Firm handshake between two farmers in silhouette at sunset. Pic: StockSeller_ukr/iStock/Getty Images

A vendor take-back mortgage will help keep a farm intact

Farm Financial Planner: The retiring sellers don’t want or need top dollar for the land, but need to limit the resulting tax liability

A retiring Manitoba couple with no farming heirs would like to see their land safely transferred to their farming neighbours. Just gifting the land, though, or selling it below market value would complicate their retirement plans.

Close-up at metal steps part  with anti-slip floor and caution sign of the working platform stairway. Industrial equipment object photo, selective focus.

How U.S. tariffs are changing farm costs in Canada

Farm Financial Planner: Extended your current equipment’s operating life is effectively the same as a cut to your annualized cost

U.S. tariffs and Canadian counter-tariffs are characterized as bad news for Canada’s farmers and other businesspeople, but against that bad news is unspoken good news as well.



Semi truck approaching a border ahead highway sign. Composite image.

Oval Office intrigue drags on farm-level decisions

Farm Financial Planner: In the churning world of U.S. import policy, tariffs stalk Canada’s bewildered farmers

A rational family sitting down for a budget discussion should raise savings, reduce the risk those savings face when invested, and make a point to keep up with every twist and turn of emerging U.S. tariff and tax policy.



calculating taxes

Farmers’ sons have no interest in taking over family farm

Farm Financial Planner: A tax-light liquidation of a farm calls for some planning well in advance

Jack and Mary need to retire, but a sale of their farm will the only way to get there because their grown children have no interest in farming. A tax-light liquidation of a farm, though, will take some planning well in advance.


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.

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

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



From a private business to the family corporation

What’s left after harvest depends on how the farm is organized and taxed

The idea of the family farm is just that — a concept. The reality is that tax rules, inheritance law, good business practice and the fundamental problem of making a living have changed the family farm from a private business to the family corporation. Organization and tax rules are now almost as important as farm […] Read more

Farmers could benefit financially from this trend

Farmers could benefit financially from this trend

Farm Financial Planner: Urban dwellers pay high prices for small land parcels

There is a trend for city folk to buy country property to get away from the COVID-19 virus, city lockdowns and everything else associated with the world pandemic. It’s a pattern of outmigration from densely populated cities. Farmers are potential beneficiaries. They can sell small parcels at relatively high prices. I have found city folk […] Read more