Funding for ag tech and food technology firms hit a peak of US$53 billion in 2021, then dropped to $31 billion in 2022 and sank to $16 billion in 2023. | Getty Images

FCC increases focus on agriculture, food tech investment

FCC Capital is the next step in Farm Credit Canada’s effort to invest in funds dedicated to the agri-food technology sector

WINNIPEG — After peaking in 2021, global investment in agriculture and food technology had a tough year in 2023. Funding for ag tech and food technology firms hit a peak of US$53 billion in 2021, then dropped to $31 billion in 2022 and sank to $16 billion in 2023. “There’s no way to sugar coat […] Read more

Total inventory decreased by two per cent year-over-year, wrote FCC senior economists Justin Shepherd and Leigh Anderson on Sept. 11. | File photo

Beef cow, replacement heifer numbers suggest producers aren’t ready to grow herds: FCC

Total inventory decreased by two per cent year-over-year

Glacier FarmMedia – Canada’s beef cow and replacement herd was at its smallest since 1987 at the beginning of July, and FCC analysis suggests 2025 may not be the year for herd growth. Total inventory decreased by two per cent year-over-year, wrote FCC senior economists Justin Shepherd and Leigh Anderson on Sept. 11. Heifers intended […] Read more

Farm Credit Canada says productivity in oilseed and grain milling jumped significantly in the last 20 years because companies invested millions to construct large-scale canola crushing and oat milling plants on the Prairies.  |  File photo

Canola crush productivity doubles in 20 years

Farm Credit Canada report on food manufacturing finds grain and oilseed milling productivity grew by 107.4 per cent

WINNIPEG — When compared to other parts of Canada’s food industry, oilseed crushing is a superstar. From 2003-23, the productivity growth in grain and oilseed milling was 107.4 per cent. In comparison, productivity growth in Canada’s dairy processing industry during the same period was only six per cent. Those figures come from a Farm Credit […] Read more


Catalera is a new entity in the world of biologicals, a generic term to describe crop protection and fertility products that are derived from bacteria, fungi, plant extracts and other natural organisms. | Catalera photo

Biologicals business receives funding boost

WINNIPEG — A Vancouver company with ambitions of making biologicals “the future” of crop protection and pest solutions has secured investment from a major player in Canada’s agricultural industry. On Tuesday morning, Catalera BioSolutions announced the initial close of its Series A funding round. S2G Ventures, a venture capital firm in Chicago, is leading the […] Read more

Prices haven't dropped, but the lack of transactions is a signal that demand is softer, says the chief economist at Farm Credit Canada. | Getty Images

Farmland transaction numbers down this year

FCC says producers are worried about commodity prices, input costs and interest rates, which could hurt farmland values

UPDATED: Farmland values chart added September 12, 2024 – 1030 CST – WINNIPEG — Less farmland has been bought and sold in Canada this year. Prices haven’t dropped, but the lack of transactions is a signal that demand is softer, says the chief economist at Farm Credit Canada. FCC will release its official estimates of […] Read more


Lower feed costs should come as welcome news for Canadian hog producers.  |  File photo

Outlook looks brighter for Canadian hog market

Pork producers have a reason to be optimistic as their feed costs drop and demand from the United States strengthens

Glacier FarmMedia – A decline in feed costs and lower hog supplies should create optimism for hog producers, says Farm Credit Canada. Feed costs as a percentage of revenue are now closer to the historic norm, says FCC senior economist Justin Shepherd. The most recent 2024 data shows feed costs average 63 per cent of […] Read more

"Canada has been really great. We started with 40,000 acres in 2021…. We're over 700,000 acres enrolled this year," said Sally Flis, the Nutrien's director of sustainability program design and outcome management. | File photo

Corporate fertilizer plan pushes sustainability

Convincing farmers to try something new isn’t the easiest task. So, over the last few years, Nutrien Ag Solutions must be doing something right. Related story: ‘This isn’t going to go away’ It has persuaded a significant number of Prairie farmers to sign up for its Sustainable Nitrogen Outcomes program. “Canada has been really great. […] Read more

Ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of EMILI’s Innovation Farms Centre. | Don Norman photo

FCC, EMILI renew partnership to improve farm productivity

Five-year commitment will last through to 2029 and provide foundation for “farmer-centric” innovations

Glacier FarmMedia – Farm Credit Canada and digital ag accelerator EMILI (Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative) have announced renewal of their partnership. The announcement was made Aug. 1 at EMILI’s Innovation Farms during the organization’s 4R Days and coincided with a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of the new 8,500-square-foot Innovation Farms Centre. […] Read more


Steve MacKenzie-Grieve of Yukon Grain Farm checks crops in July. The farm supplies vegetables such as beets, kohlrabi and cabbage to local grocery stores in Whitehorse.  |  Karen Briere photo

Farming north of 60 requires self-sufficiency

Former Alberta producers grow wheat, oats, peas, barley, camelina, canola and a wide variety of vegetables in the Yukon


WHITEHORSE — Thirty kilometres from Whitehorse, amid the mountains and the forest, canola is blooming bright yellow. The colour is unexpected, unlike the Prairies where it is so common. Yukon Grain Farm has been growing Polish varieties for the last four years. It’s a value-added proposition for the operation, which has a small crusher and […] Read more

Administration of APP could change

WHITEHORSE — Farmer-led organizations could lose their ability to run the Advance Payments Program, the largest administrator warned recently. About 30 organizations handle the program on behalf of the federal government. Dave Carey, vice-president of government and industry relations at the Canadian Canola Growers Association, said Ottawa is considering handing national administration to Farm Credit […] Read more