Optimism shines in ag survey

Monday, January 17, 2011

by KRISTIAN PARTINGTON

A nationwide Farm Credit Canada survey released Monday concludes there are healthy signs of optimism sweeping through the Canadian agriculture industry.

More than three-quarters (76 per cent) of respondents believe their businesses will improve over the course of the next five years and two-thirds of respondents say they are better off today than they were five years ago.

The annual survey sought the opinions of 4,900 producers and agri-business owners who participated through in the national agricultural lender’s panel, which consists of more than 9,000 individuals with ties to all aspects of agri-business. In an interview Tuesday, FCC Western Ontario Vice-President Barry Smith said that the survey’s participants were not necessarily FCC customers or clients.

Smith said favourable commodity prices are among the factors that have helped create the positive outlook. In his region farmers have had high quality crop yields. Agri-business owners are also confident in the ability of new technologies to advance growth in emerging markets such as India and China, he said.

Closer to home, society is more supportive of the industry. That support boosts morale. “The alertness of a healthier lifestyle is taking hold, he said. "People are more concerned about where their food comes from and they even want to be more connected to who is providing that food.”

“The whole industry, whether it be in Western Ontario or across the country, is trying to keep economies of scale in mind and will continue to consolidate and land values continue to increase. That’s driven by optimism.”

Optimism breeds optimism, he said, and “for lenders, it’s fun. You’re dealing with people who are keen about the industry and the business they’re in and it’s much more fun than lending in tough times.”

In Monday’s news release, Smith noted “for cattle and hog producers, it’s not as favourable,” and described those producers as “cautiously optimistic.”

Farm Credit Canada is Canada’s leading agriculture lender and this fourth annual survey will be used as basic knowledge in the management of its $20 billion portfolio, Smith said. BF