Fig. 36 Number and Average Size of Alberta Farms, 1961-2011
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture, 1961-2011
Fig. 37 Alberta Farms Classified by Total Farm Area, 1986-2011
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture, 1986-2011
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
1961 1966 1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011
Average Farm Size (Acres)
Number of Farms (Thousands)
Number of Farms
Average Farm Size (Acres)
The number of census farms in Alberta has trended downwards over the years, while average farm size has trended
upwards. Between 1961 and 2011, farm numbers decreased 40.9 per cent, from 73,212 to 43,234. Average farm size
increased 81.1 per cent from 645 acres to 1,168 acres per farm
.
Between 1986 and 2011, the percentage of farms sized 1,600 acres or more increased from 12.4 per cent to 18.8 per
cent, while the proportion of farms between 1,120 and 1,599 acres slightly decreased from 8.9 per cent to 7.7 per cent.
During the same period, the percentage of farms between 400 and 1,119 acres dropped significantly from 34.1 per cent to
25.2
per cent. While the percentage of farms between 70 and 399 acres has remained fairly steady at around 38 per cent,
farms less than 70 acres increased from 7.6 to 10.4 per cent.
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
2011
7.6%
7.7%
10.1%
9.7%
11.4%
10.4%
36.9%
38.1%
39.2%
38.5%
37.3%
37.8%
34.1%
32.2%
29.5%
28.4%
26.3%
25.2%
8.9%
9.1%
8.2%
8.2%
7.9%
7.7%
12.4%
13.0%
13.0%
15.2%
17.1%
18.8%
Per Cent Distribution
1,600
Acres and Over
1,120 -1,599
Acres
400 -1,119
Acres
70 - 399
Acres
Under 70 Acres
Alberta Agriculture Statistics Yearbook, 2012
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