Apr 11/07: Farm Injuries Decline With Age
Statistics Canada has found that on farms, with age comes wisdom, and an solid reduction in the number and severity of injuries.
Farm operators aged 55 and over were less likely in 2001 to have reported a farm injury than those in younger age categories, contrary to what is usually expected in the industry. In fact, operators younger than 35 were more likely to have a farm injury.
Farm operators aged 55 and over were less likely in 2001 to have reported a farm injury than those in younger age categories, contrary to what is usually expected in the industry. In fact, operators younger than 35 were more likely to have a farm injury.
Nov 24/06: Canada's Farm Cash Receipts Rise
Canadian farmers realized more money from the sale of their agricultural output during the first nine months of the year, according to Statistics Canada, as a gain in revenue from the sale of crops offset a decline in livestock sales.
Farmers received $23.4 billion in market revenue between January and September, up 0.6% from the same period last year. This total was 3.5% below the 2001 peak of $24.2 billion, and only 0.9% above the previous five-year average between 2001 and 2005.
Farmers received $23.4 billion in market revenue between January and September, up 0.6% from the same period last year. This total was 3.5% below the 2001 peak of $24.2 billion, and only 0.9% above the previous five-year average between 2001 and 2005.
Jun 26/06: Farm Returns Off in April
Canadian farmers earned less for what they prduced in April than weas the case last year, according to Statistics Canada.
Prices for livestock and animal products were 1.0% lower in April than they were a year earlier. This was the third consecutive month of year-over-year decreases, driven mainly by lower hog prices.
Prices for crops edged up 0.6% in April over last year, the first year-over-year increase since the fall of 2004. Although producers received lower prices for grains, oilseeds and specialty crops, higher prices for potatoes, fruit and vegetables were recorded.
Prices for livestock and animal products were 1.0% lower in April than they were a year earlier. This was the third consecutive month of year-over-year decreases, driven mainly by lower hog prices.
Prices for crops edged up 0.6% in April over last year, the first year-over-year increase since the fall of 2004. Although producers received lower prices for grains, oilseeds and specialty crops, higher prices for potatoes, fruit and vegetables were recorded.
Jun 02/06: Canadian Farms Squeezed More in 2005
The cost of farming rose 4% in 2005 in Canada, but average prices received during 2005 were down 6.2% from those obtained in 2004, according to index data available from Statistics Canada.
The Farm Input Price Index (1992=100) for Canada was 134.8 in 2005, up 4.0% from 2004. The total index was led by the jump in prices for animal production (+8.5%) and for machinery and motor vehicles (+5.3%) as well as for crop production (+3.3%). Lower prices for farm rent (-4.7%) and building and fencing (-1.1%) partly offset the annual increase.
The rise in prices of farm inputs in Western Canada (+5.5%) was much stronger than in Eastern Canada (+2.9%). Prices for animal production jumped 14.3% in the West, while the increase was only 2.4% in the East.
This disparity in prices is the result of the stronger impact that animal disease had on livestock in Western Canada than in the Eastern Canada in 2004. In addition, compared to 2004, all of the other components of the Farm Input Price Index advanced in the East, while in the West, prices for farm rent and building and fencing were down 7.0% and 3.3%, respectively.
The Farm Input Price Index (1992=100) for Canada was 134.8 in 2005, up 4.0% from 2004. The total index was led by the jump in prices for animal production (+8.5%) and for machinery and motor vehicles (+5.3%) as well as for crop production (+3.3%). Lower prices for farm rent (-4.7%) and building and fencing (-1.1%) partly offset the annual increase.
The rise in prices of farm inputs in Western Canada (+5.5%) was much stronger than in Eastern Canada (+2.9%). Prices for animal production jumped 14.3% in the West, while the increase was only 2.4% in the East.
This disparity in prices is the result of the stronger impact that animal disease had on livestock in Western Canada than in the Eastern Canada in 2004. In addition, compared to 2004, all of the other components of the Farm Input Price Index advanced in the East, while in the West, prices for farm rent and building and fencing were down 7.0% and 3.3%, respectively.
May 24/06: Traffic Flow in Farmers Market
Many factors bring customers to a farm store, and some of those factors also encourages them to purchase products and leave cash in the till. Traffic flow through the store is one of the factors that impacts gross sales.
May 24/06: Family Pins Dreams on Lentil Lasagne
The road to value-added agriculture is strewn with both rewards and hurdles. No one knows that better than Shaunavon grain producers Vicky and David Krause. They created Pulse Wise Foods to help them make the transition from producer to processor, and today they market their very own lentil and feta lasagne through the Saskatchewan Made stores in Regina and Saskatoon.
“We have a young family and a full future ahead of us,” says David Krause. “We were looking at the grain industry—we knew something had to change. We grew lentils. At a Pulse Days meeting in Saskatoon a few years ago, we heard an agricultural economics professor say that the pulse industry would overbuild the cleaning and processing facilities, and that there would be some losers, but the future after that would be in adding value to products above and beyond simply bagging and shipping."
“We have a young family and a full future ahead of us,” says David Krause. “We were looking at the grain industry—we knew something had to change. We grew lentils. At a Pulse Days meeting in Saskatoon a few years ago, we heard an agricultural economics professor say that the pulse industry would overbuild the cleaning and processing facilities, and that there would be some losers, but the future after that would be in adding value to products above and beyond simply bagging and shipping."
Apr 03/06: Diversification Key to Future
Terry Rock and Michel Dubé got into the buffalo business in 2001 when they created Meridian Bison Company. But, they believe the kety to the future is to diversify their business.
They now have customers in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert, and has also created a niche serving the francophone community as far away as Manitoba and Alberta by placing advertisements in the provincial French weekly L'Eau Vive.
"It is snowballing," says Michel Dubé of the company's market, "and we have an e-mail marketing list that has also helped get the word out."
They now have customers in Regina, Saskatoon and Prince Albert, and has also created a niche serving the francophone community as far away as Manitoba and Alberta by placing advertisements in the provincial French weekly L'Eau Vive.
"It is snowballing," says Michel Dubé of the company's market, "and we have an e-mail marketing list that has also helped get the word out."
Mar 30/06: U.S. Gets Some Cost-Price Squeeze Relief
Farmers in the United States got a little relief from the cost-price squeeze gripping them this season as the cost of faming declined as much, in percentage terms, as returns from selling wheat they produce.
The USDA's March Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes, and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW) is 144% of the 1990-92 average. The index is down 1 point (0.7%) from February but 5 points (3.6%) above March 2005.
The USDA's March Index of Prices Paid for Commodities and Services, Interest, Taxes, and Farm Wage Rates (PPITW) is 144% of the 1990-92 average. The index is down 1 point (0.7%) from February but 5 points (3.6%) above March 2005.
Mar 27/06: Canadian Farm Incomes Pressured Lower
Canadian farm incomes remain under pressure, with Statistics Canada reporting that the average price farmers received in January were up slightly from December, but down 4.5% on the year.
Overall, producers received prices for crops that were 4.8% below levels in January 2005, continuing the downward trend in year-over-year price changes since the summer of 2003, according to the Farm Product Price Index (FPPI). Farmers received lower prices for all crops except potatoes and vegetables.
Prices for livestock and animal products dropped 3.2% from the January 2005 level, only the third decline since June 2005. Hog and poultry prices continued their year-over-year slide, pulling down the overall livestock and animal product index, despite persistent strength in cattle, calf and dairy prices.
Overall, producers received prices for crops that were 4.8% below levels in January 2005, continuing the downward trend in year-over-year price changes since the summer of 2003, according to the Farm Product Price Index (FPPI). Farmers received lower prices for all crops except potatoes and vegetables.
Prices for livestock and animal products dropped 3.2% from the January 2005 level, only the third decline since June 2005. Hog and poultry prices continued their year-over-year slide, pulling down the overall livestock and animal product index, despite persistent strength in cattle, calf and dairy prices.
Mar 08/06: Canadian Ag Prices Drop in December
Companies which feed off farmers continue to report rising profits, while the financial situation facing Canadian farmers worsened in December, with the average price received for what they produce sinking to 1999 levels -- lower if you take into account inflation.
Statistics Canada reports prices received for agricultural commodities dropped 3.5% in December 2005 to 91.5 points.
Overall, producers received prices for crops that were 7.0% below levels in December 2004, continuing the downward trend in year-over-year price changes since the summer of 2003, according to the Farm Product Price Index (FPPI). Farmers received lower prices for grains, oilseeds and special crops.
Prices for livestock and animal products slipped 0.9% in December compared with the same period a year earlier, the first decline in five months and only the second decrease in 2005. Hog, egg and poultry prices continued their year-over-year slide, pulling down the overall livestock and animal product index — despite persistent strength in cattle, calf and dairy prices throughout the year.
On a monthly basis, prices farmers received for their commodities were down 1.0% in December from November. Both the overall crops and the livestock and animal products indexes recorded declines from the revised November index.
Statistics Canada reports prices received for agricultural commodities dropped 3.5% in December 2005 to 91.5 points.
Overall, producers received prices for crops that were 7.0% below levels in December 2004, continuing the downward trend in year-over-year price changes since the summer of 2003, according to the Farm Product Price Index (FPPI). Farmers received lower prices for grains, oilseeds and special crops.
Prices for livestock and animal products slipped 0.9% in December compared with the same period a year earlier, the first decline in five months and only the second decrease in 2005. Hog, egg and poultry prices continued their year-over-year slide, pulling down the overall livestock and animal product index — despite persistent strength in cattle, calf and dairy prices throughout the year.
On a monthly basis, prices farmers received for their commodities were down 1.0% in December from November. Both the overall crops and the livestock and animal products indexes recorded declines from the revised November index.
