Farmers must be part of any national conservation plan but they have to be compensated if it is to work, farm leaders have told a parliamentary committee. The House of Commons environment committee has been holding hearings on the possibility of creating a national conservation plan, and on May 1 committee members heard a farm […] Read more
Tag Archives Ag Finance
Farmers need incentive for land set aside plan
Alberta’s rural population grows
These are definitions used by Statistics Canada to sort and categorize populations based on size and proximity to urban centres:
Alberta’s rural population grew faster than the national average between 2006-11, according to Statistics Canada. It also had a larger percentage of rural residents than Canada as a whole. The number of Alberta rural residents rose by 4.1 percent in the five-year census period. As well, they made up 19.4 percent of the provincial population. […] Read moreFlawed tally of farm numbers distorts ag picture: think-tank
When Statistics Canada published the first results of its 2011 Census of Agriculture last week, the results had an air of unreality to many farm leaders and analysts. There were more than 205,000 Canadian farmers in 2011, down 10 percent since 2006, and on average they were farming 778 acre operations, said the census result. […] Read more
Analysis raises alarm bells over Agrium’s nitrogen buy
An independent analysis of Glencore’s proposed acquisition of Viterra has raised many of the same concerns about the deal voiced by farmers. Glencore intends to sell 232 agri-retail outlets to Agrium once its purchase of Viterra is approved. Some farm organizations and individual farmers have said they worry about what might happen when a company […] Read more
Oat commission planned for Alta.
The Prairie Oat Growers Association may soon live up to its original mandate by including an Alberta oat commission in its fold. POGA president Bill Wilton of Winnipeg said the Alberta Products Marketing Council is now drafting regulations for the proposed Alberta Oat Grower Commission and if approved, the new commission could be established as […] Read more
Protected sectors said to hinder trade
Canada’s staunch defence of supply management makes it impossible to have a clear policy for increased export market access that much of agriculture needs, say George Morris Centre economists. In a study on Canada’s lagging agricultural productivity and world performance published by the Ottawa-based Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Larry Martin and Kate Stiefelmeyer argued that Canadian agriculture […] Read more
Farm equipment makers hit with lower tax credit
Change will ‘hinder innovation’ | Reduction in the manufacturing tax benefit will affect Canadian research
A federal government budget proposal to change the rules for a manufacturers’ tax credit will cost manufacturers of agricultural equipment millions of dollars and hurt competitiveness, says an industry representative. In a budget bill now before Parliament, finance minister Jim Flaherty proposes to reduce the Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax credit for companies to […] Read moreKnow costs, risks before heading for loan
Expansion mode | With rising commodity prices and market volatility, farmers need to know their cost of production
RED DEER — Farmgate prices are up and lenders are looking to expand their agriculture portfolios. However, if interest rates start to climb, this could be a good time to lock in terms, said two Bank of Montreal farm lenders. Farmers are investing in more supply managed quota, new equipment and technology as well as […] Read moreGroup urges Ottawa to continue site funding
Motherwell Homestead | Budget cuts to Parks Canada will see demonstrations become a self-guided tour
People in Abernethy, Sask., are urging the federal government to reconsider budget cuts to the national historic site honouring a former Saskatchewan and federal agriculture minister. Motherwell Homestead will next year become a self-guided site after a $29.2 million budget cut to Parks Canada takes effect. William R. Motherwell was the province’s first agriculture minister […] Read moreClubroot test mandatory to ensure reliable trials
Dozens of research plots in Western Canada are being tested for clubroot before canola is seeded in an effort to stop the disease from spreading. In February, the Western Canada Canola/Rapeseed Recommending Committee required all 37 of its sites be tested for clubroot. Raymond Gadoua, the recommending committee co-ordinator, said the committee has had guidelines […] Read more
