Uncollectible loans and unsustainable agriculture Sunday, April 3, 2011 The Nova Scotia government wrote off $16.2 million in bad loans from 2008. The loans included more than $1 million in uncollectible student loans, and smaller amounts for pharmacare premiums and unpaid fees. But by far the majority of the uncollectible loans had been made by the Nova Scotia agriculture department. "This unusually high amount is due to defaulted hog loan accounts under the Farm Loan Board," said a ministry of finance press release."For many years, hog farming in Nova Scotia was heavily subsidized by government," the release went on. "When government support was discontinued in 2007-08, many hog farmers were unable to sustain their business due to low pork prices and rising production costs."The Canadian Pork Council's public relations manager, Gary Stordy, says the Nova Scotia industry has collapsed. There are six pig farms left, compared to more than 80 four years ago.Many provinces offer loans to producers of various commodities, Stordy says. Another pork example is Big Sky Farms Inc. in Saskatchewan. The province now has a stake in the embattled company. BP Inconsistent reports on red meat The 'bacon bubble' that didn't burst
Poll shows Canadians support supply management Monday, April 20, 2026 Canadians are in favour of supply management, a new poll shows. A Nanos poll commissioned by Dairy Farmers of Canada surveyed 1,099 people between March 31 and April 4, asking participants about the topic and others related to ag. When it comes to supporting the “general objectives” of... Read this article online
Ag in the House: April 13 – 17 Monday, April 20, 2026 Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald attended question period last week where he fielded a question about business investments in Canada. Michael Guglielmin, the Conservative MP for Vaughan—Woodbridge, cited a report from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business indicating that for... Read this article online
Prairie Swine Centre celebrates 35 years of driving innovation Friday, April 17, 2026 Over that time, the centre has evolved into one of Canada's premier swine research facilities, delivering practical, industry-focused research that strengthens the financial position of pork producers while advancing animal welfare and environmental sustainability across the Saskatchewan and... Read this article online
Claas Expands Midwest Presence to Support Farmers Friday, April 17, 2026 Global equipment maker grows dealer and service network across the Dakotas Claas, a global agricultural equipment company, is expanding its operations in the Midwest to better serve farmers and ranchers. Although the brand is not always part of common “red or green” equipment... Read this article online
Canadian Farmland Values Rise Faster Than US Thursday, April 16, 2026 FCC analysis highlights rising land costs and growing affordability pressure Farm Credit Canada has released a new economic analysis that sheds light on changing farmland value trends in Canada and the United States. The study shows that cultivated farmland values in Canada are... Read this article online