Southwestern Ontario is home to some of Canada’s most productive farmland, and a "perfect storm" of low interest rates, stretches of high commodity prices and relatively good weather have driven farmland prices to dizzying heights in the region. Ryan Parker from London, Ont.- based Valco Real Estate Appraisers & Consultants, which produces an annual survey... Read More
Category: Farm Management
Across much of Canada, there have traditionally been very few options for landowners to get paid for the overall value created by land conservation. Whether it's grassland, farmland, or a different form of natural habitat, the broader societal benefits of that land often go unrecognized. Instead, land is converted, sold, and developed for uses that... Read More
Investing in farmland has been a very secure investment over the past twenty-five-plus years. Many times over that period, people have speculated on the demise of Canadian farmland's value or its ability to keep pace and increase in value like it has historically. In October of 2024, the RealAgristudies Insights Panel weighed in, with 36... Read More
In Episode 19 of The Truth About Ag, Jeff Warkentin, chief operating officer (COO) of Hebert Grain Ventures, joins co-hosts Evan Shout and Kristjan Hebert to talk about what it takes to lead and grow a successful team. They cover everything from the realities of stepping into a family business, to why asking tough questions... Read More
MNP has announced its plan to acquire 21 of BDO Canada's offices, bringing more than 40 partners and 420 team members into the MNP fold. The transaction is set to include locations in B.C., Alberta, Ontario, and P.E.I. — provinces where both firms have offices. The two firms are aligned in their commitment to maintaining... Read More
From identify theft, to phishing scams, to data breaches and ransom wear, cyber threats are just as real to individual farmers and farm businesses as they are to the general public. Understanding where online and digital threats come from is key to building a solid risk management plan, says Eugene Ng, cyber security expert with... Read More
The announced withdrawal of six major farm groups from the Sustainable Ag Strategy steering committee is a safe move for two reasons. First, there is little belief that the current government has a chance at forming the next government, and the Conservative government-in-waiting will most likely abandon the process anyway. Second, farmers see environmental policies... Read More
Four times a year, RealAgristudies asks its Insights Panel the same series of questions regarding how they feel about an array of topics, from farm financial performance to capital investment timing and marketing the crop. Answers to the series of questions is compiled into the Canadian Farmer Sentiment Index, which was initially launched in September... Read More
Underpaying employees will result in less productivity, but simply paying people more doesn't motivate employees as much as you might think, says Tom Wall, the Dairy Coach. Plenty of farms struggle with finding and retaining good people, but Wall says that's at least partially to do with not having a people plan. We have production... Read More
It's the unfortunate reality of rising interest rates, down markets, and just plain bad luck, but some farmers will experience having their loans and mortgages called in by their lender. Facing a financial crunch can be stressful, emotionally-charged, and difficult. Eric Olson, national leader of farm management consulting for MNP, says that farmers don't need... Read More