Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau in the House of Commons March 22. (Budget.gc.ca via YouTube)

Agrifood a pillar in federal budget’s ‘innovation’ plan

The federal government’s latest budget puts up Canada’s agrifood sector as one of six “key areas” to benefit from a new national “Innovation and Skills Plan.” Federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau on Wednesday unveiled a budget projecting $330.2 billion in expenses in 2017-18 against budgetary revenues of $304.7 billion, for a $28.5 billion deficit. The […] Read more




The farmland cost factor

The farmland cost factor

Fixed costs come out of the gross margin (gross revenue minus operating costs). Ideally the margin over operating costs should be around 35 per cent of gross revenue, with equipment costs at 12 per cent, owner withdrawals at five per cent and land costs at 18 per cent of gross revenue. But as land purchase […] Read more


Production costs for spring planning

Production costs for spring planning

For farmers in southern Manitoba, soybeans are pencilling in well for this spring

Across the Prairies, new cost of production figures and calculators for 2017 are appearing on provincial websites to help producers make sound production, management and marketing decisions. On the marketing side things look a little rosier than they did this time last year. “When you look forward to September 2017, it doesn’t look as bad […] Read more



(USDA.gov via Flickr)

Trump budget plan cuts USDA food, rural water funding

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed halting funding for rural clean water initiatives and reducing county-level staff, for a 21 per cent drop in discretionary spending at the Department of Agriculture (USDA), according to a White House budget document. The $4.7 billion in cuts would leave USDA with a budget of […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

Saskatchewan tightens up powers on Crown land

New legislation giving the Saskatchewan government more powers to prevent misuse of Crown land, and more leeway in dealing with leaseholders, is now in effect. The province on Monday announced its new Provincial Lands Act and related regulations, introduced in the legislature last June, have been formally proclaimed and are now in effect, updating rules […] Read more

(Lely.com)

Robot milker firm Lely to shed forage equipment business

Dutch dairy equipment manufacturer Lely, best known in the Canadian market for its robotic milking systems, plans to focus on that business and sell its forage equipment lines to Agco. The two companies announced Monday they have an agreement in principle for Lely to sell its forage division, including two German manufacturing plants, to U.S.-based […] Read more