(Country Guide file photo)

Input costs to chip away at farmers’ shrinking income

CNS Canada — An anticipated downturn in farm income and higher input costs mean Canadian producers will be in a tough financial position this year, the head of the National Farmers Union (NFU) predicts. Farmers’ net cash income is expected to move lower in 2016, declining nine per cent to $13.6 billion in 2016, according […] Read more

Farm business experts are always saying, ‘Know your cost of production.’ But this year, ignoring that advice could quickly get you into the red.

Margins are tight — will you be able to squeeze out a profit this year?

Management specialist Dean Dyck says have a break-even budget, 
buy inputs early, and forget about machinery purchases

Reading Time: 3 minutes The weak Canadian dollar and a drop in prices are going to make it tough for crop producers to make a profit this year. Tough, but not impossible, says a provincial farm business management specialist. “You can make a profit this year,” said Dean Dyck. “I took a look at the four major crops in […] Read more


Terry Banack asked her Open Farm Days visitors what is made from the little black seeds in her hand. Their curiosity about modern farming was ‘refreshing,’ she said.

Open Farm Days: This is how you connect with consumers

Yes, there were questions about GMOs and hormones in meat, 
but the farm visitors were just ‘amazed’ by what they saw and learned

Reading Time: 4 minutes As farm leaders, Humphrey Banack and Kent Erickson are well aware that consumers are increasingly critical about how their food is produced. So they were expecting tough questions when they put up the ‘Come On In’ sign for this year’s edition of Alberta Open Farm Days. But that’s not what happened. “They were amazed at […] Read more

Your farm safety resolutions for 2014

ARD has prepared a checklist to start the new year off on the right foot

Reading Time: 2 minutes The New Year brings with it talk of resolutions. Resolutions; however, have a reputation for being declared and then forgotten. This year, why not make a promise that involves your family and their future? Make a promise to create a safer work environment on your farming operation. “Chances are you include an element of safety […] Read more