Vital Signs Data
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices.
As of August 2024, three PEC farmers have secured permanent land protection of 515 acres through Ontario Farmland Trust, with three more applications to be completed in 2024 (455 acres).
Between 2006 and 2021, PEC's farmland decreased by 34,706 acres (-23.8%), and cropland acreage decreased by 13,239 acres (-14%). Cropland — or “land in crops” as termed by Statistics Canada — refers to the usual field crops, as well as fruit and vegetable plantations and sod and nursery products. It does not include hay, pasture, silage crops, Christmas trees, woodlots or any other unproductive areas.
In PEC, the average age of farmers is 58.4 … but 63% of PEC farms do NOT have succession plans. (Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture, 2021) Will this farmland remain in use for agriculture?
Between 2006 and 2021, farmland prices in PEC surged by 257%, rising from an average of $2,450 to $8,747 per acre of farmland and buildings. (Ontario data catalogue) This dramatic increase poses significant challenges for new generations seeking to enter the agricultural sector.
Agriculture sector | PEC 2006 | PEC 2011 | PEC 2016 | PEC 2021 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Total land area (acres) | 145,610 | 130,771 | 125,948 | 110,904 |
Land in crops (acres) | 92,451 | 86,317 | 86,027 | 79,212 |
Number of farms | 520 | 477 | 432 | 375 |
Average age of farm operators | 51.7 | 54.8 | 56.4 | 58.4 |
Farms reporting a written succession plan | -- | -- | 34 | 44 |
The County Foundation hosted a farmland trust information session in March 2023. Ontario Farmland Trust can also work with private landowners to protect properties if they are purely environmental, or use their networks with the Nature Conservancy of Canada to engage in the protection of these properties. (see the recorded presentation to the right)
The popularity of PEC is generating more interest and pressure from developers. The updated Official Plan, beginning July 8, 2021, includes a number of key policies aimed at building strong communities, protecting natural heritage systems, protecting agricultural resources, and protecting human health and safety when considering development in the County.