Editorial: Armchair economist

It’s been said that anyone who thinks about economic forecasts for more than about a half an hour a year is wasting their life. A professional economist told me that, and what she was getting at is the intractable nature of economics. Even the experts can’t agree on what’s happening, or has happened, never mind

J.P. Gervais, FCC chief agricultural economist, says Canadian farm balance sheets are healthy for now.

Canadian farm balance sheets strong

FCC says the industry is doing well, but there are potential headwinds looming

Canadian agriculture is on a sound financial footing, with record farm income and land values peaking, while the increase in farm debt — also a record — is slowing. Those are the major conclusions of the Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Outlook for Farm Assets and Debt 2016-17 report, published Sept. 7. “The balance sheet of


(Dave Bedard photo)

Farmers’ debt seen hitting fresh record high

Reuters — Canadian farmers’ debt will likely reach another record high this year, while land appreciation slows and incomes flatten, but the industry is still in strong financial shape, the country’s biggest agriculture lender, Farm Credit Canada, forecast on Tuesday. FCC, the federal Crown ag lending agency, sounded a note of caution for farmers, who

Total farm cash receipts projected to remain strong.

Canadian farm equipment sales forecast higher in 2017

Equipment sales and farm cash receipts are directly connected says Farm Credit Canada in a report released this week

When farmers make money they spend it — most often on land and equipment — to improve productivity. With total Canadian farm cash receipts projected to increase just 0.1 per cent this year, Farm Credit Canada (FCC) is forecasting a seven per cent drop in farm equipment sales for 2016 and a seven per cent


Farmland prices, on average, were up 12.4 per cent and 10.1 per cent in Manitoba and Canada, respectively, says Farm Credit Canada’s chief economist J.P. Gervais. The annual rise in farmland values is slowing, but still expected to be positive in 2016 so long farm cash receipts remain stable.

Manitoba, Canadian farmland values up again in 2015

Farm Credit Canada says the annual percentage increase in farmland values is getting smaller

Manitoba farmland values led the way with the highest average percentage increase in Canada last year, says Farm Credit Canada (FCC). But the pace of increases the last few years here and across Canada is slowing in step with the plateauing of farm cash receipts, and slower drop in interest rates, J.P. Gervais, FCC’s chief



Becky Parker

Engaging youth in agriculture

Strategist says start building enthusiasm in the classrooms to avoid labour shortage in the industry

Becky Parker is a young woman with a vision and passion — to engage and educate youth about agriculture, the agri-food sector and its many career opportunities. She is a project and partnership strategist with Ontario Agri-Food and Education and a Nuffield scholar researching models of ag career education. Parker shared a startling fact recently

“If I look at crop receipts in Manitoba, assuming average yields and barring any weather disruptions, we are projecting that revenues will be constant.” – J.P. Gervais

The outlook for 2016: not good, but not a disaster: FCC

FCC’s chief economist says to aim for many small improvements in your operation

Sharpen your pencils for the coming year, says the chief economist for Farm Credit Canada. “We all know that we are in a sluggish economic environment. It is not going to be a good year but it won’t be a disastrous year,” J.P. Gervais told FCC’s Ag Outlook 2016 event in Brandon on Feb. 9.


Low dollar helps exporters

Canadian exporters are seeing increased profits due to a sagging loonie

While many industries are cursing the low Canadian dollar, the agriculture sector isn’t one of them. As the loonie continues to head towards the 60-cent range, Farm Credit Canada’s chief agricultural economist said there are benefits to those selling agricultural goods into other markets. “I think there is a benefit right now as we speak,”

Back to Ag program available

Financial support is available to injured farmers

Injured farmers can now receive financial assistance to acquire technology that makes it possible for them to return to work. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) in partnership with Farm Credit Canada (FCC) and the Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) is now offering a Back to Ag Program. The Back to Ag Program provides funding to