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
Ag industry remembers Bob Mazer Thursday, July 10, 2025 Members of the Canadian and American ag industries are remembering Bob Mazer, the president and CEO of Mazergroup, an equipment dealership network with 18 locations between Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Mazer passed away on July 6 after a battle with cancer, a Facebook post says. He was... Read this article online
Swede midge and cabbageworm found in Ontario canola Thursday, July 10, 2025 As reported on the OMAFA website fieldcropnews.com, Ontario canola crops are at various growth stages, ranging from seedling to full bloom depending on planting time and region. Winter canola is now fully podded, and harvest is expected to begin soon in Essex and other southern... Read this article online
Crop and Pasture Health Rise in Alberta Wednesday, July 9, 2025 According to the AFSC and Alberta Government Crop Reporting Survey, Alberta's crop conditions improved significantly this week. Major crops are now rated 59 percent good to excellent, up 10 percent from the previous week. However, this is still below the five- and ten-year averages of 73 and... Read this article online
Manitoba pork, canola producers hold steady amid heavy tariffs Wednesday, July 9, 2025 A slab of back bacon from Natural Raised Pork comes with a waitlist. Ian Smith points to tariffs. Since the United States placed levies on imports from Canada, Manitobans have increasingly been calling Smith about his farm near Argyle, some 40 kilometres northwest of... Read this article online
Best Remote Security Systems for Farms Without WiFi Tuesday, July 8, 2025 In rural areas where WiFi connectivity is scarce, farmers often rely on cellular-based security systems to monitor their remote buildings and equipment. In this article, we explore the top five remote security systems that operate over cellular networks, highlighting their pros, cons, and... Read this article online