Northumberland’s diverse agri-food industry offers opportunities in all areas, from farming to value-added production.
Thriving Agri-Food Industry
840 Farms
More than one third valued at over $1 million
203,446 acres
Farmland in use
200+
Agricultural Commodities
Producing a Diverse Range of Agricultural Commodities
In 2021, agricultural commodities generated $17.75 million in farm cash receipts.
| Subsector | Farm Cash Receipts ($ million) |
| Dairy Products | 34.76 |
| Corn | 33.2 |
| Soybeans | 24.39 |
| Fruit | 5.76 |
| Potatoes, Field and Greenhouse Vegetables | 8.8 |
| Calves and Cattle | 7.42 |
| Program Payment | 4.54 |
| Eggs | 5.98 |
| Other Crops & Livestock | 18.59 |
| Wheat | 10.83 |
| Sheep & Lambs | 2.77 |
Emerging Farming Opportunities
- The number of green pea farms increased from 8 to 63 (687.5%) in the last 5 years.
- The number of beef cattle and ranching farms increased from 150 to 195 (30%) in the last 5 years.
- The number of winter wheat farms increased from 15,956 to 19,453 (22%) in the last 5 years.
Skilled Workforce and High-value Supply Chain
Northumberland’s agri-food value chain drives 13.2% of jobs in the county. From farm to fork, businesses can find every step of the supply chain in the region, for improved productivity.
| Subsector | Number of Jobs | Percent % |
| Agriculture - Farms | 1015 | 18.3 % |
| Food manufacturing | 675 | 12.2 % |
| Beverage manufacturing | 105 | 1.9 % |
| Farm product merchant wholesalers | 20 | 0.4 % |
| Food merchant wholesalers | 180 | 3.2 % |
| Beverage merchant wholesalers | 35 | 0.6 % |
| Food and beverage stores | 1450 | 26.1 % |
| Food services and drinking places | 2065 | 37.2 % |
Leaders in Research and Innovation
Be a part of Ontario as it leads the world in food technology research and development. Get access to innovative new research, and collaborate with research groups from five universities and colleges nearby to discover new agricultural trends.
Thousands of Trained Graduates from Nearby Colleges & Universities
Find skilled workers from programs offering relevant, hands-on training, such as:
- Loyalist College: Programs in Biotechnology, Culinary Management, and Horticulture
- Fleming College: School of Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences and Programs in Cooking and Culinary Skills
- Trent University: Programs in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
National and Multinational Companies Who Are Already Here
Financing for Agriculture and Food Processing
- AgPal: Find up-to-date agriculture and agri-business programs, specific to Ontario
- Ontario Food Cluster: Find a full list of industry-specific initiatives, at the provincial and federal level
- Invest Ontario - Incentive programs and services.: Find insurance programs, tax credits, and other incentives that support growth and innovation in agri-businesses
Ease of Process
Our economic development team is ready to help you apply for funding and grow your company.