OTTAWA — Farm cash receipts were down slightly in the first quarter of this year compared to the first quarter last year, but were slightly above the five-year average, according to Statistics Canada.
StatCan reported that Ontario farmers had cash receipts of $2.680 billion in January to March of 2018, down from $2.737 billion in the first quarter of 2017. However, the 2018 number is the third-highest first quarter of all-time.
The five-year first-quarter average is $2.678 billion.
Statistics Canada says both crop and livestock receipts were down this year compared to last year, while crop insurance payments were up.