Farmland is still getting more expensive in Manitoba, but not as much as the national average.

Farmland values still rising, but slower

High interest rates and already high prices are contributing to the slowdown

Average Manitoba farmland prices were up 6.4 per cent in the first half of 2023, slightly below the Canadian average increase of 7.7 per cent. The data, released in an Oct. 3 Farm Credit Canada (FCC) report, shows the province following the national trend. Analysts say the rate of increase is starting to ease. “When

Developer in China proposes wheat, garlic for houses

Developer in China proposes wheat, garlic for houses

Desperate Chinese property developer proposes novel swap

Reuters – A desperate developer in China’s softening property market has devised a novel promotion to attract buyers, recently offering to take wheat and garlic as down payments. One advertisement of Henan-based Central China Real Estate that had “swap wheat for house” in the title says buyers can use the crop, priced at two yuan


Sam Thorpe of Spade and Plow stands in front of a field of harvested artichoke plants at his family’s farm in San Martin, California, June 3, 2019.

In the heart of the U.S. high tech sector, farmers fight for land

In wealthy Silicon Valley, a $500-million plan to save threatened farmland

Thomson Reuters Foundation – With a swipe of his harvesting knife, Sam Thorpe frees a handful of spinach from its roots in the soil. “In the winter it’s so sweet it’s like candy,” he says, examining the small yield in his palm. For the past four years, Thorpe and his family have built a reputation

(Leg.bc.ca)

B.C. Greens seek limits on foreign ownership of farmland

The party holding the balance of power in British Columbia’s legislature wants to curb foreign ownership of farmland in the province’s Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). Green Party leader Andrew Weaver on Thursday introduced the Property Law Amendment Act as a private member’s bill, which he said “would prohibit foreign entities from purchasing ALR land over

Bryan Nichols, chair of Emerson-Franklin Heritage Holdings Inc. (r) and some of the 12 members of its committee are very excited about Dominion City becoming the first place in Manitoba to build an Abbeyfield House for local seniors. Also pictured are Dave and Bev Kirkpatrick (l to r) and Bev Berrington. Construction now well underway is expected to be complete and the new house ready for residents by autumn 2016.

House rising in Dominion City a new concept for seniors’ housing in small towns

This small southeastern Manitoba village is building the first Abbeyfield House in Manitoba. 
The alternative housing model for seniors is now found across North America and Europe

A new 6,000-sq.-foot bungalow-style home under construction in Dominion City sounds like a very big house, but it’s being built to show how smaller homes for an aging population can be just the right fit for rural communities. The scaled-up, multi-family house later this year will become home to a mix of couples and individuals


flag of China

Brace for more commodity volatility due to China

China’s real estate bubble is deflating as the economy slows

When someone asks where commodity prices are headed, they’re really asking: what’s the outlook for China? Last year, China consumed more coal than the rest of the world combined and imported 70 per cent of the world’s seaborne iron ore. In 2012, China accounted for half of the global growth in oil demand. It’s a

farm family standing in a pasture with cattle

Cattle producers seek protection from residential neighbours

Manitoba municipality ignores its own bylaw in the 
endeavour to develop rural residential property

Area livestock operators say they fear being squeezed out by a proposed residential development their municipality has approved based on false information and in contravention of local bylaws. Residents opposed to the project say the developer behind a proposed 96-acre housing development east of Carberry failed to disclose in his rezoning application that there are

grain bins

Editorial: Captive grain, and captive farmers?

COFCO likley to create waves for the future of grain pricing

Those who follow livestock markets will know the term “captive cattle” — feedlot cattle owned by the large packers, and which they can use to maintain supply and/or take the pressure off rising open-market prices. In the past that’s led to some U.S. government intervention, such as mandatory reporting of purchases and prices. Recent developments


NFU recommendations to protect farmland, tackle farm debt

1. Enact laws to restrict farmland ownership to individuals who live in the province the land is in and the same for incorporated farming operations, including co-operatives. 2. Provincial governments should monitor farmland ownership and report changes annually and also consider legislating the maximum amount of farmland an individual or incorporated family farm can own.

canola field

Land values may have peaked

Land prices could fall, but the only thing that really matters is if you can afford 
to make payments on what you’ve already bought

For years land prices and rents have only been doing one thing — climbing. But with the drop in commodity prices and changing markets, it seems that prices may have peaked. “I think we’re at the top of the cycle,” said Merle Good, a former tax specialist from Alberta Agriculture, and a speaker at Ag