Agriculture in the Central Ontario Zone

Agriculture is the most significant land use in the Central Ontario Zone. Of the approximately 9.2 million acres that make up the Central Ontario Zone, 4.1 million acres or 44.2% was classified as farmland by Statistics Canada in 2001. If the County of Haliburton, which contains very little agricultural land, is excluded, more than half of the zone is farmland. In the area outside the four regions of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), 55.2% of the land is farmed; 42% of the land in the GTA (excluding the City of Toronto) is farmed.

Table 1 presents a breakdown of the percentage of land farmed in each of the individual regions or counties in the zone during the period from 1986 to 2001.

Table 1: Percentage of Land Farmed in Acres Against the Total County/District Acreage for 1986 to 2001
Counties & Districts

Total County/

District

Area Farmed

in

acres

% of

Land Farmed in acres

Area Farmed in

acres

% of

Land Farmed in acres

Area Farmed

in

acres

% of

Land Farmed in acres

Area Farmed

in

acres

% of

Land Farmed in acres

Acreage 1986 1986 1991 1991 1996 1996 2001 2001
Brant 226,494 158,945 70.20% 166,626 73.60% 177,287 78.30% 158,693 70.10%
Haldimand 698,265 522,205 74.80% 500,855 71.70% 530,464 76.00% 515,099 73.80%
Hamilton 277,084 145,083 52.40% 138,382 49.90% 147,980 53.40% 138,879 50.10%
Niagara 444,349 236,942 53.30% 215,939 48.60% 229,832 51.70% 232,817 52.40%
Dufferin 368,221 213,403 58.00% 190,961 51.90% 222,183 60.30% 193,162 52.50%
Halton 242,908 118,805 48.90% 115,036 47.40% 109,187 44.90% 98,758 40.70%
Peel 311,962 129,476 41.50% 115,352 37.00% 120,026 38.50% 104,433 33.50%
Simcoe 1,186,064 550,073 46.40% 506,424 42.70% 550,393 46.40% 540,870 45.60%
Waterloo 331,777 237,954 71.70% 229,467 69.20% 234,406 70.70% 225,800 68.10%
Wellington 657,106 472,085 71.80% 468,993 71.40% 484,516 73.70% 471,389 71.70%
Durham 598,428 358,168 59.90% 337,222 56.40% 336,857 56.30% 330,286 55.20%
Haliburton 1,117,573 17,873 1.60% 16,674 1.50% 16,145 1.40% 13,976 1.30%
Kawartha Lakes 757,821 371,511 49.00% 353,778 46.70% 378,692 50.00% 360,690 47.60%
Northumberland 517,235 298,342 57.70% 292,600 56.60% 274,809 53.10% 253,665 49.00%
Peterborough 974,193 272,634 28.00% 270,782 27.80% 261,673 26.90% 258,642 26.50%
York 424,682 210,604 49.60% 190,274 44.80% 193,686 45.60% 175,965 41.40%
CENTRAL ZONE TOTAL 9,134,162 4,314,103 47.20% 4,109,365 45.00% 4,268,136 46.70% 4,073,124 44.60%
Notes:
* All Haldimand County statistics include Norfolk County.
* Statistics Canada has amalgamated Toronto farms into the York Region statistics for confidentiality reasons.
Source: Agricultural Statistics for Ontario 1986, 1991, 1996.

The number of farms in Ontario has dropped sharply over time. Table 2 confirms a decrease of 25% in the number of farms between 1986 and 2001. However, this statistic by itself is misleading. If the number of acres of farmland is considered, rather than the number of farms, the decrease in the area being farmed is only about 6%. This is the result of the trend toward amalgamation of farm operations.

Table 2: Rate of Change in Number of Farms, Area Farmed, and Gross Farm Receipts for 1986 to 2001.

Counties

&

Districts

Number of Farms

Rate of

Change

Area Farmed in Acres (ac)

Rate of

Change

Gross Farm Receipts ($'000)

Rate of

Change

1986 1991 1996 2001 1991-2001 1986 1991 1996 2001 1991-2001 1986 1991 1996 2001 1991-2001
Brant 988 1,010 984 817 -23.60% 158,945 166,626 177,287 158,693 -5.00% 90,946 116,154 146,952 144,282 19.50%
Haldimand 3,300 3,066 2,985 2,602 -17.80% 522,205 500,855 530,464 515,099 2.80% 316,033 378,276 453,102 541,431 30.10%
Hamilton 1,393 1,225 1,228 1,026 -19.40% 145,083 138,382 147,980 138,879 0.40% 110,032 158,733 181,942 222,342 28.60%
Niagara 3,147 2,706 2,672 2,266 -19.40% 236,942 215,939 229,832 232,817 7.20% 257,141 318,968 408,323 511,395 37.60%
Dufferin 1,079 1,023 1,039 898 -13.90% 213,403 190,961 222,183 193,162 1.10% 61,549 65,383 79,733 78,423 16.60%
Halton 834 744 720 619 -20.20% 118,805 115,036 109,187 98,758 -16.50% 86,046 129,432 129,314 141,473 8.50%
Peel 824 711 689 522 -36.20% 129,476 115,352 120,026 104,433 -10.50% 55,332 75,630 77,086 116,537 35.10%
Simcoe 3,007 2,709 2,773 2,463 -10.00% 550,073 506,424 550,393 540,870 6.40% 194,996 266,464 264,885 293,933 9.30%
Waterloo 1,642 1,618 1,590 1,444 -12.00% 237,954 229,467 234,406 225,800 -1.60% 223,904 257,866 301,385 379,602 32.10%
Wellington 2,851 2,849 2,810 2,616 -8.90% 472,085 468,993 484,516 471,389 0.50% 251,007 320,100 373,124 433,776 26.20%
Durham 2,218 2,090 2,001 1,709 -22.30% 358,168 337,222 336,857 330,286 -2.10% 163,828 192,886 208,169 233,891 17.50%
Haliburton 89 96 87 69 -39.10% 17,873 16,674 16,145 13,976 -19.30% 421 1,242 773 729 -70.40%

Kawartha

Lakes

1,726 1,668 1,710 1,516 -10.00% 371,511 353,778 378,692 360,690 1.90% 67,931 74,408 79,848 86,119 13.60%
Northumberland 1,555 1,514 1,366 1,104 -37.10% 298,342 292,600 274,809 253,665 -15.30% 83,217 114,901 121,646 123,299 6.80%
Peterborough 1,400 1,430 1,369 1,202 -19.00% 272,634 270,782 261,673 258,642 -4.70% 51,856 66,960 66,832 69,576 3.80%
York 1,391 1,210 1,211 1,020 -18.60% 210,604 190,274 193,686 175,965 -8.10% 135,115 152,347 170,403 178,963 14.90%
TOTAL 27,444 25,669 25,234 21,893 -17.20% 4,314,103 4,109,365 4,268,136 4,073,124 -0.90% 2,149,354 2,689,750 3,063,517 3,555,771 24.40%

# Farms Area (acres) GFR
86-01 Change -5,551 -240,979 $1,406,417
86-01% Change -25.4% - 5.90% 39.60%
Notes:
* All Haldimand County statistics include Norfolk County.
* Statistics Canada amalgamates Toronto farms into the York Region statistics for confidentiality reasons.
Source: Agricultural Statistics for Ontario 1986, 1991, 1996.

In areas experiencing more intense growth pressure, the decrease in farmland acres is more significant.2 There is a correlation between proximity to Toronto and decrease in acres farmed. The greatest loss of farmland has occurred in the GTA. Between 1991 and 2001, 34,639 acres of farmland went out of production in York, 25,043 acres went out of production in Peel, 20,047 acres went out of production in Halton, and 27,882 acres went out of production in Durham. A total of 107,611 acres was taken out of agricultural production in the GTA in 15 years. The rate of change for the study area between 1986 and 2001 is shown in Table 2.

The proportion of land under production that is rented rather than owned is often an indicator of the stability of the industry. In 1986, 68.8% of the 4.3 million acres being farmed in the region was owned; 31.2 % was rented. In 2001, 61.6% of the 4.1 million acres of farmland was owned and 38.4% was rented. Table 3 lists the amount of owned vs. rented land by region and the percentage change that has occurred since 1986. What is notable, is the rate of change in the ratios of rented to owned land in various parts of the region. Again there is a correlation between proximity to urban areas and a higher percentage of rented land.

A review of gross farm receipts presents a different picture of the state of the industry. In 1986, the 27,444 farms in the zone generated more than $2.1 billion in gross farm receipts. In 2001, the 21,893 farms generated more than $3.5 billion in gross farm receipts. Since 1996, the value of gross farm receipts in the zone has increased by 24.4 %. This seems to confirm that farmers are more productive and better off today than they were 15 years ago. However, the costs of production and inflation must be considered when reviewing these statistics. After adjusting the values to the 2001 value, the increase in value in real dollars between 1991 and 2001 is approximately 8.9 %. The relative increase is less marked, but it remains true that fewer farmers are producing more, on a smaller land base.

Although agriculture is not a major employer, it does represent a significant work force. In the four regions of the GTA, for example, in 1996, agriculture accounted for 15,000 direct jobs and 35,000 agriculturally related jobs.3 The food produced by the farms in the zone supports a huge industry of food processors that serves both domestic and international markets. In 2001, Ontario exported more than $7 billion of agri-food products and the agri-food industry employed more than 600,000 people.

Between 1991 and 1996 there was a decline of 6% in the number of jobs in agriculture and in agricultural services. A combination of factors could account for this: the recession that affected agriculture in the early 1990s, the decline in the number of farms as they amalgamated or underwent a change in land use, and the aging of the farmer population.

This summary of the status of agriculture in the zone is cursory. To truly understand the trends affecting agriculture, a detailed analysis of all components of the industry is required. However, it is sufficient to confirm that agriculture is a major industry in the Central Ontario Zone. It is the largest user of land in the zone, and in most of the regions and counties, it occupies the majority of the land base. It generates huge revenues and employs a significant number of people directly and indirectly. It provides fresh, high-quality food to the growing number of residents in the area. The level of productivity continues to rise while the land base continues to erode. Successfully managing this industry will be a critical challenge for Smart Growth.

Table 3: Farm Land Area Classified by Tenure, by Counties & District for 1986 to 2001.

Counties &

Districts

Total County

/ District

Farmland Owned (acres)

Rate

of Change

Farmland Rented (acres)

Rate

of Change

Acreage 1986 1991 1996 2001 1986-2001 1986 1991 1996 2001 1986-2001
Brant 226,494 112,235 113,771 113,459 99,802 -12.50% 46,710 52,855 63,828 58,891 20.70%
Haldimand 698,265 365,625 350,822 346,192 337,032 -8.50% 156,580 150,033 184,272 178,067 12.10%
Hamilton 277,084 93,484 87,180 84,847 79,399 -17.70% 51,599 51,202 63,133 59,480 13.20%
Niagara 444,349 165,453 150,702 147,355 141,716 -16.70% 71,489 65,237 82,477 91,101 21.50%
Dufferin 368,221 145,233 125,920 141,441 107,851 -34.70% 68,170 65,041 80,742 85,311 20.10%
Halton 242,908 59,635 52,974 48,987 45,823 -30.10% 59,170 62,062 60,200 52,935 -11.80%
Peel 311,962 65,157 55,985 56,304 48,069 -35.50% 64,319 59,367 63,722 56,364 -14.10%
Simcoe 1,186,064 376,765 330,934 337,978 319,179 -18.00% 173,308 175,490 212,415 221,691 21.80%
Waterloo 331,777 167,625 159,081 161,305 154,890 -8.20% 70,329 70,386 73,101 70,910 0.80%
Wellington 657,106 349,936 344,604 330,908 325,163 -7.60% 122,149 124,389 153,608 146,226 16.50%
Durham 598,428 238,412 228,606 212,064 207,446 -14.90% 119,756 108,616 124,793 122,840 2.50%
Haliburton 1,117,573 14,498 13,318 13,738 11,807 -22.80% 3,375 3,356 2,407 2,169 -55.60%
Kawartha Lakes 757,821 277,399 261,050 255,620 237,333 -16.90% 94,112 92,728 123,072 123,357 23.70%
Northumberland 517,235 220,837 205,166 188,287 168,903 -30.70% 77,505 87,434 86,522 84,762 8.60%
Peterborough 974,193 210,922 206,829 190,685 175,276 -20.30% 61,712 63,953 70,988 83,366 26.00%
York 424,682 106,098 91,847 86,173 75,136 -41.20% 104,506 98,427 107,513 100,829 -3.60%
CENTRAL ZONE TOTAL 9,134,162 2,969,314 2,778,789 2,715,343 2,534,825 17.10% 1,344,789 1,330,576 1,552,793 1,538,299 12.60%
* All Haldimand County statistics include Norfolk County.
* Statistics Canada amalgamates Toronto farms into the York Region statistics for confidentiality reasons.
Source: Agricultural Statistics for Ontario 1986, 1991, 1996.
Notes
2. Statistics Canada changed the definition of farmland several times between 1986 and 2001, making absolute comparisons impossible. Trends should be reviewed, rather than absolute numbers.
3. Greater Toronto Area, Agricultural Economic Impact Study, p. 4.14.