business Archives | Country Guide

To help insulate a farm business in unpredictable times it needs internal strength, but what does that look like?

How fit is your farm?

Financial fluency helps the farm prepare for anything

By Angela Lovell December 9, 2020

Reading Time: 5 minutes A growing number of financial advisors are talking a different language today than they were 10 or 15 years ago. Increasingly they see the financial health of the farm in terms that go way beyond the numbers on the balance sheet or income statement. So, what are those fundamentals? “Healthy finances and internal strength in […] Read more

For brothers John, Michael and Paul Sharpe, the key to scalable growth lies in management and in finding ways to build teams that continually expand their skillsets.

Features, Guide Business

Scaling growth at Sharpe Farm

Three Ontario brothers grow their ability to achieve their goals

By Rebecca Hannam November 6, 2020

Reading Time: 7 minutes In today’s business world, few concepts are more important than growth. Most entrepreneurs are constantly looking for ways to expand their business to increase profitability and improve their shot at long-term survival. Of course, farmers and other agribusiness owners are no exception, and for Michael, Paul and John Sharpe — the three brothers behind Sharpe […] Read more

“I’m not sure the message is getting through,” says CFIB’s Corinne Pohlmann. But the stats are brutal… 70 per cent of businesses that don’t plan for succession end up failing.

Guide Business, Succession strategy

Sharing succession stories

What can farmers learn from the transition struggles of Canada’s other independent, family-based businesses?

By Treena Hein October 20, 2020

Reading Time: 5 minutes From a business perspective, whether it’s a family business, a family farm business or any other kind, succession planning is not only smart, it’s a condition of survival. According to the Family Business Institute for example, after the leader of a family business exits the picture for whatever reason, 70 per cent of these enterprises […] Read more

“Producers are in “a pretty tough situation,” says Saskatchewan feeder Chad Ross.

Beef Cattle, Guide Business

The challenge for Canadian beef

Battling through hard times in the beef industry

By Lois Harris August 17, 2020

Reading Time: 5 minutes The 2020 pandemic has caused major disruptions in the Canadian beef industry, but with demand for their products remaining steady, producers are hopeful their businesses will survive through to the new year. “A lot of producers are in a pretty tough situation,” says Chad Ross, president of the Saskatchewan Cattle Feeders Association and owner of […] Read more

Machinery, Reuters

CNH Industrial guides for revenue fall up to 20 per cent

By Giulio Piovaccari July 30, 2020

Reading Time: < 1 minute Milan | Reuters – Vehicle and equipment maker CNH Industrial posted a narrower-than-expected second quarter loss on Thursday and forecast net sales from industrial activities would fall between 15-20 percent this year, as a consequence of the COIVD-19 epidemic. In March the group, which is controlled by Exor, the holding company of Italy’s Agnelli family, […] Read more

Reuters

JBS invests $19-million in safety measures amid COVID-19 pandemic

By Ana Mano July 30, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes Sao Paulo | Reuters –Brazilian food processor JBS SA has invested more than 100 million reais ($19.3 million) in health, safety and contingency measures at all its Brazilian production units, according to a Wednesday company statement that comes as the novel coronavirus continues to ravage local meat plants. The company said the funds were invested […] Read more

Markets, Reuters

BASF says dividends, asset values under review as pandemic bites

By Ludwig Burger July 29, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes Frankfurt | Reuters – Germany’s BASF said on Wednesday its dividend policy and the value of assets on its balance sheet might be revised given uncertainty caused by the coronavirus crisis, particularly in North America and Europe. The policy of the world’s largest chemicals and plastics maker by sales to increase dividends each year and […] Read more

Markets, Reuters

Bunge raises outlook as agribusiness profits beat Wall Street estimates

By Karl Plume, Shradha Singh July 29, 2020

Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters – Agricultural commodities trader Bunge Ltd on Wednesday raised its full-year outlook after its second-quarter profit handily beat Wall Street estimates, sending shares up more than 5 percent in premarket trading. Despite a worsening coronavirus pandemic that has rattled global markets, strong soy processing margins in South America, Europe and Asia and accelerated crop […] Read more

The federal government has made a number of announcements during the COVID-19 pandemic aimed at supporting agriculture and addressing food security concerns.

News

More COVID support needed: study

Agriculture funding has challenges beyond pandemic needs

By Brian Cross July 21, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes Glacier FarmMedia – A new report by the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy says the level of federal government support offered to Canada’s agriculture sector during the COVID-19 pandemic has been inadequate. Ottawa should take additional steps to reduce the financial burden on farmers by providing additional financial assistance, ensuring a more stable […] Read more

General, Reuters

Feds proposing to expand wage subsidy program

By Reuters July 18, 2020

Reading Time: < 1 minute Ottawa | Reuters — The Canadian government wants to expand an emergency wage subsidy program so that all businesses suffering losses from the COVID-19 outbreak will benefit, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said on Friday. Morneau told a news conference that Ottawa would drop an earlier requirement stipulating that businesses needed to show a 30 per […] Read more

Alberta’s Lakeland to offer ag tech degree

Funds’ net long position edges lower in canola

Prairie cash wheat: Bids track rally in U.S. futures

GFM Network News