Labour shortages are a global issue across every sector, including Ontario’s agri-business, according to a recent survey from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. “We found that almost two-thirds (61 per cent) of agri-business owners turned to their existing employees to work more hours due to lack of staff,” said Jasmin Guenette, the federation’s vice-president […] Read more
Tag Archives economy
Chronic labour shortages increase national food security risk: study
Labour shortages trigger lost sales, lost contracts and decreased services
Used farm equipment to remain pricey
Strong farm cash receipts, weakening U.S. exchange rate underpins farm equipment values
Glacier FarmMedia – The price of new and late model farm equipment will continue to be high in 2023. As the loonie’s value falls in relation to the American dollar, assets manufactured outside of Canada cost more. “Especially when you’ve got a piece of equipment that you put on order, at some point they’re (dealers) […] Read more
Ontario farmland values nearly double national average
Interest rate effects are present, but delayed
High commodity prices and pent-up demand for Ontario property continue to raise farmland values despite higher interest rates. Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) recent mid-year land values report again highlights across-the-board increases in average farmland values, but Ontario figures are nearly double the national average. FCC analyses highlight an 8.3 per cent increase in farmland values […] Read more
China to step up investment in rural infrastructure
Beijing | Reuters – China will accelerate investment in rural infrastructure to improve its ability to ensure food supply while also stabilizing the economy, according to a plan published by the agriculture ministry on Tuesday. The plan, backed by eight ministries and government agencies, comes amid slowing growth in the world’s second-biggest economy, due to […] Read more
Opinion: One-size-fits-all policies no longer work
Canada’s agriculture industry has been undergoing significant changes over the past 45 years. Since the 1970s, the number of farms has been steadily declining, but not all farms have been impacted equally — mid-size farms have been hit the hardest, as the number of small and large farms increases. The mid-size farm category used to cover the majority of agricultural operations. […] Read more
Machinery market remains hot, but sales cool
Machinery makers face shortages of parts, supply chain delays, rising costs for labour and transportation as COVID disrupts business
Glacier FarmMedia – Farm equipment sales are down for Canada and United States, with Canada showing significant reductions from last year on the largest gear. This year, four-wheel drive tractors and combines in Canada saw sales fall 22 per cent from last season at this time. American numbers were better, but followed the same trend, […] Read more
Opinion: Populist politics can have negative impact on debt crisis
Glacier FarmMedia – Crop and other commodity markets are off their highs, but don’t expect the commodity bull market to go away soon or for its impacts to fade. Prices for food, fuel and other indispensable commodities are still high enough to tip numerous nations into financial trouble, economic hardship, hunger and political strife. A […] Read more
Market value alone is selling nature short, governments told
Economic valuations needed but 'not sufficient,' co-chair says
Reuters — What is the value of a river? Is it for the nutritional content of the fish it sustains? The economic benefit of the local livelihoods it supports? Or does the river have its own value which humans cannot measure? Such questions may seem removed from the issues the world faces, from deepening climate […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: The larger picture behind drop in canola
MarketsFarm – While the declines in canola prices can be partially attributed to the lack of major weather concerns on the Canadian Prairies and the early development of this year’s crop, an analyst said the main reason is on a grander scale. “The major one is the overall drop in the commodity world. For instance, […] Read more
ICE weekly outlook: ‘Meltdown’ not yet on canola market radar
MarketsFarm — There’s more to the sharp decline in U.S. wheat and corn futures than the possibility of Ukrainian exports returning to the global market along with the massive liquidation of longs, according to analyst Errol Anderson of ProMarket Communications in Calgary. “My theory with what is going on is that we’re seeing a fairly […] Read more
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