Ontario in distress Corn and soybean crops suffer from prolonged hot weather, lack of rain
TORONTO — Parts of Ontario, one of Canada’s largest agricultural-producing provinces, have been hit with the most severe drought in decades and already, debate is swirling about appropriate government response. Last week, both federal New Democrats and Liberals in Ottawa denounced the federal Conservative government for not promising help. Among provincial players, reaction is more […] Read moreNews
Drought spurs call for help, but damage unclear
Increase tax write-off allowance: CFA
Off-farm income | Group says 23-year-old rule ‘penalizes’ young farmers
TORONTO — The Canadian Federation of Agriculture plans a Parliament Hill campaign this autumn to try to change a 23-year-old Income Tax Act rule on farm loss tax writeoffs against off-farm income. Under Income Tax Act rules last amended in 1989, part-time farmers trying to claim farm losses against off-farm income are limited to an […] Read moreOpinions diverge on life after the single desk
Some will win, some will lose Farm size, producer experience a deciding factor, say experts
It’s official. Western Canada’s single-desk grain marketing agency is a thing of the past. But the passionate and divergent views surrounding single-desk marketing aren’t likely to disappear soon. From the most fervent pro-board supporters to the most dedicated open-market advocates, every one of Western Canada’s 75,000 grain farmers has an opinion on the advantages and […] Read moreRequiem for the Canadian Wheat Board, maybe
End of an era | The powers of the Canadian Wheat Board are put to rest with the close of the crop year. It’s a move some producers have been eagerly awaiting, while others see it as an assault on farmer autonomy. | Stories by Brian Cross, Saskatoon Bureau
After years of debate, farmer protests, legal challenges and the battle between pro-board supporters and open market advocates, Western Canada’s single-desk grain marketing system was officially put to rest this week. On Aug. 1, Western Canadian farmers, along with private-sector grain companies, independent brokers, marketing consultants and a profoundly revamped version of the Canadian Wheat […] Read moreFarmers urged to adapt to change
A rising global population, changing weather patterns and dwindling supplies of cultivated land will require farmers and researchers to find new ways to feed the planet. Academics attending a three-day conference in Saskatoon said agricultural practices must change, management of land resources must improve and productivity must increase if the world hopes to sustain the […] Read more
When is it a good time to reseed canola?
Canola study | Early results suggest 20 plants per square metre can provide good yields
INDIAN HEAD, Sask. — Researchers in Saskatchewan are examining the less-than-ideal conditions under which producers might consider reseeding canola. The early returns on the project indicate growers might be able to salvage respectable yields from fields with lower plant populations without reseeding, said Chris Holzapfel, research manager for the Indian Head Agricultural Foundation. “If you […] Read moreCFA has showdown with Ottawa over AgriStability cuts
$2 billion in savings Canadian Federation of Agriculture says cuts will render the farm income stabilization program useless
TORONTO — Canadian Federation of Agriculture leaders are accusing the federal government of planning to “gut” the AgriStability program in talks being held behind farmers’ backs. During a July 26 session between CFA board members from across the country and assistant deputy agriculture minister Greg Meredith, the senior federal bureaucrat confirmed that cuts are coming. […] Read moreCanola prices ride drought to new heights
Canola growers owe a debt of gratitude to the U.S. drought for the great prices they’re getting. Without ongoing problems in the U.S. soybean crop, canola prices would probably be flat or falling. “Frankly, canola is just another oilseed consuming choice,” said analyst Greg Kostal about canola’s participation in the recent rally that has taken […] Read more
CN, CP Rail earnings stay on track
Share values remain strong | CPR earnings fall in second quarter but investors stay the course
(Reuters) — Canadian Pacific Railway’s investors have shrugged off weaker quarterly results and bid up its shares, signalling confidence in the colourful new chief executive’s ability to deliver on a promised turnaround. CP’s second-quarter net income fell to $103 million, or 60 cents a share, from $128 million, or 75 cents, a year earlier. By […] Read moreGetting better and better or bigger and bigger?
The debate about whether farms should grow larger or stay at the approximate size they are now has been circulating for years. Understanding the issues and making the proper management decisions on farm size can be complex. Farms increase in size for different reasons. Having the next generation return to the farm drives growth. When […] Read more
