OTTAWA — Canadian crop farmers collected $23 billion in sales last year, unchanged from 2008.

But sales from livestock were off by $900 million across Canada, with the amount collected coming in at $17.9 billion. (See 2010 forecast on page 27).Statistics Canada attributes the drop in livestock sales to Country of Origin Labeling which came into effect last year in the U.S. In addition, the global recession resulted in a lower demand for livestock products.

Statistics Canada says that while cattle prices remained stable, hog prices continued their slide, altogether dropping 28.8 per cent since 2004. Only the supply managed sectors of the livestock industry showed an increase in receipts, rising by 1.6 per cent.

Crop cash receipts rose nominally in 2009, but that follows 25 per cent increases in both 2007 and 2008.

Farm expenses fell in 2009 halting an upward spiral that began in 1986 and after a nine per cent increase in 2008 and a 7.6 per cent increase in 2007. Nationally, farmers paid 80 cents in operating expenses in 2009 for every dollar they earned. When depreciation has been added expenses rose to 92 cents.

Inventories on farms were lower last year than in 2009. Statistics Canada said agriculture’s net value dropped $4.6 billion to $11.1 billion, the result of lower crop production and fewer livestock.