CNS Canada — Prices of Canadian farmland were seen rising in 2017, with most sales happening in the first half of 2017 before interest rate increases and the drought in Western Canada hit. That’s according to the annual Farmland Values Report released Monday by Farm Credit Canada (FCC), based on 90 per cent of farmland […] Read more

Farmland values rise, but interest rates curb market
Alberta library gets FCC grant for bilingual programming
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Falher Library/Bibliothèque Dentiger is one of 10 community groups to receive a grant from the FCC Expression Fund. “This library is a vibrant bilingual learning and social centre serving two municipalities and the surrounding area,” said Farm Credit Canada. “FCC funds will allow this BiblioTECH to expand and promote its French e-learning resources and […] Read more
AgriSpirit Fund applications due this month
Application deadline is March 29
Reading Time: < 1 minute Applications from registered charities and non-profit organizations in rural Canada are now being accepted for the FCC AgriSpirit Fund. The fund will award $1.5 million in funding this year. The application deadline is March 29. Rural community groups can view the eligibility requirements, past projects and apply online by visiting ‘FCC AgriSpirit Fund’ on the […] Read more

CN apologizes as farm groups, Ottawa press on rail service
Canada’s largest railway has taken the unusual step of apologizing for its pace of grain delivery in recent weeks and pledging “immediate steps” to improve its grain handle. After parting ways with its CEO Luc Jobin on Monday, Canadian National Railway (CN), through interim CEO Jean-Jacques Ruest, said Wednesday it “apologize(s) for not meeting the […] Read more

FCC sees benefits in new Trans-Pacific trade pact
CNS Canada — The future of trade for the Canadian agriculture industry is looking bright from the perspective of Canada’s federal ag lending agency, with progress on the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). According to Farm Credit Canada (FCC), anytime Canada can get less-restricted access to markets it is good for agriculture. “We can […] Read more
Grants available for minority language groups
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farm Credit Canada is again donating $50,000 from the FCC Expression Fund to encourage the use of Canada’s official languages in communities across the country. Successful projects receive between $2,000 and $10,000 to fund initiatives that could include community centres, libraries, daycare centres, art galleries, and projects such as workshops and festivals. Community and volunteer […] Read more

Ag and food exports: We’re good but we can do better
Agriculture is a Canadian success story but taking it to the next level requires smart and sizable investments, says economist
Reading Time: 3 minutes Sticking to the status quo isn’t good enough to propel Canada into the uppermost ranks of global agricultural exporters. “Over the past year, there’s been quite a bit of optimism around food and agriculture. It’s been identified as one of the main sectors to grow in this country,” said J.P. Gervais, chief agricultural economist for […] Read more

The numbers — and the potential — are big for agri-food exports
Reading Time: 2 minutes There were few surprises in Farm Credit Canada’s annual ranking of Canadian agriculture and agri-food exports. We remain the world’s fifth-largest agricultural commodity exporter for the sixth straight year, and have also held steady as the No. 11 exporter of manufactured food products. But “potential” abounds, says FCC’s chief agricultural economist J.P. Gervais. “There are […] Read more

Reports highlight strengths, weaknesses of Canadian ag exports
Commodity News Service Canada – There is room for improvement in the Canadian agricultural export market with competition from new markets globally, according to a pair of reports released by Farm Credit Canada. The FCC Ag Economics, Trade Ranking Report: Agriculture and FCC Ag Economics, Trade Ranking Report: Manufactured Food give overviews of Canada’s global […] Read more

Higher loonie will have many impacts
MARKET WATCH: A low dollar shielded Canadian farmers from lower commodity prices but it also raised the cost of farm equipment and inputs
Reading Time: 3 minutes While you were busy growing crops and raising livestock this summer, a rising dollar has been taking aim at your profits. The growing season started with the loonie trading under the 75 U.S. cents mark — and many analysts sticking to the theory it would stay low as long as oil prices remained in the […] Read more