Viterra announced Wednesday that it has agreed to sell its livestock feed operations in North America. The deal, now awaiting regulatory approval, is expected to close during Viterra’s second fiscal quarter and includes six feed mills and one pre-mix manufacturing facility in Canada and six feed mills and a commodity blending site in the United […] Read more
Ag Finance
Viterra strikes deal to sell feed operations
New credit insurance program protects against non-payment
A new credit insurance program is the first of its kind for Canadian producers, providing a service previously available only to large grain companies, says the group behind Market Power Assurance. The program, which is a partnership between Farmers of North America, Atradius Credit Insurance NV and Pangaea Global Risk Management, hopes to attract producers […] Read more
Survey shows farming optimism
Looking up | FCC survey shows 80 percent of farmers think they’ll be better off within five years
Canadian agricultural producers are optimistic about their future, with many looking to expand, according to the results of a Farm Credit Canada survey released last week. The survey, conducted last fall, found that 80 percent of respondents expect their farm or business will be better off in five years. That’s up four percent from last […] Read moreViterra posts record returns
Canada’s largest grain handling company has reported record financial results for the 2011 fiscal year and increased its annual dividend to shareholders by 50 percent to 15 cents per share per year. Viterra president Mayo Schmidt said earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization rose 36 percent to $702 million for the fiscal year that […] Read more
Uncertain demand hurts prices
Debt in EU and U.S. big problems | Economic growth slowing in China, India and developing world
Microanalysis of specific supply and demand fundamentals for prairie crops won’t provide the main answers for where crop prices will go in 2012, say many analysts. Commodity prices are mostly driven these days by the level of world demand, and it’s hard to get a clear sense of what demand is likely to be this […] Read moreProfits rise and sales hit record at Buhler as it makes plans to increase profitability
Buhler Industries Inc. set a new record for sales in 2011 but earned smaller profits than it did in 2009. However, profitability and growth are likely to increase in future years as risk management improves and research and development spending continues, the company said in its annual report for 2011, which ended Sept. 30. “Competitive […] Read more
Prairie cities lead economic growth
Four prairie cities will lead the country’s urban areas in economic growth this year, the Conference Board of Canada said this week. Saskatoon will lead the way with four percent growth in gross domestic product. While its growth will be down from 4.6 percent in 2011, Saskatoon remains the leader among 27 Canadian cities analyzed […] Read more
Feds fund Alta. biodiesel plant
New markets for farmers | Company to accept multiple feedstocks, but canola remains first choice
Christmas came early for Kyoto Fuels Corp. when $31.14 million in federal funding was announced Dec. 21. Kyoto Fuels is a biodiesel plant project in the County of Lethbridge that plans to start producing biodiesel this spring. Annual plant capacity is 66 million litres using canola and animal tallow as feedstocks. Kyoto president Kelsey Prenevost […] Read moreCommon mistakes when managing farm’s finances
Financial management is not that interesting for many farmers. It can at times be confusing and difficult to understand. However, financial management is requiring more attention as the business of agriculture evolves and farms advance. All farmers have their own management skills, but many producers, as with other managers, fall into the category of “room […] Read more
Horizon plans new mill for Guelph
Horizon Milling G.P. is planning a new flour mill in Guelph, Ont., which it expects to be operating within three years. Horizon, a partnership between Cargill and CHS, produces Robin Hood flour. Cargill was unable to say how much grain the facility would require, but a company official said it hopes to increase Canadian production […] Read more
