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Realized Canadian farm income up, net income down in 2023

Total farm cash receipts rose 4.4 per cent compared with 2022 on higher crop marketings; cattle prices

Realized net income for Canadian farmers rose 18.3 per cent in 2023 to C$14.5 billion, as growth in receipts offset a rise in expenses, according to a report from Statistics Canada released May 29.



illustration of cash flow adjustments

Challenges for 2024 cash crop economics

Cash flows must be managed carefully against rising costs and falling commodity prices

As we embark on a new production year, there are several new challenges. A recent Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) report says “the cost of critical farm inputs such as fuel, fertilizer, feed, machinery, pesticides, land and labour has increased dramatically. “When coupled with high inflation, interest rates and a price on carbon for essential […] Read more

Charting your expenses by line items over the past three to five years can clarify your cash flow requirements.

‘Cash is king:’ what does that really mean?

Among other meanings, it refers to the strength of your business' cash flow

We’ve all the heard the expression “Cash is king.” It’s a catchy phrase, but what does it really mean and how can we practically apply that concept on farms today? I submit what “cash is king” really means is to have money available to pay ongoing farm expenses such as crop inputs, wages, loan payments […] Read more





If you have sufficient assets to pay yourself an income for the rest of your life, you’ll need to consider the best path to generate that income.

Woman, mid-60s, has successful farm and tax planning opportunities

It makes sense for her to take advantage of lower tax brackets while she can

A woman we’ll call Teresa, who farms two sections of grain in southeastern Manitoba, is 63. She works through a farm corporation worth $1.4 million and has personal farmland worth $1.75 million. The breakdown: she has non-farm assets of $419,000, savings of $400,000 plus a TFSA with assets of $100,000, and other savings of $800,000. […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

Net farm income down in 2022 despite high commodity prices: StatCan

Hike in farm fuel, fertilizer and feed costs is the largest in nearly 50 years

Farmers’ realized net income dropped by over eight per cent in 2022 as expenses outpaced the rise in cash receipts, a new Statistics Canada report says. Realized net income is the difference between cash receipts and operating expenses, minus depreciation and plus income in kind. When cannabis is included, realized net income dropped by nearly […] Read more

(Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Alberta poultry sector gets late entry for AgriStability

Participation deadline extended to end of month

In the wake of avian influenza outbreaks in the region, Alberta poultry producers have been granted a late participation option to sign up for the federal/provincial AgriStability income stabilization program. Provincial Ag Minister Nate Horner on Wednesday announced the two levels of government have reached an agreement to allow poultry producers late participation in AgriStability […] Read more