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The Daily. Friday, June 29, 2001

Farm operators' total income

Farm operators obtained proportionally more income from non-farm sources in 1999 than in 1998, according to analysis of data from personal income tax returns.

The proportion of income from non-farm sources has grown steadily since 1995. In 1999, income from non-farming activities accounted for 58 cents of every dollar in farm operator income, compared with 52 cents in 1995.

Sources of farm operators' income

On average, farm operators' total income remained practically unchanged from 1998 (+0.1%), at $40,009. A 5.4% drop in average net farm operating income (before depreciation) was offset by a 4.5% rise in average off-farm income. Average off-farm income amounted to $23,210 in 1999, about 58% of total income. Average net farm operating income totalled $16,800, or 42% of total income.

The growth in average off-farm income resulted mainly from a 2.6% increase in off-farm employment income, which averaged $14,212, and from an 18.6% rise in other off-farm income. Other off-farm income includes payouts from the Net Income Stabilization Account (NISA) which provides financial assistance to producers by stabilizing their net income.

Farm operators' investment income rose 5.2% in 1999 because of a 21.6% gain in dividend income from taxable Canadian corporations. Average interest income dropped 3.0% as a result of the decline in the Bank Rate.

Wages and salaries were still the most important source of off-farm income in 1999, accounting for 55% of the total. Investment income and pension income represented 16% and 14%, respectively, of total off-farm income.

Farm operators specializing in poultry and egg production again had the highest average total income among all major farm types in 1999. Their income reached $77,721 in 1999, up 0.4% from 1998. Operators who ran hog farms posted the largest percentage gain (+18.5%) in average total income, following a 38.8% decline in 1998.

Average total farm operators' income by type of farm

Average total income for farm operators specializing in grain and oilseed production declined 3.5%. Their average off-farm income stood at $24,891, up 7.1% from 1998.

Average off-farm income grew in every province in 1999. The largest gain occurred in New Brunswick (+9.7%). Average off-farm income ranged from $16,286 in Quebec to $32,446 in British Columbia.

Off-farm income includes employment income (wages and salaries; and net off-farm self-employment income), investment income, pension income and other income (government social transfers, such as social assistance payments and child tax benefits but excluding pensions; Registered Retirement Savings Plan income; and other income such as alimony or maintenance income and NISA payouts). Provincial family allowances are not part of operators' off-farm income.

These estimates refer to the income of farm operators involved in one or more unincorporated or incorporated farms. These estimates encompass unincorporated farms with gross operating revenues of $10,000 or more in 1999, and incorporated farms with total agricultural sales of $25,000 or more in 1999. Estimates for total income of farm families for 1998 were released in The Daily on April 24, 2001.

For custom data requests, contact the Client Services Unit (1-800-465-1991; agriculture@statcan.gc.ca). For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Lina Di Piétro (613-951-3171; fax: 613-951-3868; lina.dipietro@statcan.gc.ca), Agriculture Division.