Farm Status Vernon BC

How to Get Farm Status in Vernon BC

Classification as a farm in Vernon 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.

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About Vernon BC farmland

In the Vernon region, agriculture is a significant economic sector. Using data from the 2016 Agriculture Census, below are some quick statistics about the North Okanagan Regional District:

• Agriculture Land Reserve 68,921 hectares
• 1,411 persons are employed by 1,039 farms.
• The total gross farm income is $151.7 million.
• Irrigated land covering 8,762 hectares
• 32 Organic Farmers
• 288 farms that sell directly to customers

Processing of Farm Food

A varied food processing industry has grown up in the Vernon area alongside the local agriculture industry. 14 food-processing businesses are reportedly present in the neighbourhood. Through farm gate sales, these businesses serve local customers while concentrating on international export markets.

New opportunities are constantly being created by innovation in the agricultural and food processing industries. One illustration is the development of new grape variety-based vineyards in the Vernon area. Moving certain farming and food-processing operations to regions with more accessible and inexpensive agricultural and industrial property is attractive due to the rising demand for agricultural land in the Lower Mainland caused by growth in Metro Vancouver.

Source: https://www.vernon.ca/business/economic-development/sector-profiles/agriculture