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Kevin Hursh on Agriculture: Hursh Comment

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Perfect storm creates fertilizer supply crunch

May 26, 2023

It’s one of the worst years for fertilizer logistics that John Bickner has seen and that says something considering he’s been in the trucking business for more than three decades. Bickner Trucking operates out of Vanguard in southwest Saskatchewan running a fleet of 50 to 60 trucks servicing an area all the way from North …

Read morePerfect storm creates fertilizer supply crunch

Diverging prospects for grain and cattle

May 20, 2023

A shift is occurring in farm economics. Grain price prospects have weakened substantially while cattle prices are some of the highest ever. What can you realistically expect for a canola price in the fall? Based on the November futures, a cash price in the $15 a bushel range has been available for fall delivery. Historically, …

Read moreDiverging prospects for grain and cattle

Farm expansion increasingly difficult

May 12, 2023

On one hand, the rising cost of buying and renting farmland is a good thing. On the other, it’s a festering sore spot within agriculture. The increasing cost of land acquisition is directly related to the profitability of farm operations. In the bad years from about 1983 to 1993, land prices often dropped year to …

Read moreFarm expansion increasingly difficult

Better site selection needed for solar farms

April 28, 2023

The years ahead will see significant solar development. Unfortunately, most all those solar panels seem destined for prime farmland. What would you do if an Independent Power Provider (IPP) offered you $300 or even $400 an acre each year for the next 25 years to rent a half section or even a full section of …

Read moreBetter site selection needed for solar farms

Analysis of cash rental rates for farmland

April 21, 2023

A year ago, I wrote about Farm Credit Canada coming out with an interesting analysis of the rent to price ratio for farmland across the country. A new report has now been released reflecting cash rental rates negotiated in the fall of 2022. The rental rates report generates much less attention than FCC’s Farmland Values …

Read moreAnalysis of cash rental rates for farmland

How to benefit from higher interest rates

April 13, 2023

The cost of money has changed dramatically as we head into a new growing season. Over the past year to supposedly battle inflation, the Bank of Canada has steadily increased its trendsetting rate and interest is now a much bigger farm management consideration. A couple ways exist to potentially turn this to a producer’s advantage. …

Read moreHow to benefit from higher interest rates

Canola pricing disappoints

March 30, 2023

I hadn’t planned to grow canola. I’ve been growing brown mustard as the oilseed in my rotation. But plans change and I’ll again be putting some canola in the ground in the traditionally dry Palliser Triangle. Why the change? Mainly economics, but also some weed control considerations. I’ve grown canola before, but it’s been a …

Read moreCanola pricing disappoints

Concerns raised over crop insurance premiums

March 9, 2023

Saskatchewan Crop Insurance has made a substantive change in how it calculates premiums for its multi-peril program. As producers see their coverage and premium information, there are many questions and some glaring inequities. The previous system of premium discounts and surcharges is gone. Apparently, premiums weren’t responding quickly enough to account for the true insurance …

Read moreConcerns raised over crop insurance premiums

How to address food inflation

March 3, 2023

As farmers, we’ve escaped the brunt of public scrutiny over rising food prices. Most of the finger pointing has been at the big grocers for what some call greedflation. In truth, rising food prices are caused by many factors and this includes what farmers are paid. The record high grain prices of the past couple …

Read moreHow to address food inflation

Deficit cutting could have tax implications for ag

February 17, 2023

If you wade through published statistics on farm income levels, it’s clear that farm families no longer take a backseat to the general population. Not long ago, even with adding off-farm income to farming income, the total lagged the family income levels of the general population. Not so any more. On average, farm families are …

Read moreDeficit cutting could have tax implications for ag

Farming isn’t forever

February 10, 2023

“How are you doing?” old acquaintances will ask. My standard reply has become, “Old, grey, fat, lazy. Did I mention old? Can’t remember.” “Still farming?” they ask. When I confirm that indeed I still am, their next question, whether verbalized or not is often about when retirement will occur. I don’t feel that old, but …

Read moreFarming isn’t forever

Woke wave washes over world agriculture

February 5, 2023

As the woke wave continues to gain momentum, some worry it will have a tsunami impact on agriculture. The fears have merit. The most blatant example is European farm policy mandating less fertilizer, fewer crop protection products and more organic production. The measures are particularly severe in the Netherlands where agriculture is in a downward …

Read moreWoke wave washes over world agriculture
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