Business/Finance Archives - Page 14 of 18

A price chart is worth a thousand words

What can we learn from a look back at this May 2017 canola futures chart?

By Brian Wittal April 24, 2017

I was looking at this May 2017 canola futures charts the other day to remind myself just how much we can learn from them. It is a lot easier to figure out the trends and patterns on a chart after they’ve happened than it is to decipher what will happen while it is happening. Cyclical […] Read more

Columns, Guarding Wealth

Guarding Wealth: Long-term investing is a sure thing

There are short-term risks, but inflation and survivor bias make long-term bets winners

By Andrew Allentuck April 10, 2017

Let’s have a heart to heart talk about the fundamentals of investing on the farm and off the farm and, for that matter, investing in education for a career or a used car. Every investment has character, whether it’s a tech stock and you have to bet on a new trend or product on the […] Read more

Columns, Guarding Wealth

Guarding Wealth: When will the stock market bubble pop?

Stock markets are soaring in spite of increasing risks. If this is a bubble, will it last?

By Andrew Allentuck April 5, 2017

When is a bubble a bubble? The Oxford English Dictionary defines a bubble as “a significant, usually rapid, increase in asset prices that is soon followed by a collapse in prices… typically arises from speculation or enthusiasm rather than intrinsic increases in value.” The question is vital right now, for one of the best guides […] Read more

Lifting the lid on the John Deere battery-powered electric tractor — one 150kW (200 hp) motor drives  the transmission, a second powers the PTO, hydraulics and auxiliary systems. But they can also work  together to deliver up to 300 kW (400 hp) for non-draft applications.

Machinery

Electric shock: battery power is back

John Deere unveils a prototype electric battery-powered tractor in Europe

By Peter Hill April 4, 2017

Just as we’d got used to the idea that hydrogen is the fuel of the future for electrically-driven tractors — according to New Holland’s agenda at least — up pops John Deere with a prototype that puts battery power back in the frame. The people behind the project say it’s the first fully electric battery-powered […] Read more

Columns, Markets

Locking your crop prices in early

Some farmers are afraid to take on the risks of pricing too early in the growing season

By Brian Wittal March 22, 2017

In my experience, most farmers will not price grains six months prior to seeding because it seems too risky — they’re concerned about delivery risk. How can you reduce or eliminate delivery risk so that, if prices are profitable early in the year, you’re not afraid to price some or most of your crop and […] Read more

If your farming is considered a hobby (for example, you only raise a few  farm animals or have a plot to grow food for your own table), you can’t  deduct any expenses or losses.

Features, News

Save your 2016 seed money

Farm Management: Let the CRA tax experts help you reap the most from what you sow

By Heidi Hofstad March 17, 2017

Farmers of all types, from dairy to fruit to livestock, contribute to the economy and to the healthy lives of Canadians. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) wants to help make filing your income tax and benefit return easier so you can save your time and energy for the harvest. If your farming is considered a […] Read more

Crops, Features

Would your farm pass the stress test?

When you pencil out  your farm budgets,  calculate some “what if”  scenarios as well

By Angela Lovell March 3, 2017

New provincial guidelines for estimating 2017 crop production costs are being released across the Prairies. These guidelines can help producers predict their operating costs, breakeven yields and profitability. Producers should also be doing a “stress test” to see how much deviation from those predictions the farm can actually bear without losing money, is the advice […] Read more

Columns

Farm Financial Planner: Planning a less taxing retirement

Herb and Martha are working on a plan to retire while their son takes over the farm

By Andrew Allentuck February 27, 2017

In central Manitoba, a couple we’ll call Herb, 54, and Martha, 52, have farmed for 25 years. The farm is in a partnership with Herb’s brother, who we’ll call Larry. Each brother has an interest in the partnership through his own holding company. The main operating entity is the partnership that does the actual farming […] Read more

Columns, Crops, Markets

Make sure your farm is competitive

Prairie farmers are going to have to stay on the ball to remain profitable in today’s markets

By Brian Wittal February 24, 2017

After some of my recent articles (see links at the right hand column of your screen) talking about what is happening around the world in primary agricultural production — which countries are leading the way and who we in Western Canada are going to have to compete against in the world markets — I have had […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

Understanding feeder cattle risk: Pt. 2

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: You don’t want to be using marketing tools to lock in a loss

By Jerry Klassen February 23, 2017

The feeder cattle market has experienced extreme volatility over the past three years. For this reason, I’ve been writing on managing financial risk for feeder cattle and particularly for backgrounding operations and cow calf producers. In the first column, I discussed the mechanics of hedging, explained historical basis levels and using these basis levels to […] Read more

Bird flu virus could be airborne: study

Saskatchewan Crop Report: Varied precipitation as harvest begins

U.S. grains: Wheat, soy and corn bounce off lows as demand stirs

GFM Network News