The agriculture industry is fully aware that successful farm transition is not easy and comes with many potential barriers. Every family farm business is unique, but based on a new RealAgristudies study looking at farm transition, there are some common challenges to work through. 588 farmers across Canada responded to questions about farm transition as… Read More
Category: Farm Management
Farm business transition is not a new challenge or opportunity for the agriculture industry, but there’s been an increased level of coverage and discussion about it in mainstream media following a well-publicized report by RBC highlighting the challenges earlier this spring. At RealAgriculture and RealAgristudies, we are very interested in this topic and how it impacts… Read More
Fourteen of Ontario’s agriculture organizations are collectively asking the provincial government to pause forward momentum of the proposed Bill 97 and the Proposed Provincial Planning Statement. “We stand in strong opposition to the 3 lot severances per farm parcel proposed in prime agricultural areas as well as other measures that weaken local farmland protection. We… Read More
Tucked into the Ontario Progressive Conservatives’ Bill 97 is a proposed change to severance allowances of farmland that the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA) says could make siting of livestock farms much more difficulty. What’s more, the bill carves out increased power for Ministerial Zoning Orders in the name of housing; however, Peggy Brekveld, president… Read More
The interest-free limit of the Advance Payments Program has been increased from $250,000 to $350,000 for the 2023 program year, effective May 8, 2023. This is the second expansion of the interest-free portion in the last year. It was increased from $100,000 to $250,000 for the 2022 and 2023 program years in June of 2022…. Read More
If you are a farmer or farm business owner, succession planning is a critical process that you cannot afford to overlook. Succession planning involves transferring ownership and management of your farm business to the next generation, and it is essential for ensuring the long-term viability of your business and your family’s financial future. In this… Read More
The federal government will extend the Agri-Food Pilot until May 14, 2025. Launched in May 2020, the pilot program is designed to facilitate the transition of agricultural and food industry workers to permanent residency in Canada. Recruiting and retaining a skilled workforce is key to success for Canadian farmers and food processors, the government says…. Read More
For any farmer, focusing on learning and development allows them to continuously improve in a vast amount of areas. As agriculture evolves, so do agronomic practices, risk management tools, and technological advancements. By constantly learning and expanding their skillset, farmers can identify new opportunities, increase profitability, and productivity. Developing new skills can also improve problem-solving… Read More
If a farm has the capacity to buy land, it’s often stymied by the lack of land for purchase, not an unwillingness to take on the work or the debt. It’s still surprising to learn that about 40 per cent of land being farmed in Canada is being rented, according to Farm Credit Canada (FCC)…. Read More
Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) Sustainability Incentive Program is open to applicants in partnership with the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) and McCain Foods. The program pays out incentive payments calculated on a portion of a customer’s lending with FCC if they are also participating in specific certification programs, including the CRSB certification initiative and… Read More
With crop input purchases adding up in spring, some farmers that rely on the federal government’s Advance Payments Program for cash flow have inquired whether the federal public service strike will affect the short-term loan program. The cash advance program is administered by 30, third-party producer organizations, so the strike is not having any direct… Read More
The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) has begun the process of searching for the next president and CEO of the organization, now that current president Jim Everson has announced he is leaving. Everson will continue in the role until a new president and CEO is in place. The executive committee of the CCC board has… Read More
Olymel has announced the closure of its Vallée-Jonction, Quebec, plant, and will layoff about 1,000 people in the process. It’s expected to plant will take eight months to wind down, and staff will be offered positions at other Olymel plants. The hog slaughtering, cutting and deboning plant has wracked up nearly $400 million in losses… Read More
Picket lines are up across the country as more than 155 thousand Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) members began strike action at 12:01am ET on April 19. The union members on strike make up approximately a third of the federal public service, and includes employees of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Grain… Read More
Canadian farmers feel relatively stable and positive about their farms’ current financial outlook, even in the face of declining commodity markets, according to the March Canadian Farmer Sentiment Index. Last month, the RealAgristudies Insights Panel was surveyed a fourth time since September 2022 on their opinions and overall sentiment on a number of critical agricultural… Read More