Canadian Farm Family Income Up Less than 1% in 2023

Feb 03, 2026

The average total income of Canadian farm families operating a single farm edged slightly higher in 2023, reflecting continued reliance on off-farm earnings amid mixed conditions across agricultural sectors.

New data released by Statistics Canada on Friday show that the average total income of farm families rose 0.9% compared with 2021 to $216,021 in 2023. Gains were driven largely by off-farm income, which increased 2.2% to an average of $116,788 per family. In contrast, average net operating income from farming activities slipped 0.6% to $99,233, highlighting ongoing margin pressure in several production sectors.

Canadian farm family income data was published annually for the 2015 to 2021 reference years. Starting with the 2021 reference year, the estimates are released every two years.

The estimates cover farm families involved in a single farm that is either unincorporated with total operating revenue of $10,000 or more or incorporated with total operating revenue of $25,000 or more.

According to the StatsCan report, off-farm income accounted for 54.1% of total farm family income in 2023, up from 53.4% two years earlier. Growth in off-farm earnings was fuelled by a sharp rise in investment income, up 27.2%, and pension income, which increased 16.2%. These gains were partially offset by lower employment income, down 3.9%, and a decline in other income sources.

Income trends varied notably between farm structures. Average total income for families operating unincorporated farms increased 5.6% to $151,458, while income for those running incorporated farms declined 1.8% to $358,850 over the same period.

By farm type, potato producers recorded the strongest income growth, with average total income rising 25.5% from 2021 to 2023. Higher prices and the resumption of exports to the US following the removal of trade restrictions helped lift revenues. Poultry and egg farm families saw incomes rise 8.6%, while oilseed and grain operations posted a 4.3% increase, supported by a return to more normal production levels after drought conditions in 2021.

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