Economic drivers to watch for in 2013 Wednesday, January 2, 2013 by BETTER FARMING STAFFFarmers shouldn’t let higher receipts from 2012 crops keep them from seeking more efficiencies and productivity gains as they head into the new year. That’s one of several economic drivers Farm Credit Canada’s (FCC) chief agricultural economist J.P. Gervais says farmers should focus on in 2013.In an FCC news release, Gervais says farmers can look forward to continued increases in demand for agricultural products from emerging markets such as India and China. He also says world inventories of major crops continue to be tight which could lead to higher crop prices, “but also high input costs for livestock producers.”Noting that Canadian farmland appreciated on average by 8.6 per cent over the first six months of 2012, Gervais says the outlook for future farmland values rests with interest rates and crop receipts.Barring the unforeseen, Gervais says it looks like crop prices will remain high and interest rates will remain low at least into the second half of 2013.He also says farmers should keep an eye on free trade negotiations with the European Union. “It could open up new markets, but could also trigger more competition in Canada.” BF Chicken quota sticks with old barn, tribunal rules UPDATE January 8 2013 Dairy Farmers takes a new approach for milk temperature requirements
What Distributed Energy Resources Mean for Canadian Producers Tuesday, April 7, 2026 As energy costs rise, many Canadian farms are looking for ways to take greater control of their electricity use. One term that farmers are hearing more often is distributed energy resources, often shortened to DERs. While the phrase may sound technical, the concept is highly practical, and... Read this article online
Agricultural Educator and Industry Leader Dr Tom Funk Remembered for Lasting Influence Tuesday, April 7, 2026 The agricultural education community is mourning the passing of Dr Tom Funk, a highly respected Professor Emeritus at the University of Guelph whose influence spanned more than three decades of teaching, leadership, and mentorship. Dr Funk dedicated over 35 years to teaching... Read this article online
Blue Collar Brings Canada’s Dairy Farming to Prime Time Tuesday, April 7, 2026 A new Canadian streaming series on Crave is offering audiences an unpolished look at some of the country’s toughest jobs, and in Episode 5, that spotlight turns to dairy farming. BLUE COLLAR is a Crave original series that blends workplace comedy with real-world grit and humour found... Read this article online
New Measures Support Craft Brewers and Reduce Rising Costs Tuesday, April 7, 2026 To help producers in the beverage sectoras the economy is facing rapid changes and creating uncertainty for businesses, theCanadiangovernment has announced a two-year extension of alcohol excise duty relief starting April 1, 2026. This decision aims to support brewers, distillers, and... Read this article online
Study reveals key climate drivers of potato beetle outbreaks Monday, April 6, 2026 A long term research project from Michigan State University (MSU) and the University of Wisconsin is offering new insight into what drives Colorado potato beetle outbreaks, giving US potato growers a clearer picture of how weather patterns and environmental conditions shape one of the... Read this article online