Farm business plans could be one of the tools to help farmers get through the pandemic instability of 2020. “COVID-19 has given us a year where we can see the benefits that business planning can bring,” said Tom Button, Editor of Country Guide during a round table discussion with three other panelists during last month’s […] Read more
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Do you really need to write it down?
Business plans aren’t real until they’re recorded and shared
FCC loan program for women proves popular
Investment in the program will now be twice what was originally planned
Glacier FarmMedia – A federal loan program for women offered through Farm Credit Canada is so popular that it will spend double the amount originally budgeted. Why it matters: Diversity in agriculture helps bring more qualified workers into the sector. The FCC Women Entrepreneur Program was originally a $500 million investment over three years, but […] Read more
Low interest rates present producers with opportunities
Central banks have indicated that they expect to keep rates low for a while
Glacier FarmMedia – It’s a nice time to be carrying debt — if your business is flourishing. Not only are interest rates low, but lenders are looking for borrowers who can pay their bills. That puts farmers in the driver’s seat. Why it matters: Reworking debt when interest rates are low can reduce borrowing costs […] Read more
4-H Canada announces scholarships
4-H Canada has announced the recipients of the 2020 John Deere Canada 4-H Scholarship. Twelve 4-H members from across Canada will receive $1,000 toward their post-secondary education in a degree, certificate, or trade-based program for the upcoming academic year, with the support of John Deere Canada. Ontario students Maggie-Jo Hickson, studying towards a Bachelor of […] Read more
Trade-offs necessary in food-sector COVID recovery
Will Canadians accept higher prices, support for off-shore job creation?
Increased consumer interest in food systems could lead to new markets for farmers and food processors. Structural changes in the food sector have had significant impact on demand for agriculture goods, but the question is whether those changes will be long term or temporary. A series of conversations at Canada’s Digital Farm Show focused on […] Read more
Editorial: Empathy can be a superpower
There was a discussion in mid-August on Twitter among people in the agriculture sector about empathy. It was fascinating and instructive and shows that agriculture, as I’ve often argued, is as diverse in its views as is the rest of society. Empathy is the ability to understand what someone else is experiencing both in concrete […] Read more
Federal irrigation pledge seen flowing mainly to Prairies
Infrastructure plan also includes promised broadband support
Prairie provinces will receive the bulk of Ottawa’s $1.5 billion commitment to support irrigation projects, according to federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday launched a three-year, $10 billion infrastructure plan aimed at five different sectors, including agriculture. The $1.5 billion is expected to result in 700,000 acres of irrigated land. […] Read more
Bayer plans more cost cuts, impairment charges
Pandemic now expected to hit crop science wing
Berlin | Reuters — German drugs and chemical company Bayer announced plans on Wednesday for more than 1.5 billion euros (C$2.34 billion) of cost cuts as of 2024 and said it would take impairment charges on its agricultural business as it battles with low commodity prices. Bayer said that the impact of the coronavirus on […] Read more
AgriSpirit fund helps 92 community projects
Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is giving $1.5 million through its FCC AgriSpirit Fund to 92 community groups across Canada to support rural capital projects. “The FCC AgriSpirit Fund supports rural communities at the heart of Canadian agriculture,” said Sophie Perreault, FCC executive vice-president and chief operating officer. “We are honoured to support the projects that […] Read more
Milkweed key to building monarch butterfly numbers
Science Notes: Monarchs appear to successfully migrate, but there’s concern about declining numbers
A recently published analysis of data on tagged monarch butterflies migrating from the United States to Mexico emphasizes the importance of creating new habitat to ensure the future of the species’ iconic migratory pattern. The study, published recently in the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, drew on data collected on 1.4 million monarch butterflies […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
