A maple syrup farm in Nova Scotia is facing challenges in maintaining its operations after the provincial government issued a notice citing violations of its lease agreement. Hutchinson Acres, located in East Dalhousie, has been run by Chris and Anna Hutchinson for over 14 years. The farm operates on approximately 1,000 hectares of leased Crown land in Kings County, accounting for 90% of the farm, with the remaining 10% on private land. The couple was given a 60-day notice to remove all equipment and vacate the land by May 2.
Chris Hutchinson expressed concerns about the significant impact this would have on their production during an interview. Despite the situation, Anna Hutchinson mentioned their determination to keep the business running, even if it means importing maple syrup from other provinces to maintain their local product supply.
Natural Resources Minister Kim Masland did not specify the exact lease violations but stated that the province had made efforts to find a resolution with the company without success. The issues with the lease appear to be linked to a loan from Farm Credit Canada that Hutchinson Acres took out in 2016. The FCC demanded repayment of $2,251,148 in March 2023, with daily interest accruing on the outstanding amount.
Hutchinson Acres attributed its financial struggles to the lease problems, weather challenges in 2019, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company filed legal action against the province and Farm Credit Canada in 2024, alleging negligence and false representations.
As the legal process unfolds, Hutchinson Acres faces the prospect of clearing out. The province has indicated no plans to repurpose the land for other projects, with the intention to maintain it for maple syrup production following the resolution of the situation. Premier Tim Houston expressed a desire for the land to continue generating economic value for the province.
The Hutchinsons have contested the appointment of a private receiver and have taken the matter to court. The Nova Scotia Supreme Court has not appointed an independent receiver, as the Hutchinsons maintain that they are not in receivership.
