It’s often difficult for producers to save money outside of the farming operation. Farming requires intensive cash flow management techniques, especially if producers are trying to expand their operations. However, it can be important to try to be diversified and have savings for rainy days. Contributing to a Registered Education Savings Plan, Tax Free Savings […] Read more
Ag Finance
Government programs help you save money
Return on investment for farms about more than numbers
Everyone wants the best possible return on their investments. To achieve that, we first need to determine what the actual investment is that we want a return on. Next, we need to define the return we want and determine how we’re going to measure it. For a business, this is straight forward. Take the profit […] Read more
Beer culture reaches the farm
EDMONTON, Alta. — When Shane Groendahl goes to a party, he likes to slap down a growler of his Blindman Brewing beer and announce that it is what beer should taste like. It’s that passion for brewing beer, the taste of craft beer and the enthusiasm that has Albertans switching from drinking traditional beers to […] Read more
U.S. asks for arbitration on COOL damages
The United States has decided to ask the world trade organization for arbitration over the amount of damages Canada claims has been caused by mandatory country or origin labelling. Canada asked the WTO to impose retaliatory tariffs of more than $3 billion annually on key U.S. exports due to damages caused by COOL. “Canada is […] Read more
FNA critical of CWB sale, but open to deal on fertilizer
Farmers of North America says the new privatization and sale of the CWB will not improve competition in the Canadian grain industry, or reduce large basis levels being charged farmers. FNA feels there are several questions that have gone unanswered in the sale of the majority stake in the former Canadian Wheat Board. Will farmers […] Read more
RRSPs can make retirement easier
Planning for retirement can be the last thing on a farmer’s mind. The value of the farm and investments that have accumulated over the years quite often leaves little concern about the ability to fund one’s retirement. However, discussions about succession planning or not selling off farm assets can complicate the issue. Using a Registered […] Read more
Expanding Canadian co-op Agropur to buy big U.S. dairy processor
Canadian dairy cooperative Agropur said on Tuesday it would acquire the dairy processing assets of Davisco Foods International Inc. Agropur said in a statement the acquisition was targeted for an Aug. 1 close. It said the deal would double Agropur’s U.S. processing operations and increase its global milk intake by 50 percent. The acquisition includes, […] Read more
Keep track of medical expenses to apply for tax credit
Most family farms have med-ical emergencies and ex-penses. There’s often nothing that can be done to get around the financial burden. However, there may be opportunities to recover some of the outlay through your taxes. Understanding these opportunities and keeping good records can save you money. All amounts paid for eligible medical expenses over a […] Read more
Agropur buys dairy operations from Sobeys
Quebec-based dairy Agropur Co-operative has new agreements with Sobeys, one to buy several dairy processing operations and the other to supply dairy products on a long term basis. The companies said the value of the transaction totals $356 million. It includes: • The purchase of four plants: two plants in Edmonton, one producing milk and […] Read more
Family gift may be more trouble than it’s worth
What happens in a family of four children when three of the children have left the farm and one stays to help nurture and grow the asset? In the succession plan do they all get a proportional value of the farm or does the child who has remained on the farm receive more to reflect […] Read more
