Statistical Profile of Pictou County

Prepared by the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture

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Contents 1.0 Introduction ...... 2 Agriculture in the Local Economy ...... 2 2.0 Population and Population Change ...... 3 3.0 Economic Profile ...... 4 4.0 Agricultural Profile of Pictou County ...... 5 4.1 Number of Farms ...... 5 4.2 Farm Revenue ...... 7 4.3 Farm Expenses ...... 10 4.4 Land Use ...... 12 4.5 Farm Size ...... 13 Bibliography ...... 15 Appendix ...... 16

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1.0 Introduction

Agriculture in the Local Economy

Pictou County is home to a variety of farm production activities from fruit and tree nut farming to animal production. This agricultural diversity and innovation is important to economic development in Pictou County. In 2010, Pictou County farms reported a total of approximately $19.7 million in farm receipts which accounted for 3.31% of all receipts reported in Nova Scotia. In the same year, farms in Pictou County reported a total business operating expense of approximately $16.1 million. Thus, agriculture in Pictou produced a surplus of $3.6 million.

In regard to employment, health care, trade, manufacturing, and education are the dominant industries in the Northern region. Although employment in agriculture in Pictou is lower than in other industries, agriculture remains a significant sector to the local economy. The emerging industry of agri- tourism benefits the local economy and promotes local agriculture. Agri-tourism projects in Pictou County include farmers’ markets, u-picks, farm accommodations, and the annual exhibition.

Despite a slight decline in the number of acres used for farming purposes, the overall number of farms has increased since 2006. Indeed, Pictou County ranks fifth among all counties in regard to its use of arable land (“Pictou County,” para. 3). With 13% of arable land being used for agricultural production, Pictou meets the provincial average of 13% (“Pictou County,” para. 3). It is clear that agriculture remains a vital industry to the economy in Pictou and will continue to play its role in the future of Nova Scotia’s economy.

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2.0 Population and Population Change

Between the years 2006 and 2011, Pictou County experienced a total population decline of 1.9% or a total of 870 people. Table 1 demonstrates that, for the most part, Pictou experienced a decline in population across all census subdivisions. The only places to experience population growth were New Glasgow and Fisher’s Grant reserve with increases of 1.1% and 8.9% respectively. Pictou County’s rate of population change (-1.9%) fell below that of Nova Scotia’s (0.9%).

Table 1: Population of Pictou and Census Subdivisions, 2006-2011

Area 2011 2006 % Change Pictou County 45,643 46,513 -1.9 Subdivision A 6,397 6,412 -0.2 Subdivision B 6,014 6,103 -1.5 Subdivision C 8,867 9,038 -1.9 Fisher's Grant (Reserve) 467 429 8.9 New Glasgow (Town) 9,562 9,455 1.1 Pictou (Town) 3,437 3,813 -9.9 Stellarton (Town) 4,485 4,717 -4.9 Trenton (Town) 2,616 2,741 -4.6 Westville (Town) 3,798 3,805 -0.2 Note: Adapted from Statistics Canada, 2011.

The population of Pictou County is predominately concentrated in population centres. Since 2006, both rural regions and population centres experienced population declines of 1.1% and 2.6% respectively.

Table 2: Pictou County, Rural and Population Centres1, 2006-2011

2011 2006

Population % of Total Population % of Total

Rural 21,745 47.6 21,982 47.3

Population Centre 23,898 52.4 24,531 52.7

Total 45,643 100 46,513 100 Note: Adapted from Statistics Canada, 2011.

1 Population centre refers to an area of at least 1,000 and no fewer than 400 persons per square kilometer. Beginning in 2011, the term ‘population centre’ replaces the term ‘urban area’ from previous censuses. 4

3.0 Economic Profile

In 2013, the Northern region (including Colchester, Cumberland, Pictou, Guysborough, and Antigonish)2 represented approximately 26% of the agricultural industry in Nova Scotia. Although, an estimate for Pictou County is not specifically given, the data indicates that its geographic region is a significant component to the agricultural industry in Nova Scotia.

In comparison to the other industries in the Northern region, agriculture accounted for approximately 2.03% of all jobs in the region, which is higher than the provincial average of 1.17%. The industries with the highest employment in the Northern region were trade, health care and social assistance, manufacturing and educational services.

Table 3: Northern Region, Total Employment by Industry, 2013

Nova % of Nova Scotia's % of Northern Region's Industry Scotia Total Employment Northern Total Employment Total employed, all industries 453,800 100 68,800 100 Agriculture 5,300 1.17 1,400 2.03 Forestry, fishing, mining, etc. 11,200 2.47 2,100 3.05 Utilities 4,600 1.01 600 0.87 Construction 33,500 7.38 4,900 7.12 Manufacturing 30,600 6.74 7,200 10.47 Trade 73,000 16.09 13,000 18.9 Transportation and warehousing 19,600 4.32 3,600 5.23 Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing 22,100 4.87 2,000 2.91 Professional, scientific and technical services 27,800 6.13 2,100 3.05 Business, building and other support services 23,500 5.18 2,500 3.63 Educational services 36,700 8.09 5,400 7.85 Health care and social assistance 69,400 15.29 11,400 16.57 Information, culture and recreation 19,300 4.25 2,100 3.05 Accommodation and food services 29,000 6.39 4,400 6.4 Other services 18,600 4.1 2,800 4.07 Public administration 29,400 6.48 3,200 4.65 Note: Adapted from Statistics Canada, 2013.

2 The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) divides Nova Scotia into 5 geographical regions. The Northern region includes Colchester, Cumberland, Pictou, Guysborough, and Antigonish counties. According to the Labour Force Survey Estimates (LFS), some areas are too small to enable production of independent estimates from the survey. Thus, smaller regions with similar economic characteristics are grouped together. 5

Figure 1 displays a clear comparison of the percentages of total employed by each industry in Nova Scotia and the Northern region.

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16 14 12 10 8 6

4 %of Total Employed 2 Nova Scotia 0 Northern Region

Industry

Figure 1: % of Total Employed by Industry: Northern Region vs. Nova Scotia, 2013.

Note: Adapted from Statistics Canada, 2013.

4.0 Agricultural Profile of Pictou County

4.1 Number of Farms

From 2006 to 2011, the total number of farms in Pictou County had increased by four. Table 4 indicates that the predominant farm types in Pictou County were fruit and tree nut (25.3%), other crop farming (22.4%), and cattle ranching (19.5%). Although ranching cattle remains a dominant farm activity in Pictou, it had dramatically decreased since 2006 from 88 to 54 farms (-38.64%). On the other hand, other animal production; sheep and goat; vegetable and melon; fruit and tree nut; and other crop farming had all increased since 2006. All other types of farm production have either decreased or remained the same. 6

Table 4: Pictou County, Total Number of Farms by Farm Type, 2006-2011

Farm Type 2011 2006 % Change # of Farms % of Total # of Farms % of Total Cattle ranching and farming 54 19.5 88 32.2 -38.64 Hog and pig farming 1 0.4 0 0 0 Poultry and egg production 3 1.1 0 0 0 Sheep and goat farming 15 5.4 13 4.8 15.38 Other animal production 39 14.1 28 10.3 39.29 Oilseed and grain farming 4 1.4 0 0 0 Vegetable and melon farming 9 3.2 9 3.3 11.11 Fruit and tree nut farming 70 25.3 60 21.9 16.67 Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production 20 7.2 24 8.8 -16.67 Other crop farming 62 22.4 51 18.7 21.57 Total farms 277 100 273 100 1.47 Note: Retrieved from Statistics Canada, 2011.

It is evident that the percentage of other crop farming (22.4%) in Pictou County was significantly higher than that of the provincial percentage of 17%. The percentage of greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production in Pictou County fell below that of the provincial average by 6.9%.

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25 20 15 10

5 %of Total Farms 0 Pictou Nova Scotia

Farm Type

Figure 2: % of Total Farms by Farm Type: Pictou County vs. Nova Scotia, 2011

Note: Adapted from Statistics Canada, 2011.

Table 5 demonstrates that Pictou’s Subdivision A had the highest percentage of farms in the county (46.57%) while Subdivision B had the lowest percentage of farms (23.47%). 7

Table 5: Total Number of Farms by Farm Type by Census Subdivision, 20113

Pictou Pictou Pictou Pictou Farm Type County Subd. A Subd. B Subd. C Cattle ranching and farming 54 32 8 14

Hog and pig farming 1 1 0 0

Poultry and egg production 3 2 1 0

Sheep and goat farming 15 10 2 3

Other animal production 39 20 11 8

Oilseed and grain farming 4 2 1 1

Vegetable and melon farming 9 5 1 3 Fruit and tree nut farming 70 20 16 34 Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production 20 8 6 6 Other crop farming 62 29 19 14

Total farms 277 129 65 83 Note: Retrieved from Statistics Canada, 2011.

4.2 Farm Revenue

Farms in Pictou County reported approximately $19.7 million in farm receipts in 2010 which had increased from approximately $18.8 million in 2006. Although Pictou County’s revenue increased, its percentage of Nova Scotia’s total farm receipts declined. In 2006, Pictou County’s revenue formed 3.68% of Nova Scotia’s total revenue. Meanwhile in 2010, Pictou County’s revenue constituted 3.31% of Nova Scotia’s total revenue.

Table 6: Total Farm Receipts for Pictou County and Nova Scotia, 2006-2010

2010 2006 % Change Nova Scotia $ 594,903,481.00 $ 509,520,691.00 16.76 Pictou County $ 19,678,909.00 $ 18,752,416.00 4.94 % of Nova Scotia's receipts 3.31 3.68 Note: Adapted from Statistics Canada, 2011.

According to census subdivisions, Subdivisions A and C reported approximately 45% of Pictou County’s total farm receipts. However, Subdivision C had the highest receipts per farm with an approximate average of $107,000. Subdivisions A and B had receipts per farm lower than the County’s

3 According to Statistics Canada, a census subdivision is an area that is a municipality or an area that is deemed to be equivalent to a municipality for statistical reporting purposes. 8

average of approximately $71,000. There were no subdivisions that reported average receipts per farm higher than the provincial average receipts per farm of $152,344.

Table 7: Total Farm Receipts by Census Subdivision for Pictou County, 2010

Total Farms Total Farm Receipts % of County Total Receipts per Farm

Pictou County 277 $ 19,678,909.00 100 $ 71,042.99

Pictou Subd. A 129 $ 8,897,978.00 45.22 $ 68,976.57

Pictou Subd. B 65 $ 1,885,696.00 9.58 $ 29,010.71

Pictou Subd. C 83 $ 8,895,235.00 45.2 $ 107,171.51 Note: Adapted from Statistics Canada, 2011.

In 2010, 81.24% of farms in Pictou County reported receipts of an amount less than $50,000. Farm receipts under $10,000 appeared to be the most popular category with 133 farms reporting receipts of this amount. These reports constituted 48.01% of the total farm receipts for Pictou County.

Table 8: Total Number of Farms in Pictou County by Farm Receipts, 2006-2010

Farm Receipts Category 2010 2006 # of Farms % of Total # of Farms % of Total Under $10,000 133 48.01 94 34.43 $10,000 to $24,999 53 19.14 73 26.74 $25,000 to $49,999 39 14.09 46 16.85 $50,000 to $99,999 12 4.33 23 8.42 $100,000 to $249,999 23 8.3 18 6.59 $250,000 to $499,999 9 3.25 9 3.3 $500,000 to $999,999 3 1.08 9 3.3 $1,000,000 to $1,999,999 4 1.44 1 0.37 $2,000,000 and over 1 0.36 0 0 Total Farms 277 100 273 100 Note: Adapted from Statistics Canada, 2011.

Figure 3 demonstrates that the percentage of farm receipts for Pictou and Nova Scotia were similarly distributed across all categories. 9

60 50 40 30 20 10 Nova Scotia %of Total Farm Receipts 0 Pictou County

Farm Receipts Category

Figure 3: % of Total Farms by Farm Receipts Category: Pictou County vs. Nova Scotia, 2010

Note: Adapted from Statistics Canada, 2011.

Table 9 displays the reports for each farm receipts category according to each census subdivision. In each subdivision, more farms reported receipts under $10,000.

Table 9: Total Number of Farm by Total Farm Receipts Category by Census Subdivision, 2010

Nova Pictou Pictou Pictou Pictou Farm Receipts Category Scotia County Subd. A Subd. B Subd. C Under $10,000 1,643 133 59 33 41 $10,000 to $24,999 799 53 22 14 17 $25,000 to $49,999 418 39 20 9 10 $50,000 to $99,999 273 12 8 3 1 $100,000 to $249,999 277 23 10 5 8 $250,000 to $499,999 199 9 7 1 1 $500,000 to $999,999 154 3 1 0 2 $1,000,000 to $1,999,999 92 4 2 0 2 $2,000,000 and over 50 1 0 0 1

Total Farms 3,905 277 129 65 83 Note: Retrieved from Statistics Canada, 2011. 10

4.3 Farm Expenses

In 2010, the total farm business operating expense for Pictou County was $16,091,587. In Pictou, the average business operating expense per farm was approximately $58,000 which was lower than the provincial average of approximately $128,000. It is evident that the greatest expenses for farms were total wages and salaries ($2,731,735), other expenses excluding depreciation and capital cost allowance ($2,589,057), and total feed, supplements and hay purchases ($2,458,421). Interest expenses in Pictou County were about 10.76% of total farm expenses while the provincial average was 5.2%. 11

Table 10: Farm Business Operating Expenses for Pictou County and Nova Scotia, 2010

Nova Scotia Pictou County

Farms Farms Reporting Amount ($) Reporting Amount ($) Fertilizer and lime purchases 1,957 $ 13,201,434.00 120 $ 606,420.00 Purchases of herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, etc. 1,459 $ 11,734,327.00 87 $ 509,960.00 Seed and plant purchases (excluding materials purchased for resale) 1,286 $ 10,952,683.00 85 $ 329,140.00 Total feed, supplements and hay purchases 1,825 $ 108,870,856.00 135 $ 2,458,421.00 Livestock and poultry purchases 1,067 $ 30,507,684.00 76 $ 389,101.00 Veterinary services, drugs, semen, breeding fees, etc. 1,517 $ 8,710,636.00 111 $ 386,942.00 Custom work, contract work and hired trucking 1,665 $ 28,483,557.00 98 $ 582,355.00 Total wages and salaries 1,521 $ 101,190,562.00 90 $ 2,731,735.00 All fuel expenses (diesel, gas, etc.) 3,644 $ 26,035,222.00 261 $ 1,150,410.00 Repairs and maintenance to farm machinery, equipment and vehicles 3,344 $ 22,441,124.00 241 $ 1,100,914.00 Repairs and maintenance to farm buildings and fences 2,301 $ 10,367,519.00 177 $ 598,424.00 Rental and leasing of land and buildings 581 $ 4,145,716.00 31 $ 89,054.00 Rental and leasing of farm machinery, equipment and vehicles 515 $ 5,818,991.00 36 $ 225,691.00 Electricity, telephone and all other telecommunication services 2,898 $ 11,790,016.00 197 $ 612,757.00 Farm interest expenses 1,579 $ 26,107,223.00 98 $ 1,731,206.00 All other expenses (excluding depreciation and capital cost allowance) 3,352 $ 80,190,026.00 233 $ 2,589,057.00 Total farm business operating expenses 3,905 $ 500,547,576.00 277 $ 16,091,587.00 Note: Retrieved from Statistics Canada, 2011.

In 2006, Pictou County farms reported a total of $15,906,044 in farm business expenses with an average expense per farm of approximately $58,200. On the other hand, in 2010, farms reported an amount of $16,091,587 with an average expense per farm of approximately $58,000. Therefore, farms in Pictou County decreased their average operating expense by approximately $170 in four years. 12

Table 11: Total Farm Business Operating Expenses Pictou County, 2006-2010

Total Farm Business Farms Average Operating Operating Expenses Reporting Amount ($) Expense per Farm

2010 277 $ 16,091,587.00 $ 58,092.37

2006 273 $ 15,906,044.00 $ 58,263.90 Note: Adapted from Statistics Canada, 2011.

4.4 Land Use

In 2011, area in Christmas trees, woodlands and wetlands accounted for most of the land use in Pictou County (50.06%). Furthermore, land in crops made up 28.91% of the land use in Pictou County. Summer fallow, tame of seeded pasture, natural land for pasture, and other land composed the remaining farmland (21.03%).

In comparison to provincial land use, Pictou County had a higher percentage in terms of land in crops, tame of seeded pasture, and natural land for pasture.

Table 12: Land Use for Pictou County and Nova Scotia, 2011

Land Use Pictou County Nova Scotia

# of Acres % of Total # of Acres % of Total Land in Crops (excluding Christmas tree area) 20,413 28.91 280,889 27.59

Summer Fallow N/A 1,145 0.11

Tame of Seeded Pasture 5,275 7.47 52,271 5.13

Natural Land for Pasture 4,974 7.05 62,142 6.11 Area in Christmas trees, Woodlands and Wetlands 35,341 50.06 559,664 54.97

All Other Land N/A 61,964 6.09

Total 70,601 93.49 1,018,075 100 Note: Adapted from Statistics Canada, 2011.

The number of acres used for farming purposes had decreased since 2006 from 74,137 acres to 70,601 acres. Since 2006, there had been an increase in the percentage of total land used for tame of seeded pasture, Christmas trees, woodlands, and wetlands. 13

Table 13: Land Use in Pictou County, 2006-2011

Land Use in Pictou County 2011 2006 # of Acres % of Total # of Acres % of Total Land in Crops (excluding Christmas tree area) 20,413 28.91 22,386 30.2 Summer Fallow N/A 81 0.11 Tame of Seeded Pasture 5,275 7.47 5,334 7.19

Natural Land for Pasture 4,974 7.05 6,841 9.23 Area in Christmas trees, Woodlands and Wetlands 35,341 50.06 34,594 46.66 All Other Land N/A 4,901 6.61 Total 70,601 93.49 74,137 100 Note: Adapted from Statistics Canada, 2011.

4.5 Farm Size

In 2011, the average farm size in Pictou County was approximately 254 acres which was lower than the provincial average of approximately 260 acres. Subdivisions A and B had average farm sizes larger than the provincial average.

Table 14: Total Acres and Average Farm Size in Pictou County and Nova Scotia, 2011

Average Farm Total Farms Total Acres Size (acres)

Nova Scotia 3,905 1,018,075 260.71

Pictou County 277 70,601 254.88

Pictou Subd. A 129 29,123 225.76

Pictou Subd. B 65 17,731 272.78

Pictou Subd. C 83 23,747 286.11 Note: Adapted from Statistics Canada, 2011.

In Pictou County, approximately 42% of reporting farms owned less than 129 acres. Indeed, the most common acreage size in Pictou was between 70 to 129 acres (54 farms reported). In total, the farms with these acreage sizes accounted for almost 19% of Pictou County farms. 14

Table 15: Total Farms by Farm Size Category for Pictou County and Nova Scotia

Total Under 10-69 70-129 130-179 180-239 240-399 400-559 560-759 760 acres Farms 10 acres acres acres acres acres acres acres acres and over Nova Scotia 3905 406 907 637 317 343 574 302 192 227 Pictou County 277 15 48 54 31 30 50 21 14 14 Pictou Subd. A 129 6 23 27 12 14 28 9 7 3 Pictou Subd. B 65 5 11 8 9 6 10 7 4 5 Pictou Subd. C 83 4 14 19 10 10 12 5 3 6 Note: Retrieved from Statistics Canada, 2011.

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Bibliography

(2013). Pictou County: Profile of Agricultural Land Resources. Retrieved from http://novascotia.ca/agri/documents/business-research/AL1010%20Pictou.pdf

(2010). The Cape to Cape Trail. Retrieved from http://www.capetocapetrail.ca/trails.aspx?gid=4

Statistics Canada. (2011). Farm and farm operator data [Table]. Retrieved from http://www29.statcan.gc.ca/ceag-web/eng/index- index;jsessionid=D68BABE4379BC41D58B112C4B2FAFFB8

Statistics Canada. (2013). Labour force survey estimates [Table 282-0061]. Retrieved from http://www5.statcan.gc.ca/cansim/a47

Statistics Canada. (2011). Population and dwelling counts [Table]. Retrieved from http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table- Tableau.cfm?LANG=Eng&T=304&PR=12&S=51&O=A&RPP=10

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Appendix Map of Pictou County

Note: Retrieved from Cape to Cape Trail, 2010.