Voluntary country of origin labelling (vCOOL) for beef and pork, biofuel tax credit changes, and an impending U.S. farm bill are three U.S. agriculture trends worth watching according to recent analysis from Farm Credit Canada (FCC).

U.S. farm bill, biofuels and vCOOL among American trends worth watching FCC says

Land values continue to rise: FCC
Farm Credit Canada’s mid-year review shows cultivated farmland values rose an average of 5.5 per cent in the first half of this year.

Pressure on farm income could push input prices down says FCC economist
Next year's farm input market will depend on the level of pressure on farm income, but early signs suggest input prices could come down according to recent analysis from Farm Credit Canada.

Do farmers feel wealthy?
Strong balance sheets are being offset by rising costs, tempering producer optimism
Reading Time: 5 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – At the end of 2017, Canadian farm debt topped $100 billion. At the time, it was a bigger number than the national debt of 135 countries, noted Country Guide columnist Gerald Pilger. The climb hasn’t stopped. The figure rose steadily since crossing the $100-billion threshold. As of 2022, the most recent year […] Read more

Dairy sector could see ‘return to normal’ in 2024
Stresses from borrowing and feed costs should ease: FCC
Reading Time: 2 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – A recent outlook released by Farm Credit Canada says there’s room for optimism in the dairy sector. “It has been a volatile few years for dairy producers, but 2024 is shaping up to be calmer — a return to a more normal environment, if you will,” FCC senior economist Graeme Crosbie said […] Read more

Economic headwinds seen for Canadian farmers
From interest rates to the dollar to commodity prices, here’s what Farm Credit Canada sees coming
Reading Time: 3 minutes Farm Credit Canada predicts a bit of a rocky road ahead for Canadian farmers, with input prices high, commodity prices low and interest rates not expected to drop in the short term. “The sentiment of the industry is not the greatest right now,” said Desmond Sobool, FCC’s director of economics and deputy chief economist, speaking […] Read more

Farmland value growth slowed in 2023, FCC says
Saskatchewan, Quebec and Manitoba saw strongest growth in 2023, report shows
Farmland is still getting more expensive, but not quite as quickly as in recent years, according to the latest farmland value report from Canada’s biggest agricultural lender.

Dairy sector set to stabilize in 2024: FCC
Feed prices, butter stocks, retail demand and inflation top trends to watch
The dairy sector seems set to stabilize in 2024 amidst high processor demand and leveling-off input costs, Farm Credit Canada says.

FCC projects profit loss in 2024
Hits expected on grain price, but economist ‘cautiously optimistic’ on interest rates and input costs
Reading Time: 7 minutes A prominent Canadian ag lender is projecting a 4.8 per cent decline in farm cash receipts in 2024, due in part to a softening market. Consequently, its leading economist is urging producers to find any way to save money. “In this environment, I do think that management skills are absolutely critical,” said J.P. Gervais, vice-president […] Read more

FCC predicts drop in farm cash receipts for 2024
Interest rates, inputs costs may come down but farmers urged to sharpen their pencils
FCC's top economist is urging farmers to find any way they can to save money, as the ag lender projects a 4.8 per cent decline in farm cash receipts in 2024 on the heels of lower commodity prices.