Antigonish County Agriculture Snapshot

April 8Adam WileAgricultural Transition Officer1-902-863-2087

Contact info

• Adam Wile

• 1-902-863-2087

• wilean@gov.ns.ca

• I act as an industry liaison and project coordinator with groups looking to support or grow agriculture or agricultural opportunities in the province.

Antigonish CountyFarms 2011 2006

Dairy 34 34

Beef 40 59

Chicken egg 4 2

Chicken broiler 1 3

Horse 9 10

Animal combination 12 8

Fruit and Tree Nut 46 38

Nursery and Tree Production 42 39

Hay 27 20

Antigonish CountyFarms 2011 2006

Total Number235 226

Under 10 acres 15 12

10 to 69 acres 28 25

70 to 129 acres 39 22

130 to 179 acres 17 16

180 to 239 acres 30 27

240 to 399 acres 52 59

400 to 559 acres 29 36

560 to 759 acres 13 11

Antigonish County

• Land in Crops: 19,214 acres

• Area Owned: 59,398 acres

• Crops:– Alfalfa: 5,921 acres– Hay: 9,627 acres– Blueberries: 2,088 acres

• Livestock– Beef: 1,596– Dairy: 2,527– Sheep and Lambs: 1,085

Antigonish County

• Total gross farm receipts 2010– $26,119,156

• Total farm business operating expenses– $21,011,447

• Number of employees: 513

• Total number of farm operators: 290

Antigonish County

• Farmer/operator age– Under 35: 20– 35-54: 120– 55 and older: 160

• Average age: 54.3

Observed Trends

• Increase in women operators

• Increase in small acreage farms

• Increase in value added primary products

• Increase in # farmers markets

• Increased local food movement

Observed Trends

• Decrease in beef farming

• Decrease in Hog farming

• Margins are becoming smaller

• Aging farming population

• Climate Change

Provincial Government Initiatives• Grass Fed Beef

• Biomass initiative

• Select Nova Scotia

• THINKfarm

• Farm Energy

• Many regional initiatives and projects

Regional Staff

• Eastern: – Adam Wile– Kevin Bekkers

• Cape Breton:– Adam Wile– Gary Koziel

• Central:– Michael Kittilsen

THINKfarm

• http://www.gov.ns.ca/agri/thinkfarm/

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