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
USDA Corn Yield in Focus as Markets Brace for November Report Monday, November 9, 2026 U.S. grain markets are heading into a potentially important week, with farmers and traders watching to see whether the U.S. Department of Agriculture changes its surprisingly large October corn yield estimate. The November World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report is... Read this article online
Grain Farmers See Budget Wins, but GGC Says More Action Needed Monday, November 9, 2026 Canadian grain farmers could benefit from new tax measures aimed at encouraging farm investment and making it easier to transfer agricultural property to the next generation, but the industry says Budget 2026 leaves several major challenges unresolved. Grain Growers of Canada (GGC)... Read this article online
Clean Up That Baler Twine and Help an Alberta 4-H Club Win $3,000 Monday, November 9, 2026 Alberta farmers and ranchers have another incentive to clean up used plastic baler twine this winter. Cleanfarms, working with the Agricultural Plastics Recycling Group (APRG), has launched the third edition of the , offering $12,000 in prizes while encouraging producers to recycle... Read this article online
Canada Changes TFW Rules for Rural Employers. What Farmers and the Ag Industry Need to Know Monday, November 9, 2026 Canadian farmers and agri-food employers facing persistent labour shortages could benefit from targeted changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Programannounced on Friday (November 6) aimed at giving rural businesses greater access to workers where Canadians and permanent residents are not... Read this article online
Ag in the House: Nov. 2 – 6 Monday, November 9, 2026 During question period on Nov. 2, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre asked the government if it would cut taxes to provide farmers and Canadians with relief from high fuel prices. “The Liberal government is out of touch,” he said. “Yes, the farmers in my riding say the single biggest... Read this article online