Farm business Archives - Page 11 of 35

Fed cattle prices are expected to trend lower from October 2024 to December 2025.

Cattle market vulnerable to slower economic growth

The Markets: Watch consumer trends for indications of a beef price slowdown

By Jerry Klassen September 18, 2024

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $425-$428/cwt delivered in mid-August. Live prices were quoted at $255/cwt (US$186), f.o.b. feedlot, in southern Alberta. The fed market has come off the summer highs as demand eases moving into the fall period. Monthly restaurant spending on both sides of the […] Read more

Capacity to sit on this year’s crop waiting for a better price won’t be an option available to everyone.

Crops, News

Feeling the pinch

Uncertainty across commodity and input markets creates difficult choices for farmers

By Don Norman September 18, 2024

Farmers are facing a tight squeeze this fall. Commodity prices are low, and the lower input prices that they’re used to this time of year are not materializing. Keystone Agricultural Producers president Jill Verwey says it’s a tough time for growers. “Being able to make a profit this year is going to be pretty slim,” […] Read more

Stocks do pay more than bonds, for those of us prepared to manage the pain and suffering stocks can wreak en route to that payoff.

Columns

What good are bonds?

Bonds and Risk: The price for the greater security bonds provide is that they do pay less on an historical basis compared to stocks

By Andrew Allentuck September 17, 2024

Bonds have long been scorned by investors lured by the seemingly higher returns of stocks. To be honest, on a historical basis, comparing returns over decades, stocks do pay more than bonds — but those stocks pull off this feat with much more pain and suffering. With the higher reward goes the higher risk. For […] Read more

As I’ve already experienced with telcos, declining profitability often leads to declining service levels.

Columns, Home Quarter Investing, Markets

Can Canada’s banks and telcos maintain as reliable performers?

Investing for Fun and Profit: Also includes an update on the latest status of the Titanium Strength Portfolio

By Herman VanGenderen September 16, 2024

This is my 100th column over the past six years for Grainews. I hope you’ve enjoyed the wit and wisdom, albeit limited, and that my musings helped your off-farm investing success. This is also the first column written following the May 15 anniversary of the Titanium Strength Portfolio (TSP). At its outset, the purpose was […] Read more

The bank had held its benchmark rate at a two-decade high of 5 per cent for a year until June when it started the easing cycle. Photo: Getty Images

News

Bank of Canada cuts rate by 25 basis points

By Reuters September 4, 2024

The Bank of Canada has made another 25 basis point cut to its benchmark interest rate.

Columns, Home Quarter Investing

Energy reflections of our recent Vietnam vacation

Investing for Fun and Profit: In a country facing rapid growth and corresponding energy demand, every day is a smog day

By Herman VanGenderen August 8, 2024

Vietnam is a fascinating country, rich with culture and history. We also visited Cambodia and its renowned ancient temples, the most famous being Ankor Wat, a UNESCO world heritage site. This was my first time in Southeast Asia. The contrasts are ubiquitous, with modern vehicles sharing streets with rickshaws, modern skyscrapers neighbouring hovels, and elite […] Read more

Our questions and thoughts can create great conversations — if we let them.

Columns, Farm Life

Watch your words

Seeds of Encouragement: Self-defeating language can kill transition conversations and affect your mental health

By Elaine Froese July 31, 2024

Recently in one of our amazing membership coaching calls a farmer sighed loudly about his transition frustration and said, “It is what it is.” This sparked a lively conversation about how we handle our mental well-being, which is often bathed in waves of frustration as we try to navigate the needs and wants of founders […] Read more

Markets, News

Bank of Canada cuts rates, sees weaker economy in 2024

By David Ljunggren, Promit Mukherjee, Reuters July 24, 2024

The Bank of Canada on Wednesday trimmed its key interest rate by 25 basis points for the second month in a row, bringing it to 4.5 per cent, and said more reductions in borrowing costs were likely if inflation continued to cool in line with forecasts.

In the case of farmers such as Herb and Fred who have separate assets, there may be adverse tax consequences in transferring land from one to the other at book value.

Columns

Two brothers want to merge two farms, simplify ownership

Farm Financial Planner: Maximizing the proceeds from their estates for the benefit of charities will take some planning

By Andrew Allentuck July 24, 2024

In south-central Manitoba, two brothers who we’ll call Herb, 75 and Fred, 60, have farmed for more than 40 years. They’ve raised cattle and produced mixed grains. Neither has married and there are no children or other obvious heirs. In their four decades of farming the brothers have built up substantial off-farm assets. There’s enough non-registered […] Read more

Kyle Gibson of AGI3 outside his company’s booth at Ag in Motion. Photo: Don Norman

News

‘Precision’ insurance on offer for farmers

By Don Norman July 18, 2024

Company says individual insurance breaks coverage into different profiles, even within the same farm, making for a more tailored business risk management option.

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures higher on screwworm news

Trade mission heads for Japan as Canada becomes the country’s top pork supplier

U.S. grains: Soybeans drop on lack of Chinese demand, wheat hits contract lows

GFM Network News