(Mecaleha/iStock/Getty Images)

Trade certainty doesn’t translate to higher loonie

CNS Canada — Even with more certainty around trade with the U.S., Canadians shouldn’t expect to see the dollar flying in value. “It’s hard for me to see the Canadian dollar gain value against the U.S. dollar in the short term, unless the Bank of Canada totally revises its stance towards interest rates,” said J.P. […] Read more

Sides of pork in cold storage. Tariffs on U.S. pork in China and Mexico have curtailed U.S. exports, resulting in price-depressing oversupply. (Agnormark/iStock/Getty Images)

Hog producers continue struggle toward profitability

CNS Canada — Hog prices might have regained some value in recent days, but many producers are still a long way from profitability, according to the chair of Manitoba Pork. That’s why lenders such as Farm Credit Canada, who show they understand the needs of producers who are dependent on commodity markets, are appreciated, said […] Read more

U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum have affected the cost of agriculture equipment.

Commodity prices, trade cloud equipment sales projections

The decline in the Canadian dollar makes imported equipment more expensive for farmers

At Farm Credit Canada, we project total tractor sales to increase 1.4 per cent in 2018 and decline 1.6 per cent in 2019. The outlook for combine and 4WD tractor sales is more pessimistic as sales are projected to normalize to levels below the 2013-17 average sales. Our projections embed a high level of uncertainty. […] Read more

The new world of Canadian dairy pricing

The new world of Canadian dairy pricing

Nearly 30 per cent of the price farmers receive for milk is now tied to global prices

Dairy farmer Paul Vickers knew change was coming, but he was still a bit shocked when his June milk payments brought in less revenue than usual. Like many dairy farmers across Canada, Vickers is adjusting to swings in revenue unlike anything seen since the advent of supply management almost 50 years ago. A greater percentage […] Read more

Pulse prices are likely to come under pressure due to large existing supplies. Photo: Thinkstock

Pulse prices feel pressure from rising ending stocks

CNS Canada – Increasing pulse ending stocks are going to continue to play into pulse crop prices in Canada, according to the latest update from Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) ag economics team. “We’re still expected to see ending stocks increasing. So as we continue to see that ending stocks increase, that stock-to-use-ratio that we’d see […] Read more


Farm equity continues to climb in Ontario, with both land value and crop inventory value increasing in 2017 over 2016.

Ag balance sheet points to stable Canadian farm economy

Farm real estate now accounts for more than three quarters of farm asset value

Canadian farmers saw their farm equity climb 6.9 per cent last year compared to the year before and Farm Credit Canada’s principal agricultural economist said that falls in line with FCC’s analysis. Data released by Statistics Canada in June reported 2017 farm equity climbed $36.4 billion to $535.3 billion, compared to $500.75 billion in 2016. […] Read more

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Farmland values rise, but interest rates curb market

CNS Canada — Prices of Canadian farmland were seen rising in 2017, with most sales happening in the first half of 2017 before interest rate increases and the drought in Western Canada hit. That’s according to the annual Farmland Values Report released Monday by Farm Credit Canada (FCC), based on 90 per cent of farmland […] Read more

Ontario farmland prices increased 9.4 per cent on average in 2017.

Ontario farmland price increases outpace national gains

Good crops, good prices and a strong supply management sector is fuelling demand

The average value of Ontario farmland increased 9.4 per cent in 2017, slightly ahead of the national gain of 8.4 per cent the latest price report from Farm Credit Canada (FCC) says. “Ontario’s farmland value increases continued to be fuelled by the strong demand from supply-managed farm operations and cash crop producers competing for a limited […] Read more


CN locomotives in Winnipeg (Photo courtesy CN)

CN apologizes as farm groups, Ottawa press on rail service

Canada’s largest railway has taken the unusual step of apologizing for its pace of grain delivery in recent weeks and pledging “immediate steps” to improve its grain handle. After parting ways with its CEO Luc Jobin on Monday, Canadian National Railway (CN), through interim CEO Jean-Jacques Ruest, said Wednesday it “apologize(s) for not meeting the […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

FCC sees benefits in new Trans-Pacific trade pact

CNS Canada — The future of trade for the Canadian agriculture industry is looking bright from the perspective of Canada’s federal ag lending agency, with progress on the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). According to Farm Credit Canada (FCC), anytime Canada can get less-restricted access to markets it is good for agriculture. “We can […] Read more