After a year of incredible adversity in Canadian agriculture, lenders such as Farm Credit Canada are especially alert to the needs of their clients. “We’re monitoring the financial situation,” says Michael Hoffort, president and CEO of FCC. In an interview with RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney, Hoffort says that where it’s challenging, FCC and other… Read More
We’re finishing off the week at Agri-Trade at Red Deer, Alta.,holl in the Nufarm booth. In today’s show, hear about: The importance of pre-seed burn downs for 2020, with Holly Nicoll of Nufarm; Seed quality, with Trevor Nysetvold of SGS BioVision; Supporting your parents in their retirement on the farm, with Patti Durand of Farm… Read More
Over the course of the summer, the U.S. Federal Reserve has cut interest rates twice, with the latest drop in its benchmark overnight lending rate taking it to a target range of 1.75% to 2%. Over the same timeframe, the Bank of Canada hasn’t touched interest rates, and the probability of seeing a cut this… Read More
As many producers are aware, there are a plethora of things going on in the global economic sphere… and growing concerns are rising. But how do we understand what everything means? How do we unpack it all? Farm Credit Canada’s chief economist J.P. Gervais joined RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney to give a little more… Read More
Every year in February, ag policy wonks, market followers, and politicians gather in Washington, D.C., for the USDA Outlook Forum. Not only does USDA release its forecasts for acres and production numbers, but the conversations also fill the hallways. Most years, the focus is on the fundamentals, but with so many trade patterns very cloudy… Read More
There are many who likely bristle at the thought of a foreign country investing in Canada, perhaps because most equate “investment” with “land buying.” But when we’re talking foreign direct investment, in this case, we’re talking about companies investing in Canadian businesses, and vice versa. And, as J.P. Gervais, chief agricultural economist with Farm Credit… Read More
Farmland values across Canada continued their climb in 2017, rising by a national average of 8.4 percent, according to Farm Credit Canada’s annual farmland values report. Saskatchewan saw the largest increase, at 10.2 per cent, followed by Nova Scotia at 9.5 per cent, Ontario at 9.4 per cent, Quebec at 8.2 per cent, and Alberta at… Read More
Low unemployment, major tax cuts, and looming trillion dollar deficits — the U.S. economy is hot, with growing concerns that it may be at risk of over-heating. Increasing odds of higher inflation and interest rates have stoked a pullback and volatility in the stock market after the Dow climbed to record highs in late January. The… Read More
As the Bank of Canada raised its target interest rate a 1/4 point this week, there is disagreement in how the Canadian economy will fare in 2018. While one or two more rate hikes are expected in 2018, there are also concerns on the horizon for the Canadian economy. As we hear from Farm Credit… Read More
On Friday, Statistics Canada released its third-quarter economic report, which included an update on gross domestic product and job growth. With the Canadian government boasting a strong economy and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations in an arguably precarious situation, many experts are watching the domestic economic climate very closely. Some of the highlights… Read More
Farm Credit Canada recently released its 2016 farmland values report, which breaks down farmland value changes by province. For Canada, the average of 7.9% growth in the value of farmland is certainly good news for those looking to sell or leverage land, but it does represent a slight cooling in farmland prices from 2015, when year-over-year… Read More
We often speak of best practices in agriculture as they relate to decisions made in the field or in the barn, but they go beyond that, to the office, to the meeting room, and even to interactions with the public. In his presentation at the Canadian Beef Industry Conference, Marty Seymour, director of industry and… Read More
After reporting a record profit for 2015, Marty Seymour, chief executive officer (CEO) of Canadian Western Agribition, reported something else. As of May 1, 2016, he will be stepping down. Seymour’s LinkedIn profile describes him as someone “motivated to make a difference,” and many who have graced the cattle-filled halls of Agribition would agree that he has done so… Read More
As expected with lower crop prices, new data from Farm Credit Canada shows the red-hot market for farmland cooled off in 2014. According to FCC’s annual Farmland Values Report released April 13th, the average value of agricultural land in Canada rose by 14.3 percent in 2014 — down from an increase of 22.1 percent in 2013 and a… Read More
The word ‘brand’ is no longer limited to the mark that differentiates livestock. It’s used in business as well, identifying company goals, visions and business characteristics. “We all have a brand,” Faith Matchett,vice president of eastern Ontario and Atlantic operations for Farm Credit Canada, told Lyndsey Smith in an interview. “The question is, do we intentionally have… Read More