Hursh Comment

Statistics Canada has released reams of information related to farm income for 2021 and 2022. One of the major stories from the stats is how farm expenses have risen faster than farm income. However, combing through the numbers provides some other interesting insights. First of all, it’s tough to be farming in Newfoundland and Labrador, …

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 …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

“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 …