Fig. 43 Average Age and Number of Alberta Farm Operators by Age, 1981-2011
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture, 1981-2011
Fig. 44 Alberta Farms Using Internet For Farm Business, 2001-2011
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Agriculture, 2001-2011
Census data show the average age of farm operators rising in recent years. In 2011, the average age of Alberta farm operators
was 54.5 years, up from 52.2 years in 2006. This was quite similar to the national trend where average age was 54.0 years in
2011,
compared to 52.0 years in 2006.
For the first time, operators aged 55 and over represented the largest share of total farm operators, accounting for 49.6 per cent
of Alberta’s 62,050 farm operators in 2011. The number of farm operators between 35 to 54 years old dropped to 35,935 and
represented 43.1 per cent of total farm operators, while the group under 35 years old fell to 6,290 or 7.3 per cent.
40.0
42.0
44.0
46.0
48.0
50.0
52.0
54.0
56.0
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1981
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
2011
Average Age (Years)
Number of Farm Operators (Thousands)
Under 35 years
35
to 54 years
55
years and over
Average Age
15,658
17,195
24,928
2001
2006
2011
The proportion of Alberta farms using Internet
increased substantially in recent years to 57.7 per
cent (24,928), compared to 29.1 per cent (15,658)
in 2001. High-speed internet access was reported
by 46.5 per cent of all farms in the province in
2011,
above the national proportion of 44.8 per
cent.
Number of Farms
Alberta Agriculture Statistics Yearbook, 2012
- 134 -