The carbon tax, that "price on pollution," as the Liberal government calls it, is supposed to encourage Canadians to move away from fossil fuel use by making diesel, gas, natural gas, and propane more expensive. What the government has done or plans to do with the tax proceeds is a post for another day, but... Read More
Category: Poll
Do you mark weather events such as fog or hoar frost on the calendar as predictors of what's to come? Do you track down caterpillars to measure their stripes as an indication of the winter ahead? Does a fall full moon bring frost? Unlike most people, the weather has a profound impact on the livelihoods... Read More
The Bank of Canada overnight rate has risen sharply since early 2022 and has held above 4 per cent since December (see below). The longer the period of increased interest rates continues, the more likely it is farmers will have to renew some loans or take on new debt in this time of more expensive... Read More
There are many reasons why there are fewer equipment dealerships across Canada, including a shrinking customer base. Depending on where you farm, you may still have access to several options, but the risk to those who have lost or will lose dealers was noted on the July 2023 intake of the Canadian Farmer Sentiment Index.... Read More
Not without controversy, applying glyphosate prior to harvesting a crop can help with crop and weed dry-down. If done too early, while the plant is still moving nutrients up into the kernels, a pre-harvest pass can cause glyphosate residues in the resulting grain. That's always a concern when residue is possible, but mounting pressure against... Read More
There's been a significant shift in how Canadians feel about the governing Liberals and the Official Opposition, the Conservative Party of Canada. For the first time since 2015, the Conservatives have posted a double-digit lead over the Liberals, according to a survey from Abacus Data, polled just ahead of last week's cabinet shuffle. Since the... Read More
Some technology is adopted because it becomes the only real option — like needing an email address or running tractors instead of horses. But plenty of technology is a "nice to have" not "need to have" and the defining line between the two usually hinges on the return on investment (ROI). In farming, ROI can... Read More
Dreams need deadlines or they remain just that — dreams. Put another way, a goal without a deadline is just a dream. What's one way to turn a goal or dream into reality? Writing it down. We broached the subject of written goals in Episode 81 of the Mind Your Farm Business Podcast. In it,... Read More
Since the Canadian Farmer Sentiment Index kicked off in September, the rating given to one metric has stayed nearly unchanged. When farmers are asked to rate how well the federal government is supporting agriculture, just two per cent give an "excellent" rating. The numbers don't improve much for provincial governments either, resulting in an overall... Read More
Most Canadians have noticed a serious run-up in grocery bills in the last 18 months. Inflation has hit consumers at checkout lines, even at the most discount of discount stores. Which begs the question, how do you save money on food? This week, the RealAg team had its regular Tuesday meeting where we kick off... Read More