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 …
Stats Canada
Agriculture investment set to surge
Capital spending by BC agribusinesses is set to rise in 2019, according to Statistics Canada. Ottawa expects crop and livestock operations in the province to spend $545.6 million on capital projects this year, up 22% from last year. Preliminary calculations indicate that farmers invested $448.6 million last year. Crop production is the most capital-intensive sector …
Banner year as BC farm sales rise 57%
Sales of farm properties in BC rose 57% in 2018, according to the latest property transfer data from the BC Ministry of Finance. The full-year figures, released at the end of January, show that 1,547 farm properties changed hands in 2018, up from 987 in 2017. Sales activity was steady throughout the year, with between …
Farm assessments decline
The assessed value of farm properties in BC fell 2.6% over the past year, according to the BC Assessment Authority’s summary of the province’s tax roll. BC had a total of 51,000 farm properties worth $1.25 billion on the valuation date of July 1, 2018. Kamloops saw the least decline in values, with the roll …