REGINA — Saskatchewan’s auditor says the Farm Land Security Board requires more active regulation and enforcement to identify and deal with potential foreign buyers. The auditor, Tara Clemett, noted that about 40,000 farmland transactions occur every year in the province. “Since 2020, the board issued five orders to sell farmland inappropriately purchased by foreign entities, […] Read more
Tag Archives farmland
Chinese trade tensions worry U.S. agriculture
Farmers worry about recent political tensions that have been growing between the two countries and hampering trade
SASKATOON — There is plenty of handwringing in the U.S. agriculture sector about its tenuous trade relationship with China. That was the theme of a recent webinar hosted by the Council on Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics. Holly Wang, agricultural economist at Michigan State University, said China has been the largest market for U.S. agriculture […] Read more
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
Global interest still strong in farmland purchase
WINNIPEG — With 154 million acres, Canada has a decent share of the world’s crop and pasture land. Canada also has stable governments, reliable laws and a favourable climate for growing crops and raising livestock. But Canada isn’t a destination of choice for global money managers who want to invest in agricultural land, says a […] Read more
Sask. watchdog monitors farmland ownership regulations
WINNIPEG — On any given day at a coffee shop somewhere in rural Saskatchewan, it’s a safe bet that the following topics will come up in conversation — the weather, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and what’s happening with farmland in the area. Most of the time, the coffee talk around farmland is directed at two […] Read more
Farmland prices may have reached turning point
What if current grain prices and squeezed margins are the new normal? Certainly, there are well-capitalized operations with a great deal of resilience. However, you have to think there will be operations financially stretched by aggressive expansion. Timing is everything when a new producer starts out or when a farm makes a major expansion. Buying […] Read more
Investors hot on U.S. farmland
Reuters — Investment funds have become voracious buyers of U.S. farmland, amassing more than a million acres as they seek a hedge against inflation and aim to benefit from the growing global demand for food, according to data reviewed by Reuters and interviews with fund executives. The trend worries some U.S. lawmakers who fear corporate […] Read more
Edmonton region moves to preserve farmland
The regional board wants the province to approve its measure to protect farmland and promote agri-businesses
A plan that is the first of its kind in the prairie provinces seeks to help farmers in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region by protecting prime agricultural land. The most important thing for producers and landowners about the Regional Agriculture Master Plan (RAMP) is that it provides certainty, said Rod Shaigec, mayor of Parkland County. “And […] Read more
Farmland rental rates slow to respond to commodity prices
Economist expects prices will adjust, but farmers with multi-year contracts will see margins squeezed
Prairie crop receipts will be down this year, but it won’t necessarily be immediately reflected in the price that farmers pay for rented land, says a Farm Credit Canada economist. Money on hand is just one factor affecting prices, said Craig Klemmer, senior agricultural economist with FCC. “Rental rates are notoriously sticky,” he said. “They […] Read more
Cheaper grain hurts land demand
Saskatchewan first affected | Alberta and Ontario prices remain strong and are expected to rise
Despite the explosion in farmland values in recent years, Saskatchewan remains home to some of the cheapest prices in Western Canada. It’s also the first province to feel the effects of softening commodity markets and tighter bottom lines on Prairie farms this year, according to a new report published by a real estate company operating […] Read more
