Smoky Lake County CONNECTED TO GLOBAL MARKETS Smoky Lake County has a very strong agriculture sector and offers opportunities for investment in value - added Agriculture activity as well as a climate for specialized crops like Quinoa and Faba beans. The area benefits from a variety of agricultural resources including low cost grazing lands to the north, good quality flat crop lands to the west, a climate suitable for most crops, ready access to processing facilities, and a large domestic market in Edmonton with a population of over 1 million. Lower operating costs allows for a greater return on investment. The Smoky Lake region has seen incredible growth with gross farm cash receipts increasing 25% since 2011. hitting over $91 million in 2016. The Agriculture sector is supported by businesses located in the Town of Smoky Lake and the villages of Vilna and Waskatenau. The Providence Grain Group and Richardson Pioneer are located in Waskatenau. Smoky Lake County has an excellent highway transportation network which includes Hwy 16 an east /west corridor connecting to Edmonton. Hwy 36 is a direct route to U.S. markets to the South. Secondary Hwy 855 a north/south corridor connects to Hwy 16, the northern Trans Canada corridor accessing west coast ports. Air service is available via the Edmonton International Airport, 120 km southwest. Both CN Rail and Red Arrow Bus Lines serve the County. Farming Overview 2011* 2016* % ± Number of Farms 454 419 -7.71% Total Land Area - km2 3,412.92 3,412.92 0.00% Smoky Lake County is ranked #1 in the Land in Crops - acres 205,180 209,995 2.35% Alberta HUB region with total Natural land for pasture - acres 172,126 159,478 -7.35% greenhouse space at over 173,000 sq.ft. Number of Farm Operators 620 565 -8.87% Number of Employees 347 238 -31.41% The County is home to the Smoky Lake Gross Farm Receipts $73,170,574 $91,129,377 24.54% Forest Nursery with 27,000 square *Source: Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture, and community information. Figures are based on number of farms reporting. meters of greenhouse space and over 80 hectares of bareroot field space. Crop Overview 2011* 2016* % ± Canola - acres 60,132 65,327 8.64% Wheat - acres 29,269 38,508 31.57% Livestock Overview 2011* 2016* % ± Barley - acres 22,299 21,149 -5.16% Value of Livestock & Poultry $32,013,765 $83,835,340 161.87% Alfalfa and alfalfa miXtures - acres 58,723 38,680 -34.13% Cattle and Calves # 41,371 39,031 -5.66% All other tame hay and fodder crops - acres 12,151 14,016 15.35% Dairy Cows # n/a n/a Oats - acres 13,240 10,466 -20.95% Beef Cows # n/a n/a Dry field peas - acres 6,406 15,944 148.89% Heifers # 5,631 4,193 -25.54% Fruits, Berries and Nuts - acres 25 n/a Calves # 14,493 14,803 2.14% Lentils - acres 0 501 Steers # 2,484 1,646 -33.74% Total rye - acres n/a 738 Bulls # 891 1,039 16.61% Flaxseed - acres n/a n/a Pigs # n/a 137 Vegetables - acres (excluding greenhouses) 37 n/a Hens and Chickens # 28,203 n/a Total greenhouse area in use - square feet 452,720 173,240 -61.73% Sheep and Lambs # 582 756 29.90% *Source: Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture, and community information. • *Source: Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture, and community information. Figures are based on number of farms reporting." • Figures are based on number of farms reporting." n/a - not available from Statistics Canada Census data • n/a - not available from Statistics Canada Census data The County has experienced a 161% increase in the Value of Livestock & Poultry in five years, with valuations over $83 million in 2016. The Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Statistics and Data Development Section lists the value of agricultural land in the County as $1,697/acre in 2015. Northeast Alberta Information HUB Ltd. | 5015-49 Avenue St. Paul, AB, T0A 3A4 | (780) 645-1155 www.albertahub.com Town of Smoky Lake | 56 Wheatland Ave | Smoky Lake, AB. T0A 3C0 | (780) 656-3674 | http://www.smokylakecounty.ab.ca/ Alberta HUB strives to provide current and accurate information however this information is subject to change. .