Uncollectible loans and unsustainable agriculture Sunday, April 3, 2011 The Nova Scotia government wrote off $16.2 million in bad loans from 2008. The loans included more than $1 million in uncollectible student loans, and smaller amounts for pharmacare premiums and unpaid fees. But by far the majority of the uncollectible loans had been made by the Nova Scotia agriculture department. "This unusually high amount is due to defaulted hog loan accounts under the Farm Loan Board," said a ministry of finance press release."For many years, hog farming in Nova Scotia was heavily subsidized by government," the release went on. "When government support was discontinued in 2007-08, many hog farmers were unable to sustain their business due to low pork prices and rising production costs."The Canadian Pork Council's public relations manager, Gary Stordy, says the Nova Scotia industry has collapsed. There are six pig farms left, compared to more than 80 four years ago.Many provinces offer loans to producers of various commodities, Stordy says. Another pork example is Big Sky Farms Inc. in Saskatchewan. The province now has a stake in the embattled company. BP Inconsistent reports on red meat The 'bacon bubble' that didn't burst
Grain Markets Climb on Weather and Supply Concerns Monday, August 17, 2026 Grain markets finished higher during the week ending August 14, 2026, as traders reacted to a supportive USDA August crop report, changing weather conditions across the U.S. Midwest, and continued geopolitical concerns affecting global grain supplies. The latest Farms.com Risk... Read this article online
National Citizens Inquiry hosting public ag hearings in Alberta Monday, August 17, 2026 An organization is hosting three days of conversations about agriculture in Alberta. The National Citizens Inquiry (NCI), an independent and citizen-led initiative launched in November 2022 to investigate Canadian government responses to COVID-19, is hosting “Are Farmers Safe in Canada?”... Read this article online
Canadian Ag Minister Works to Strengthen US Farm Trade Ties at Iowa State Fair Monday, August 17, 2026 Canada’s agriculture sector took center stage at one of America’s most recognized agricultural events as Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald travelled to the Iowa State Fair to promote closer ties between Canadian and U.S. farm industries. Joined by Canada’s Ambassador... Read this article online
Flash Drought Threat Grows Across Southern Plains as Historic El Niño Builds Monday, August 17, 2026 After flooding, a derecho, storms, and wildfire smoke, asignificant shift in North America's weather pattern is creating a new set of challenges for farmers, with forecasters warning that flash drought conditions are becoming a growing concern across key agricultural regions of the United... Read this article online
Woolwich Farmland Fight - Petition Urges Council to Protect Prime Ontario Agricultural Land Monday, August 17, 2026 A proposal to redesignate 107acres of agricultural land in Woolwich Township for employment and industrial development is drawing increasing opposition from residents and farmland advocates who say the project would come at the expense of valuable farmland and the region's agricultural... Read this article online