Economy Archives - Grainews

Closeup of Canadian 100 dollar bill on top of US one hundred dollar bill

Columns, Currency Markets, Home Quarter Investing

Wish not for a weak Canadian dollar

Investing for Fun and Profit: Weak currency is symptomatic of weak investing confidence in a country

By Herman VanGenderen February 4, 2025

There exists what I believe is a very common misconception that a weak currency is good for the economy. Statements by news media and politicians often parrot this theme because on a short-term basis, exports become cheaper for foreign buyers and imports more expensive for domestic purchasers, theoretically enhancing domestic production. However, what’s missing in […] Read more

Markets, News

Manitoba Ag Days: Loonie above 70 cents? Not anytime soon, says Farm Credit Canada

By Robert Arnason January 22, 2025

The dollar may be in the stratosphere, but few experts are predicting that it will weaken anytime soon. That includes economists with FCC.

Equipment, Machinery, Trucks and UTVs

Kenworth to limit availability of manual transmissions

Emissions limits require the brand to impose auto transmissions on most buyers

By Scott Garvey January 17, 2025

Back in the day, truck drivers were often referred to as gear jammers, because they would have to manually shift their way through 10, 13, 15 or more gears. That moniker seems to have faded into history, and one reason may account for that more than any other: industry figures estimate 90 to 95 per […] Read more

Oil inventories remain low, but recession fears leading to price declines continue to permeate the market.

Columns, Home Quarter Investing, Markets

How did 2023’s economic and market predictions turn out?

Predictions are often made but their accuracy never evaluated, yet this is an important step

By Herman VanGenderen February 23, 2024

For the past seven years in my newsletter, I have made annual “Fearless Predictions.” I also summarize predictions from the investment industry. The last chapter of my book, titled “If I claim to be a wise man…it surely means that I don’t know,” launched my annual prediction exercise, largely to poke fun at the process. […] Read more

Several reasons exist for the recent divergence between our two interconnected economies.

Columns, Home Quarter Investing

The tale of two economies

Strong energy prices would normally lead to a strong Canadian currency

By Herman VanGenderen February 6, 2024

U.S. third-quarter GDP (gross domestic product) grew at an annualized rate of 4.9 per cent. This followed second-quarter growth of 2.1 and first-quarter of 1.1 per cent. Rather than the widely predicted recession, the U.S has experienced accelerating growth. Canada, on the other hand, is flatlining, with first-quarter growth of 0.8 per cent, second-quarter at […] Read more

General

FCC’s top economic charts to monitor in 2024

Downward trends for cattle, swine herds; positive bent to feed, fertilizer affordability

By GFM Network News January 12, 2024

As we start the new year amid elevated inflation and major headwinds facing the economy, here are our top charts to help make sense of the economic environment for farm operations, agribusinesses and food processors.

File photo of cattle on pasture northeast of Calgary. (James_Gabbert/iStock/Getty Images)

Livestock

Report aims to show animal agriculture’s interconnections

CAPI hopes to broaden policymakers' perspective

By GFM Network News November 20, 2023

A new report for the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute seeks to educate policymakers about the impact of animal agriculture on economic, social and environmental levels. The report, titled Forces Impacting Animal Agriculture In Canada: A Synthesis, delves into the issues surrounding cattle, dairy and poultry production in the country and how it is interconnected within […] Read more

Reuters

China to step up investment in rural infrastructure

By GFM Network News October 25, 2022

Beijing | Reuters – China will accelerate investment in rural infrastructure to improve its ability to ensure food supply while also stabilizing the economy, according to a plan published by the agriculture ministry on Tuesday. The plan, backed by eight ministries and government agencies, comes amid slowing growth in the world’s second-biggest economy, due to […] Read more

Smoke billows during a fire in an area of the Amazon rainforest near Humaita, Amazonas State, Brazil on Aug. 14, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino)

General, Reuters

Market value alone is selling nature short, governments told

Economic valuations needed but 'not sufficient,' co-chair says

By GFM Network News July 12, 2022

Reuters — What is the value of a river? Is it for the nutritional content of the fish it sustains? The economic benefit of the local livelihoods it supports? Or does the river have its own value which humans cannot measure? Such questions may seem removed from the issues the world faces, from deepening climate […] Read more

“The old highs are the old highs. We’re not going back there,” says Errol Anderson of ProMarket Communications. Photo: File

Canola, Markets

ICE weekly outlook: The larger picture behind drop in canola

By GFM Network News June 30, 2022

MarketsFarm – While the declines in canola prices can be partially attributed to the lack of major weather concerns on the Canadian Prairies and the early development of this year’s crop, an analyst said the main reason is on a grander scale. “The major one is the overall drop in the commodity world. For instance, […] Read more

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

U.S. livestock: Cattle strength continues

GFM Network News