BC farm input costs are increasing on par with the average for Western Canada, Statistics Canada reported this week.
The agency reported that BC farm input costs increased 4.1% in the first quarter versus the same period a year ago. The average for Western Canada was 4%, while the increase nationally averaged 3.2%.
The biggest gains were in fertilizer, which increased 13.7%. Grain feed costs increased 6.5% in the quarter while general business costs increased 6.2%
The biggest savings occurred on machinery fuel, with costs down 7.4% in the quarter versus a year earlier.
Softer livestock prices meant hogs and cattle were 10.4% and 8.9% cheaper than a year ago.
Greater costs, including depreciation, handed BC growers a loss of $11.3 million last year. This was the first loss since 2014, which capped a nine-year run of losses that began in 2006.
Total farm revenue in the province last year approach $3.5 billion.
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