Reading Time: 3 minutes British Columbia is a unique place in the world. The variety of food grown is astounding as is the diversity among its processed products. The landscape is home to tiny farms and large ranches, local processors and those who export worldwide. This is a province of mountains, islands, rivers, ocean, lakes, ports and flyways, valleys […] Read more
Schoepp: More farms need to plant the seeds of financial literacy
Many operations, both new and old, pay a big price for not knowing the language of finance
FarmCash now available across the West
Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Wheat is opening up its FarmCash Advance Payments Program to growers across Western Canada. The farm group began the program in the fall of 2018 and offers cash advances to producers of more than 50 agricultural commodities – including all major crops, livestock and honey. There are 33 “administrators” of the federal loan guarantee […] Read more
Host of community organizations in Alberta receive funding
Reading Time: 2 minutes A host of communities across Alberta will be proceeding with improvement projects after receiving grants from foundations. Fifteen organizations, one school and one municipality in the province shared $282,000 grants given out by FCC AgriSpirit Fund, which supports rural capital projects across the country. The charitable initiative of Farm Credit Canada awards $5,000 and $25,000 […] Read more
Farm lender to help financially stressed farmers
Reading Time: < 1 minute Farm Credit Canada (FCC) says it wants to help farm customers “who are facing financial setbacks due to circumstances beyond their control.” Michael Hoffort, the ag lender’s president and CEO, said FCC “will work with our customers to find solutions to any short-term financial pressure that might be weighing them down.” Many producers were unable […] Read more
Lender willing to ease loan payments
Reading Time: < 1 minute The country’s biggest ag lender says it will offer “flexibility” for customers hit by snow and rain this harvest. “FCC will work with customers to come up with solutions for their operation and will consider deferral of principal payments and/or other loan payment schedule amendments to reduce the financial pressure on producers impacted by wet […] Read more
Provincial lender triples its loan maximums for farmers
In addition to the new $15-million limit, the Crown corporation is making terms more flexible
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Agricultural Financial Services Corporation is upping the amount of money it will loan producers. The move comes after a two-year review that included public consultation and meetings with producers and industry groups. “The review found that there is strong need for AFSC’s financial support across Alberta aimed at encouraging rural development and meeting the […] Read more
Farms in financial good shape, says Farm Credit Canada
Reading Time: < 1 minute Although total farm debt in Canada now tops $100 billion, the sector is “well positioned to thrive in the current economic and financial environment,” says the chief economist with Farm Credit Canada. “The current debt-to-asset ratio in agriculture remains lower than the 10-year average… and farm liquidity remains healthy,” said JP Gervais. A relatively low […] Read more
Eighteen good causes championed by farmers receive grants
Reading Time: 2 minutes Thanks to the support of Canadian farmers, 66 rural-based charities and non-profits — including 18 in Alberta — have received a $2,500 grant from the Canada’s Farmers Grow Communities program. The six-year-old program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, gives grants to schools, libraries, historical societies, health and recreational facilities, rural daycares, senior clubs, 4-H groups, […] Read more
Farm bankruptcies down, but not out – just different
Winnipeg | CNS Canada – Fewer farms means fewer bankruptcies but with that simple equation comes the realization that the size and tone of those bankruptcies in North America is growing. “They are larger, the amount of debt is greater, the fact that we’re not seeing a higher number doesn’t mean there isn’t considerable distress […] Read more
Worried about federal tax changes? There’s an alternative, say experts
Federal Liberal bid to close ‘loopholes’ will increase taxes on most farm corporations, but there’s a way to avoid that hit
Reading Time: 3 minutes Proposed federal tax changes aimed at ‘income sprinkling’ and other tax reduction measures used by corporations — including those owned by farmers — have ignited a storm of controversy. But there are “a lot of other tax strategies” that farmers can use, say financial planning experts. In July, federal finance officials announced proposed changes to […] Read more