generated close $49.1 million in farm receipts or about 10.6% of all receipts in Nova Scotia. Operating expenses associated with farms in County during the same year amounted approximately $41.1 million. Farm businesses have a strong local orientation they both buy and sell in their local community. Indeed, the farm secr creates significant economic activity in the wns of Truro, Stewiacke, as well as the villages of Brookfield, Tatamagouche, Shubenacadie, and Bass River. The wn of Truro acts as a major centre for agriculture in County. Agri-related businesses located in the wn of Truro include processors, retailers, wholesalers, supply centers, farmer s markets and contracrs. Truro and the village of Tatamagouche also have a Farmer s Market that operates each week in the summer allow farmers offer their products more people in a relaxed atmosphere. The tal direct and indirect jobs associated with agriculture and their linkage other industrial secrs in County is conservatively estimated at 630, or approximately 3% of all jobs in the local economy. Given the availability of prime agricultural soils, the current level of farm production and the established agri-related business infrastructure that exists in Truro and area, it is evident that agriculture will continue be a significant economic activity and land use in the area surround for many years come. - 1 -
1.1 Population and Population Change County experienced virtually no change in population form 1996 2001, the population decreased 48,486 in 2001 from 48,504 in 1996, a decline of 18 residents or 0.03% of the tal population. Subdivisions B and C showed the only increases in population during this time, Subdivision C increased by 3.0% while Subdivision B experienced a population increase of 1.1%. Table A: Population of County and Census Subdivisions, 1996-2001 1996 2001 Change County 48,504 48,486-0.04% Subdivision A 3,755 3,643-3.0% Subdivision B 18,406 18,607 1.1% Subdivision C 13,000 13,391 3.0% Town of Stewiacke (urban) 1,405 1,388-1.2% Town of Truro (urban) 11,938 11,457-4.0% Source: Statistics Canada 2001 The vast majority of the population of County is concentrated in rural areas 1. During the censuses of 1996 and 2001 about 73% of the population lived in rural areas (Table B). Although there was not much change in the distribution of population in Nova Scotia between 1996 and 2001 both urban centers in the county had decreases in population. The wn of Truro suffered a 4.0% decrease in population while the wn of Stewiacke had a decrease of 1.2%. Table B: County, Rural and Urban Populations, 1996-2001 1996 2001 Population % Population % Rural 35,161 72.5% 35,641 73.5% Urban 13,343 27.5% 12845 26.5% Total 48,504 48,486 Source: Statistics Canada 2001 1.2 Economic Profile In 2001 County had a tal experienced labour force 2 of 24,380, which represents 5.50% of the tal experienced labour force of Nova Scotia (Table C). 1 As defined by Statistics Canada, rural areas are sparsely populated lands lying outside urban areas. Urban areas have minimum population concentrations of 1,000 and a population density of at least 400 per sq. km., based on the previous census population counts. All terriry outside urban areas is considered rural. 2 Refers persons 15 years and over, excluding institutional residents, who were employed or unemployed during the week (Sunday Saturday) prior Census Day, and who had last worked for pay or in selfemployment in either 2000 or 2001. - 2 -
Table C: County, Experienced Labour Force by Industry, 2001 Industry Nova Scotia County % of Nova Scotia's ELF % of County's ELF Total - Experienced labour force (ELF) 442,095 24,340 5.5% 100.0% Agriculture 8,040 905 0.2% 3.7% Other resource-based industries 20,630 835 0.2% 3.4% Manufacturing and construction industries 70,955 4,990 1.1% 20.5% Wholesale and retail trade 71,085 4,580 1.0% 18.8% Finance and real estate 20,620 690 0.2% 2.8% Health and education 80,700 4,045 0.9% 16.6% Business services 70,270 3,300 0.7% 13.6% Other services 99,790 4,995 1.1% 20.5% Figure 1: % of Experienced Labour Force by Industry: County vs. Nova Scotia, 2001 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% County Nova Scotia 5.00% 0.00% Agriculture Other resource-based industries Manufacturing and construction industrie Wholesale and retail trade Finance and real estate Health and education Business services Other services - 3 -
1.3 Agricultural Profile of County Number of Farms In 2001, the tal number of reported farms in County was 394 (12% of tal farms in province), which was down from the 440 farms reported in 1996. 3 Fruit (24.62%), Beef (23.60%), miscellaneous specialty 4 (17.01%), and Dairy Farms (16.75%) are the leading farm types in County. From 1996-2001 the amount of Dairy and Beef farms decreased while Fruit and Miscellaneous specialty farms increased (Table D). 5 Table D: County, Total number of Farms by Farm Type, 1996-2001 6 Farm Type # of farms 1996 2001 % of tal % of farms % of tal % change Dairy 96 21.8% 66 16.7% -31.2% Cattle (Beef) 114 25.9% 93 23.6% -18.4% Hog 9 2.0% 4 1.0% -55.6% Poultry and Egg 6 1.4$ 4 1.0% -33.3% Wheat 1 0.2% 0 0.0% -100% Grain and oilseed (excluding wheat) 1 0.2% 3 0.8% 300% Field crops (except wheat and oilseed) 19 4.3% 26 6.6% 36.8% Fruit 95 21.6% 97 24.6% 2.1% Miscellaneous specialty 66 15.0% 67 17.0% 1.5% Livesck combination 9 2.0% 14 3.5% 55.6% Vegetable 16 3.6% 12 3.0% -25.0% Other combination 8 1.8% 8 2.0% 0.0% Total farms 440 100.0% 394 100% -10.4% Source: Statistics Canada, 1996, 2001 County has a higher ratio of Fruit and Dairy farm types when comparing it the entire province (Figure 2). Table E shows that the highest proportion of Fruit farms is found in Subdivision A and Dairy farms in Subdivision C. I County, there were many changes 3 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); livesck (cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, game animals, other livesck); 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). 4 Miscellaneous specialty includes greenhouse flower and plant production, bulbs, shrubs, trees, sod, ornamentals, mushroom houses, honey production, maple syrup production, deer, mink, etc. 5 Farm typing is a procedure that classifies each census farm according the predominant type of production. This is done by estimating the potential receipts from the invenries of crops and livesck 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 tal 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 as "hisrical," is based on the Standard Industrial Classifications (SIC). 6 Total number of farms reporting tal gross farm receipts greater than $2,499. In 1996 the tal number of farms reporting tal gross farm receipts less than $2,499 was 98; in 2001 the number was 58. - 4 -
in the farm community between 1996 and 2001. Farm types such as Combination livesck and hog production increased by about 55% while oilseed and grain farms triples in production (from one three). The increase in the livesck commodities accounts for much of the increase in tal farm receipts in the county. Although dairy and poultry farms decreased in the same time frame receipts did not. Both of these commodities lost more than 30% of its producers and still maintained their receipts. Figure 2: % of Total Farms by Farm Type: County vs. Nova Scotia, 2001 30.00% 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% County 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 Livesck combination Vegetable Other combination Table E: Total Number of Farms by Farm Type by Census Division, 2001 7 Farm Type Nova Scotia County Subd. A Subd. B Subd. C Total Farms 3,318 394 92 140 162 Dairy 375 66 1 16 49 Cattle (Beef) 828 93 14 38 41 Hog 65 4 1 2 1 Poultry and egg 111 4 1 2 1 Wheat 1 0 0 0 0 Grain and oilseed (except wheat) 15 3 1 1 1 Field crop (except grain and oilseed) 242 26 3 12 11 7 Total number of farms reporting tal gross farm receipts greater than $2,499. In 2001 the tal number of farms reporting tal gross farm receipts less than $2,499 was 58. - 5 -
Fruit 643 97 48 28 21 Miscellaneous specialty 757 67 8 29 30 Livesck combination 73 14 3 9 2 Vegetable 97 12 8 2 2 Other combination 101 8 4 1 3 Farm Revenue valley reported close $50 million in farm receipts in 2000, which increased from almost $43 million in 1995 (Table F). In 2000, the farm receipts in County made up 10.7% of the tal farm receipts in the province. The county average of receipts per farm increased drastically from $79,785 $108,503 between 1995 and 2000. Table F: Total Farm Receipts for County and Nova Scotia, 1995-2000 1995 2000 % change Nova Scotia $384,333,174 $460,424,979 19.8% County $42,924,150 $49,043,374 14.3% % of Nova Scotia 11.2% 10.6% Source: Statistics Canada, 1996, 2001 Subdivision C reported over %50 of the tal farm receipts in County, and had the highest receipt per farm average at close $150,000. In 2000, subdivisions A and B had averages which were below the provincial average of $117,365 (Table G). Table G: Total Farm Receipts by Census Subdivision for County, 2000 Total Farms Total Farm Receipts Percentage of County Total Receipts per Farm County 452 $49,043,374 100% $108,503, Subd. A 105 $10,884,781 22% $103,665, Subd. B 163 $11,097,990 23% $68,086, Subd. C 184 $27,060,603 55% $147,068 In 2000, Close 35% of the tal farms in County reported receipts of $50,000 or greater. Fifty-eight farms reported receipts of less than $2,500 which constitutes %12.83 of the tal farms in the county. Approximately 20% of farms reported receipts of less than $10,000 in 2000 (Table H). The number percentage of farms in the Under $2,500 category fell sharply after 1995. - 6 -
Table H: Total Number of Farms in County by Farm Receipts, 1996-2001 Farm Receipts Category 1996 2001 # of farms % of tal # of farms % of tal Under $2,500 98 18.2% 58 12.8% $2,500 $4,999 57 10.6% 41 9.1% $5,000 $9,999 65 12.1% 56 12.4% $10,000 $24,999 107 19.9% 96 21.2% $25,000 $49,999 44 8.2% 50 11.1% $50,000 $99,999 46 8.5% 36 8.0% $100,000 $249,999 70 13.0% 53 11.7% $250,000 $499,999 34 6.3% 39 8.6% $500,000 and over 17 3.2% 23 5.1% Total farms 538 100.00% 452 100.00% Figure 3: % of Total Farms by Farm Receipts Category: County vs. Nova Scotia, 2001 25.00% 20.00% 15.00% 10.00% County Nova Scotia 5.00% 0.00% Under $2,500 $2,500 $4,999 $5,000 $9,999 $10,000 $24,999 $25,000 $49,999 $50,000 $99,999 $100,000 $249,999 $250,000 $500,000 and over $499,999 Table I: Total Number of Farms by Total Farm Receipts Category by Census Subdivision, 2001 Farm Receipts Category Nova Scotia County Subd. A Subd. B Subd. C Total farms 3,923 452 105 163 184 Under $2,500 605 58 13 23 22 $2,500 $4,999 391 41 10 14 17 $5,000 $9,999 555 56 14 22 20 $10,000 $24,999 786 96 30 35 31 $25,000 $49,999 452 50 10 24 16-7 -
$50,000 $99,999 287 36 8 15 13 $100,000 $249,999 381 53 10 17 26 $250,000 $499,999 242 39 6 10 23 $500,000 and over 224 23 4 3 16 Farm Expenses In 2001, the tal farm business operating expenses for County were $41,152,485. The average per farm business operating expenses for farms in County was $91,045 which is lower than the provincial average of $99,081. Wages and salary, other expenses (excluding depreciation and capital cost allowance), and tal feed and supplement purchases were among the greatest expenses for farms in County (Table J). Table J: Farm Business Operating Expenses for County and Nova Scotia, 2001 Nova Scotia Farms reporting Amount $ County Farms reporting Amount $ Total farm business operating Expenses 3,923 388,693,565 452 41,152,485 Fertilizer and lime purchases 2,820 12,909,414 349 1,849,774 Purchases of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, etc. 1,654 8,014,536 212 1,095,948 Seed and plant purchases (excluding materials purchased for resale) 1,729 10,315,606 192 2,132,213 Total feed and supplement purchases 2,226 84,288,007 269 5,981,728 Feed purchases from other farmers 553 4,476,502 77 575,320 Livesck & Poultry Purchases 1,397 35,804,556 169 2,195,291 Veterinary services, drugs, etc. 1,959 6,547,385 240 1,102,421 Cusm work and contract work 1,762 12,309,676 234 2,283,741 Wages and Salary 1,944 74,014,740 209 7,397,364 All fuel expenses (diesel, gasoline, oil, wood, natural gas, etc.) 3,710 20,495,569 424 1,718,250 Repairs and maintenance farm machinery, equipment and vehicles 3,554 19,727,023 409 2,289,459 Rental and leasing of farm machinery, equipment and vehicles 723 4,669,127 103 718,638 Repairs and maintenance farm buildings and fences 2,603 8,316,205 301 933,584 Rental and leasing of land and buildings 827 3,565,815 112 431,770-8 -
Electricity, telephone and all other telecommunication services 3,216 10,493,422 368 1,148,046 Farm interest expenses 1,929 24,200,162 250 3,201,225 All other expenses (excluding depreciation and capital cost allowance) 3,589 53,022,322 410 6,273,033 Farmland Use In 2001, land in crops accounted for 31.94% of tal farmland use in County, while pasture land accounted for 13.28% of land use. The remaining farmland accounted for 54.78% of the tal county s farmland and includes such uses as summer fallow and Christmas tree production etc (Table K). Table K: Farmland use in County and Nova Scotia, 2001 Land Use Land in crops (excluding Christmas tree area) County Nova Scotia # of % of tal # of % of tal 41,468 31.9% 294,596 29.3% Tame or seeded pasture 8,750 6.7% 56,520 5.6% Natural land for pasture 8,490 6.5% 81,215 8.1% All other land (including summer fallow and Christmas tree area) 71,120 54.8% 573,502 57.0% Total 129,828 100.00% 1,005,833 100.00% Farm Size In 2001, the average farm size in County was 287 which is higher than the provincial average of 256 (Table L). Subdivision A and C had average farm sizes above the provincial average at 311 while Subdivision B had an average farm size below the provincial average of 245. Table L: Total Acres and Average Farm Size in County and Nova Scotia, 2001 Total Farms Total Acres Average farm size () Nova Scotia 3,923 1,005,833 256 County 452 129,828 287, Subd. A 105 32,675 311, Subd. B 163 39,915 245, Subd. C 184 57,238 311-9 -
In 2001, approximately 45% of all farms in county were less than 70 in size while close 25% of all farms were 400 or larger. The single largest farm size category in County was 240-399, which accounted for 18% of farms in the county (Table M). The farm size pattern in County is relatively consistent that of the province on a whole. Table M: Total Farms by Farm Size Category for County and Nova Scotia, 2001 Total Farms Under 10 10 69 70 129 130 179 180 239 240 399 400 559 560 & over Nova Scotia 3,923 352 816 629 364 380 620 345 417 County 452 20 78 72 45 45 83 41 68, Subd. A 105 1 26 19 13 7 17 6 16, Subd. B 163 8 27 30 17 23 29 9 20, Subd. C 184 11 25 23 15 15 37 26 32-10 -
APPENDIX A: Map of County Source: Service Nova Scotia & Municipal Relations - 1 -