Opinion: Not all interest rate increases are equal

Opinion: Not all interest rate increases are equal

Rising interest rates are disruptive. They can hit cash flow budgets and create the need to adjust the level and mix of short- and long-term liabilities. Or they can shift the demand for farmland, which can impact farm asset values. The bottom line is that interest rates – and changes to those interest rates –

It remains unclear if consumers will pay more for food authenticity.

Comment: The blockchain party

Grocers are finally climbing aboard the blockchain initiative and consumers should rejoice

Walmart, the largest retailer in the world, recently notified its leafy green suppliers that they will need to use blockchain by the end of next year. Walmart is banking on its relationship with IBM to put pressure on the entire sector to comply with what consumers want from the food industry: more transparency. But others


U.S. Senate building

Comment: September slips away — and so do political solutions

The clock is ticking on several U.S. policy decisions that could have global implications

There are never enough days in September for farmers, ranchers, and pennant-chasing baseball teams. Every day, whether spent in a combine, pasture or batter’s box, brings change to what’s real today and what’s possible tomorrow. And it happens fast; September days don’t pass, they evaporate. The U.S. Congress, however, seems not to notice days, months

“Our farmers don’t have access to the Canadian markets the way that they have access to us. Class 7 has to go.” – Sonny Perdue, U.S. agriculture secretary.

U.S. agriculture chief calls for end of Class 7 milk

Trump is talking tough, saying Canada has been ‘ripping us off’ for a long time

Canada must end its low-price milk proteins policy to reach a U.S.-Canadian deal to update the North American Free Trade Agreement, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said Sept. 9. Canada has encouraged overproduction and flooded export markets for milk proteins used in cheese and yogurt, hurting U.S. dairy farmers, Perdue said in an interview aired


Technological advances, coupled with our pursuit of convenience, have given us a lot more time to think about food in a different way.

Comment: Why are consumers going meatless?

The answer has something to do with the economy

We seem to be living in an era in which the pleasure of eating is quite simply overpowered by values-based narratives in food consumption. And this is happening at an astonishing pace. Vegetarianism and veganism are both coming into their own, allowing more people to “come out of the cupboard” to speak openly about and

Politics and a renewed vigour of nationalism are making it increasingly difficult for international trade.

Comment: Agricultural trade in the age of protectionism

The entire industry and government must work harder than ever to ensure market access

The world has entered a new age of nationalism, resulting in growing trade protectionism and increasing barriers for Canadian farmers and exporters who depend on international markets. The idea that trade is about winning or losing is dangerous and misleading. This idea ignores the world’s growth over the last 75 years and the disastrous outcomes


Tariffs not the answer to U.S. trade woes

Testimony by Minnesota Farm Bureau president Kevin Paap to the U.S. House Ways and Means subcommittee on trade, Washington, D.C., July 18. Agricultural exports are important economic drivers. Once you lose a market, it is really tough to get it back. In 2017, we exported $140 billion in farm products, which is $21 billion more

Editorial: The Trump discount

Editorial: The Trump discount

If you follow markets, especially if you grow soybeans, you’ll know about the price debacle resulting from President Trump’s decision to start a trade war with China. In retaliation for his duty on manufactured goods, China slapped a 25 per cent tariff on U.S. soybeans. That’s caused U.S. futures to plummet to a 10-year low



Almost 60 per cent of all Canadian consumers consider price as one of the top three decision criteria when grocery shopping.

Opinion: ‘Shrinkflation’ is a thing

Ingredient prices are rising but Canadians stubbornly won’t pay more at the till

Most consumers are always concerned about the cost of food. We constantly look for bargains and the food industry knows it. According to a recent survey, almost 60 per cent of all Canadian consumers consider price as one of the top three decision criteria when grocery shopping. Price is key, no matter what. Pricing in