Prescott & Russell Farms For Sale

The Prescott and Russell region is the oldest farming area in Canada and currently produces 13% of Ontario’s agricultural products. While agriculture isn’t the largest employer today, the region continues to contribute greatly to the province’s overall farming sector with 760 farm operations and 1,217 hired farm labour. The number of farms has increased by 11% since 2008 with 685 farms operating at that time. In 1991, the agriculture production in the region was valued at $142 million. There hasn’t been a shortage of raw materials and diverse growth opportunities for cash crops and biofuel. Dairy farming makes up nearly 50% of the agriculture in the region, with beef and cattle farming the second-largest category with 20% of the region’s total production. Poultry production within the region reached a value of $14.9 million, higher than both neighbouring counties. Additionally, there are many processing and packaging opportunities within the area.

The Prescott Federation of Agriculture represents the concerns, interests, and opinions of local farm families throughout Prescott, in conjunction with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. Similarly, the Russell Agricultural Society supports the needs of the agricultural community in the Russell area. Additionally, the organization hosts the Russell Fair annually, with an opportunity to celebrate and showcase all things agricultural in Russell. 

The United Counties of Prescott and Russel, as well as the Prescott-Russell Employment Services Centre and Groupe Convex Prescott-Russell, have developed training sessions through the Farm Assistance Training program to provide workers the skills needed to succeed in the agricultural workforce in the region. These training sessions, which are free of charge, aim to fill the needs of agricultural businesses and foster continued growth for the agricultural industry, with specialized training in traditional farm work, agri-food production, or greenhouse farming.

There are many conservation authorities and nature preserves throughout the Prescott and Russell area. Located along the Ottawa River, preserving this vital water source as well as the neighbouring habitat for wildlife is a priority for the region. The Raisin-South Nation Source Protection Region aims to conserve the 13 groundwater systems and 13 surface water systems that supply water to 26 municipal drinking water systems. Similarly, the South Nation Conservation leads hundreds of stewardship projects that manage natural resources, human activities, and natural occurrences as they pertain to water quality and health, and its natural ecosystem. Additional conservation areas include W. E. Burton Conservation Area, J. Henry Tweed Conservation Area, and Jessup’s Falls Conservation Area.