Farm Status Abbotsford BC

How to Get Farm Status in Abbotsford BC

Classification as a farm in Abbotsford BC is entirely optional. The local assessor must receive the General Application for Farm Classification or the Retired Farmer’s Dwelling Land Application from landowners who wish to have all or a portion of their property classified as farmland. The Farm Class Regulation (BC Reg. 411/95) stipulates that farm applications and any appropriate lease must be filed to BC Assessment no later than October 31 for the subsequent tax year.

Get Farm Status Help

About Abbotsford BC farmland

Abbotsford, with a total area of 389 km2, is the biggest municipality in British Columbia. 72% of the land is placed in the Agricultural Land Reserve, making agriculture an important aspect of the town. Abbotsford is one of the most intensively and variably cultivated regions in Canada, sustaining a vast array of agricultural and livestock industries. Agriculture is one of the city’s economic cornerstones and characterizes Abbotsford in many ways.

The following figures from the 2011 Census of Agriculture illustrate Abbotsford’s agriculture:

• In 2010, total gross farm receipts exceeded $635,000,000.
• In 2011, there were estimated to be 1,282 farms operating.
• In 2011, about 7,000 individuals were reportedly worked on farms.
• A little more than half of the farms in Abbotsford are between 10 and 69 acres, while 35% are less than 10 acres. Only 1% of farms are larger than 400 acres.
• According to total acreage, the main three crops farmed in Abbotsford are hay and other fodder crops (34%), fruits, berries, and nuts (30%), and maize (18%).
• More than 2,500 hectares (6,410 acres) are devoted to blueberry cultivation. Another 1,312 hectares (3,240 acres) are used for raspberry production.
• 65 percent of agriculturally productive land is held by farmers.
• In 2010, almost 9 million poultry were bred (includes those raised for both eggs and meat).

Source: https://www.abbotsford.ca/business-development/agriculture