(Dave Bedard photo)

Food sales grew but margins tightened in 2022, FCC says

Modest further growth expected this year

Food and beverages sales increased in Canada last year, even as margins hit an historic low and consumers chose Canadian less. According to the latest FCC Food and Beverage Report, released Tuesday, sales increased 11 per cent to $156 billion in 2022. These gains came largely from higher export values and strength in the grain […] Read more

“We have not yet seen the full impact of higher interest rates on the demand for farmland.” J.P. Gervais.  Graphic: Farm Credit Canada

Farmland values exceed expectations

Ontario leads the country with 19.4 per cent increase

Average farmland prices were up 12.8 per cent in Canada in 2022, the largest increase seen since 2014 when the increase was 14.3 per cent. The increase follows gains of 8.3 per cent in 2021 and 5.4 per cent in 2020. J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief economist, said the numbers were a little bit of a […] Read more

(Screengrab from Merit Functional Foods video via YouTube)

Plant protein processor Merit Foods in receivership

Company owes $95 million to EDC, FCC

The company behind a new Prairie processing plant extracting plant-based proteins from peas and canola has landed in receivership, in the high eight figures’ debt to its secured lenders. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on Wednesday announced it’s the receiver for both Merit Functional Foods Corp. and the numbered company that owns Merit’s processing plant and property in […] Read more

Although farm revenues are up, costs are also increasing, said FCC Industry Relations Manager Darlene McBain.

Farm revenues should rise in 2023, but so will costs

Annual FCC Economic Outlook focuses on predicted global economic slowdown

Food price inflation and labour market volatility remain the post-pandemic factors to watch, Farm Credit Canada finance specialists said during the agency’s annual economic outlook Jan. 24. Although challenges like supply chain disruptions and fluctuating input costs have eased somewhat, they will likely have an effect on farm costs and profitability in 2023. Held the […] Read more

Justine Hendricks, shown here in a 2019 video, is the new CEO of Farm Credit Canada. (Elevate International video screengrab video via YouTube)

EDC executive to lead Farm Credit Canada

Justine Hendricks to replace retiring Michael Hoffort

Canada’s federal farm lender is importing its next chief executive from Export Development Canada. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Wednesday announced the appointment of Justine Hendricks, EDC’s senior vice-president and chief corporate sustainability officer since 2019, as FCC’s new CEO effective Jan. 30, 2023. As CEO, Hendricks replaces Michael Hoffort, an FCC staffer since […] Read more


(Luca Piccini Basile/iStock/Getty Images)

Farm equipment demand to remain high, FCC says

Low inventories, high commodity prices and a good crop place pressure on demand

Demand for farm equipment should remain high through 2023 despite higher interest rates and projected price increases, according to Farm Credit Canada. The federal ag lender has released an outlook on the farm equipment market that analyzed data and trends that affect the market. While the outlook attributes much of the current demand to relatively […] Read more

Farmers face a number of uncontrollable factors that can lead to high rates of depression, anxiety, even suicide. (Eclipse_images/E+/Getty Images)

Free mental health training, workshops offered for farmers

Do More Ag Foundation expands programming available

Farmers seeking mental health support will have access to free training and community workshops for the fourth year in a row via the Do More Agriculture Foundation (DMAF) and Farm Credit Canada (FCC). Factors such as financial insecurity, uncontrollable weather and isolating working conditions contribute to high depression, anxiety and suicide rates among farmers, according […] Read more

Ontario farmland values nearly double national average

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


Interest rates have risen 300 basis points since the beginning of the year.  Photo: Andreas Wiebe/File

Farmland prices remain buoyant in the face of interest rate hikes

Despite significant interest rate hikes, Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is reporting continued increases in farmland values across Canada. According to the FCC report, Manitoba’s average farmland values increased by 6 per cent in the first six months of 2022. Alberta values were just behind that at 5.9 per cent and Saskatchewan was just above the […] Read more

The Bank of Canada continues to raise interest rates in an effort to halt inflation.

Understanding risk exposure key to managing rising interest rates

The Bank of Canada is signalling that more rate hikes are coming

Glacier FarmMedia – Farmers need to thoroughly understand their risk exposure as they view the Bank of Canada’s latest interest rate hike, says Farm Credit Canada (FCC) economist J.P. Gervais. The Bank of Canada on Sept. 7 announced a 75-basis-point increase in its key rate, bringing it to 3.25 per cent. It followed a 100-basis-point increase […] Read more