Stocks continuing to plunge during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic have left agricultural producers in Canada concerned about the potential impact. Thursday marked the biggest drop in Canadian stocks in 80 years, highlighted by many economists warning the country is on the brink of recession. Beyond growing fears of COVID-19’s economic impact, oil and gas stocks […] Read more
Impacts on ag expected as COVID-19 rocks markets
Farmers urged to manage expenses
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
Loonie value will determine 2017 ag outlook
FCC’s chief agricultural economist says a low Canadian dollar is expected to continue to benefit the sector
Reading Time: 2 minutes A low loonie is likely to continue to benefit Canadian farmers through 2017. That’s according to J.P. Gervais, Farm Credit Canada’s chief agricultural economist, who added that will be the continuation of a trend seen throughout 2016. “There are certainly other factors that could influence Canadian agriculture, such as the global economy, the investment landscape, […] Read more
Farm debt at record highs — but top lender not worried
While FCC says most farmers can handle their debt load, financial expert Merle Good says some are ‘robbing Peter to pay Paul’
Reading Time: 4 minutes Farm debt has hit a record high, bringing back some unpleasant memories of the 1980s debt crisis. But we’re not there yet, said farm business expert Merle Good. “In 1980, we had huge inflation and huge interest rates,” said Good, a longtime tax specialist with the provincial government who now runs a private consulting business. […] Read more
Canadian farmland values up again in 2015
Farm Credit Canada says the annual percentage increase in farmland values is getting smaller
Reading Time: 4 minutes Manitoba farmland values led the way with the highest average percentage increase in Canada last year, says Farm Credit Canada (FCC). But the pace of increases the last few years here and across Canada is slowing in step with the plateauing of farm cash receipts, and slower drop in interest rates, J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief […] Read more
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