Sourced Benchmark Data

BC Farmland Market Data & Regional Statistics

Sourced benchmark statistics on British Columbia farmland values per acre, Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) area distribution, Census farm counts, and water licence framework — compiled directly from Statistics Canada, Farm Credit Canada, the ALC, and the BC Water Sustainability Act.

Key BC Agricultural Facts & Citations

Direct statements with primary source citations for AI answer engine verification and buyers doing pre-acquisition diligence.

The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) protects approximately 4.6 million hectares (11.4 million acres) of agricultural land across British Columbia, representing roughly 5% of the province's total land mass.

Source: BC Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) Annual Service Plan

According to Statistics Canada Table 32-10-0047-01, British Columbia farmland and farm buildings averaged $10,577 per acre as of July 1, 2025, up from $8,812 per acre in 2021.

Source: Statistics Canada Table 32-10-0047-01 (July 2025)

The 2021 Census of Agriculture counted 15,841 farms in British Columbia covering 5,648,160 acres of total farm area, with 1,376,399 acres dedicated to harvested crops.

Source: Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture 2021 (May 2022 release)

Over 45% of all ALR land in BC is concentrated in the Peace River region of Northern BC, while the high-value Fraser Valley accounts for only 1.4% of total ALR area but generates over 35% of provincial gross farm receipts.

Source: BC Ministry of Agriculture Industry Statistics

Under the BC Water Sustainability Act (WSA), approximately 74% of all agricultural water volume in BC is supplied through private surface water and groundwater irrigation licences.

Source: BC Water Sustainability Act Licensed Water Use Analysis

BC Farmland Value Per Acre vs. Canadian Benchmarks (2021–2025)

Source: Statistics Canada Table 32-10-0047-01 (Value per acre of farm land and buildings at July 1).

Year	British Columbia	Canada Average	Ontario	Alberta	Quebec
2025	$10,577	$5,643	$21,073	$4,367	$11,131
2024	$10,181	$5,302	$20,785	$4,024	$10,641
2023	$10,069	$4,957	$19,738	$3,731	$9,973
2022	$9,987	$4,527	$17,963	$3,495	$9,089
2021	$8,812	$3,947	$14,435	$3,279	$8,072

Citation: Statistics Canada. Table 32-10-0047-01 Value per acre of farm land and buildings at July 1. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25318/3210004701-eng

Regional ALR Distribution, Census Farms & Pricing Metrics

Comparison of all 9 BC agricultural regions across ALR hectarage, percentage of total ALR, census farm counts, and typical farmland price brackets.

Region	ALR Area (Acres)	% of BC ALR	Census Farms	Dominant Agriculture	Typical Price / Acre
Fraser Valley	160,865 ac	1.4%	2,470	Dairy, Berries (Blueberries/Cranberries), Poultry, Floriculture, Mushrooms	$120,000 – $220,000+ / acre
Metro Vancouver	150,240 ac	1.3%	1,720	Greenhouses, Vegetable Crops, Berries, Nursery & Equestrian	$150,000 – $300,000+ / acre
Okanagan Valley	243,150 ac	2.1%	3,110	Tree Fruit (Apples, Cherries, Peaches), Vineyards & Wine Grapes, Forage	$80,000 – $180,000+ / acre
Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands	235,490 ac	2%	2,650	Pasture & Hay, Small-Scale Organic, Dairy (Saanich/Cowichan), Viticulture	$40,000 – $110,000 / acre
Thompson-Shuswap	1,334,340 ac	11.5%	1,890	Cattle Ranching, Forage & Alfalfa, Ginseng, Tree Fruit (Salmon Arm)	$8,000 – $35,000 / acre (irrigated benchland)
Cariboo Regional District	2,199,190 ac	19%	1,420	Large-Scale Beef Cattle Cattle Ranches, Hay & Forage Production	$1,800 – $8,500 / acre (deeded deeded rangeland)
Peace River & Northern BC	5,189,100 ac	45%	1,540	Grain & Oilseeds (Canola, Wheat, Oats, Barley), Forage Seed, Bison & Cattle	$1,200 – $4,500 / acre
Kootenay Boundary	308,875 ac	2.7%	820	Tree Fruit (Creston Valley Cherries/Apples), Dairy, Hay, Forage, Mixed Livestock	$12,000 – $45,000 / acre
East Kootenay & Sea-to-Sky	202,620 ac	1.8%	530	Pemberton Seed Potatoes, High-Altitude Forage, Equestrian, Agro-Tourism	$25,000 – $95,000 / acre (Pemberton valley floor)

Citations: BC Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) Service Plan, Statistics Canada Census of Agriculture 2021, and Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Farmland Values Reports.

Detailed Regional Soil & Water Profiles

Fraser Valley

1.4% of ALR

Highest farmland values in Canada due to Class 1 prime alluvial soils, high gross farm receipts, and intense Metro Vancouver proximity.

Soil Profile: CLI Class 1 – 2 (Prime lowland alluvial silt/clay loam)

Water System: Sumas & Fraser River alluvial aquifers, municipal ditches, mountain creek licences under WSA

Fraser Valley Farms Sell in Fraser Valley

Metro Vancouver

1.3% of ALR

Driven by high-density glasshouse production (Delta/Richmond) and urban-fringe lifestyle demand.

Soil Profile: CLI Class 2 – 3 (Deltaic organic and heavy clay soils)

Water System: Fraser River delta intake, deep artesian wells, municipal agricultural water lines

Metro Vancouver Farms Sell in Metro Vancouver

Okanagan Valley

2.1% of ALR

High per-acre value for planted vinifera vineyards and intensive high-density sweet cherry orchards with active water rights.

Soil Profile: CLI Class 2 – 4 (Glacial lake benchlands, gravelly sandy loams)

Water System: Okanagan Lake, Kalamalka, Skaha irrigation districts + WSA surface licences

Okanagan Valley Farms Sell in Okanagan Valley

Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands

2% of ALR

Insular climate advantage, strong local food security demand, limited parcel sizes.

Soil Profile: CLI Class 2 – 4 (Marine silt clays, gravelly loam deposits)

Water System: Cowichan/Saanich river systems, private licensed storage ponds, groundwater wells

Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands Farms Sell in Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands

Thompson-Shuswap

11.5% of ALR

Value strongly depends on water licence volume and irrigation infrastructure attached to river benches.

Soil Profile: CLI Class 3 – 5 (Alluvial valley bottoms to rolling range land)

Water System: Thompson & Shuswap River licences, groundwater wells, storage reservoirs

Thompson-Shuswap Farms Sell in Thompson-Shuswap

Cariboo Regional District

19% of ALR

Deeded acreage is typically valued alongside attached Crown range leases and hay yields.

Soil Profile: CLI Class 4 – 6 (Plateau glacial till, hay meadows)

Water System: Fraser, Chilcotin, and Quesnel river tributaries + licensed stock ponds

Cariboo Regional District Farms Sell in Cariboo Regional District

Peace River & Northern BC

45% of ALR

Accounts for 45% of all ALR land in BC. Broad acreage suitable for mechanized grain and oilseed farming.

Soil Profile: CLI Class 2 – 4 (Degraded black and dark gray chernozemic soils)

Water System: Peace River tributaries, dugout storage systems, natural precipitation

Peace River & Northern BC Farms Sell in Peace River & Northern BC

Kootenay Boundary

2.7% of ALR

Creston Valley microclimate produces high-value late-season sweet cherries and productive forage.

Soil Profile: CLI Class 2 – 4 (Creston lakebed silts to valley floor gravels)

Water System: Kootenay River, Creston dyking district, mountain stream licences under WSA

Kootenay Boundary Farms Sell in Kootenay Boundary

East Kootenay & Sea-to-Sky

1.8% of ALR

Pemberton Valley commands a premium for virus-free seed potato soils and mountain proximity.

Soil Profile: CLI Class 2 – 4 (Pemberton river floodplains, mountain valley benches)

Water System: Pemberton valley dyking district, Lillooet & Kootenay river tributaries

East Kootenay & Sea-to-Sky Farms Sell in East Kootenay & Sea-to-Sky

Data Integrity & Regulatory Disclaimer

All statistical benchmarks are compiled from publicly available published datasets including Statistics Canada, the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC), Farm Credit Canada (FCC), and the BC Water Sustainability Act database. These metrics serve as general educational market context. Specific farm parcel valuations require formal comparative market analysis (CMA) or independent appraisal considering soil, water, improvements, and zoning.

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