Reading Time: 3 minutes COVID-19 has a lot of farmers dusting off their risk management strategies, but if a business plan isn’t part of that, you’re likely sacrificing your bottom line — and your peace of mind. “We know that farmers are very stressed, but we also know that business planning can help,” said Heather Watson, executive director of […] Read more
Now is the second-best time to create your business plan
Business plans boost profitability but during a crisis, they also help you ‘sleep at night’
Top 12 tax-saving tips for your farm
Some require help from an accountant or adviser, but others are things you can do yourself
Reading Time: 4 minutes Every farmer wants to pay less in taxes, but it can be hard to know where to find those savings. “How do you feel confident you’re paying the least amount of tax possible? It’s tough,” said Carman Praski, business development representative at Farm Business Consultants. At the recent Ag in Motion virtual conference, Praski offered […] Read more
Nutrien cuts profit forecast on weak ammonia prices
Reuters — Canadian fertilizer maker Nutrien on Monday cut its annual adjusted profit forecast as weaker-than-normal industrial demand held back prices for ammonia and urea ammonium nitrate. The company cut the top end of its 2020 adjusted earnings per share forecast to $1.90 from $2.10 earlier, while retaining the lower end at $1.50. Even as […] Read more
Unasked-for seed packets considered ‘low-risk’
But don't plant, flush or compost them, CFIA warns
Federal inspectors say the unsolicited packages of seeds that have recently turned up in mailboxes across the country so far look to be “low-risk” — but still advise the public not to plant them. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have both reported […] Read more
Pandemic fallout could get very grim before it gets better
The coming recession will be deep, and ‘revenge and blame’ will roil global markets, say experts
Reading Time: 5 minutes No one needs more bad news, but the pandemic is causing upheaval around the world and will produce a ‘very deep’ recession, say two leading economic experts. “The trade sanctions and the trade issues over the past couple of years were just a precursor of what may occur into the future,” said David Kohl, professor […] Read more
Missing Beirut silo worker’s family clings to hope
Beirut | Reuters — Before he went missing on Aug. 4, Ghassan Hasrouty, an employee of Beirut’s giant grain silos for 38 years, thought he was working in the safest place in the city. The reinforced concrete walls and underground rooms were his shelter for many days during Lebanon’s 1975-1990 civil war. He used to […] Read more
Alberta companies join Black Lives Matter beer fundraiser
Reading Time: 4 minutes Bringing people together over a beer. That’s the goal of several businesses from across central Alberta that have joined forces to create a fundraiser beer to support the Black Lives Matter movement. “Beer is a great equalizer. You can break down a lot of barriers just by sitting down and having a beer with someone,” […] Read more
Olds College gets $21 million for building projects
Reading Time: < 1 minute Olds College has been given more than $21 million in provincial funding for capital maintenance and to redevelop two existing buildings. The college received $15.2-million to expand the Lachlin McKinnon Building into the new Animal Health Education Centre and $6.2 million to redevelop the James Murray Building into the Ag-Tech Learning Hub that will house the […] Read more
Mystery seeds from China prompt warning
Reading Time: < 1 minute People are being warned not to plant seeds from unsolicited packages arriving in the mail, apparently from China. Hundreds of Canadians, and thousands of Americans have received packets of seeds in the mail in recent weeks. It’s suspected it may be a ‘brushing’ scam (a way to boost online sales). Authorities are warning people not […] Read more
COVID-19 case confirmed at Maple Leaf hog plant
A worker at Maple Leaf Foods’ hog slaughter and processing plant at Brandon, Man. is recovering at home after testing positive for COVID-19, the Manitoba Co-operator has reported. The company said it received word over the long weekend about the case. Citing its own review of the situation and consultation with public health officials, the […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
