Farm business Archives - Page 7 of 35

U.S. hail insurer looks northward

By Dave Bedard March 3, 2025

Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. of Iowa has made its first venture outside the U.S., buying the 80 per cent of Prairie crop hail insurance firm Palliser Insurance it didn’t already own, for an undisclosed amount. FMH CEO Shannon Rutledge said in a release in February that Palliser’s “regional expertise, knowledge and accomplishments…will contribute to […] Read more

Five-year financing on new equipment doesn’t care if cash flow and profit are less than they were when you made the purchase.

Features

To debt, or not to debt?

As we head further into 2025, will more debt be essential for a farm’s success?

By April Stewart February 28, 2025

Glacier FarmMedia — There are many pressures on the agriculture industry and its individual businesses. Our farms are expected to do more at every turn. Every sector is feeling the effects of those expectations. And you don’t need to go far to find a farmer who will tell you the cost underpinning all the programs, […] Read more

Despite my call for an official recession in Canada, I do think our stocks will perform better, with a gain of perhaps 10 per cent.

Columns, Home Quarter Investing, Markets

A spectacular 2024 defied predictions, again

Investing for Fun and Profit: Also, my amateur investor market outlook for 2025

By Herman VanGenderen February 28, 2025

The stock market was a happy place in 2024, with the U.S. S&P 500 delivering a 25 per cent total return, including dividends. Even the laggardly Canadian TSX joined the party with a total return of 21.6 per cent. How did my 2024 predictions turn out compared to the pros, and what do I see […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Canola, Equipment, Markets

FCC’s charts to consider in 2025

On a per-acre basis, equipment costs have risen faster than farm revenue

By Farm Credit Canada February 28, 2025

Editor’s Note: Following are excerpts from a Jan. 15 blog post by the Economics branch of Farm Credit Canada. “As we start the new year amid new challenges, including slowing population growth and potential trade barriers, here are our top charts to help make sense of the economic environment for the agriculture and agri-food sector, […] Read more

Columns, Editor's column

Editor’s Rant: We’re all Phil now

By Dave Bedard February 27, 2025

It’s been a long time since I’ve watched the movie Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray plays a weatherman doomed to live out the same day over and over again, but I’d say that to see pundits talking — on and around Groundhog Day, of all days — about the suddenly urgent need to diversify Canada’s […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Markets

How tariffs could influence cattle prices

The Markets: A 10 per cent tariff on Canadian cattle could be absorbed by U.S. consumer prices

By Jerry Klassen February 26, 2025

During the first couple weeks of January, auction markets in Western Canada experienced a surge in sales as cow-calf producers increased selling prior to the Trump inauguration. Feeder cattle markets have been trading at record highs, which may have contributed to the feeder cattle liquidation; however, most cattle producers were selling in anticipation of U.S. […] Read more

Variability across a farm, or even within a field, can complicate data analysis for a producer.

Crops, Features

Dollars from data

Improving the quality of the quantifying can help improve bottom lines, nutrient management, yields and decision-making

By Don Norman February 13, 2025

Unlocking the full strength of your data can turn small changes into bigger returns, and smart, localized insights can boost a farm’s bottom line, Brunel Sabourin of Antara Agronomy says. Sabourin was speaking to an audience of farmers and agronomists at St. Jean Farm Days, an agricultural event at St. Jean Baptiste, Man., about 60 […] Read more

General, News

Stein appointed to manage AFA

Newly-hired executive director will lead formulation of strategic plan

By Gord Gilmour February 12, 2025

The Alberta Federation of Agriculture has appointed Aaron Stein its new executive director. He'll be leading the formulation of a five year strategic plan for the group.

Like machinery, farming family teams require alignment and organization.

Columns, Farm Life

Focus on your family strengths to move forward

Seeds of Encouragement: The Appreciative Inquiry exercise can shed new light on the potential of your people

By Crisol Gonzalez, Elaine Froese February 10, 2025

Elaine writes: What if you could break free from being stuck, by emphasizing the positive aspects of your farm family business? One of my core strengths, according to the Clifton StrengthsFinder quiz, is positivity. As a coach I often see the positive choices ahead and I hope this article by my coaching teammate Crisol Gonzalez […] Read more

Crops that are less expensive to grow but still have profit potential may look more attractive in the expected market environment.

Crops, Features, Markets

Expect smaller margins for error in 2025

Unless you're growing pinto beans, sharpen your pencils when calculating costs of production

By Robert Arnason February 9, 2025

Glacier FarmMedia — As of this writing it’s four and a half months until Canadian farmers will plant their next crop and at least eight months before the next harvest. But as of the middle of December, potential profits from growing grains, oilseeds and pulses are looking grim in Western Canada. “Costs have come down […] Read more

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