Business Tools

Livestock dealers licensed by Livestock Identification Services Ltd. (LIS) under the Livestock Identification and Commerce Act are authorized to sell cattle on behalf of producers. When producers deliver cattle to a livestock dealer to sell on their behalf, they “supply” the cattle to the dealer, as opposed to “selling” the cattle to the dealer. Livestock…

It’s no secret that Canada’s farm population is aging. Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census of Agriculture revealed that over 60 per cent of Canada’s farmers are 55 and older and that many of those farmers have no transition plan for their farms. Which is cause for concern. Decades of hard work and sacrifice could be wiped out when…

Welcome to another edition of The Bovine! On this episode, you’ll hear from Annessa Good, business advisor with Farm Credit Canada (FCC), on the five pillars needed for a successful transition plan, as well as tips on how to begin this process and ensure it’s a positive one for your family and business. This episode…

Welcome to another edition of The Bovine! On this episode, you’ll hear from Brenna Grant, executive director of Canfax Research Services, on the recommendations for young producers as informed by the Canadian Cow-Calf Cost of Production Network. Recorded at the 2023 Canadian Beef Industry Conference in Calgary, Brenna shares her three favourite recommendations from this…

Any new business can benefit from the guidance of those more experienced, and starting a beef operation is no different. In order to share the wisdom of seasoned producers with the next generation, Canfax Research Services asked 180 participants of the Canadian Cow-Calf Cost of Production (COP) Network for their advice on starting a cow-calf…

Beef producers seeking a user-friendly program to balance rations can once again turn to a familiar, trusted software. Now available through the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), CowBytes ration-balancing software helps producers improve their herd’s nutrition and reduce feed costs by formulating their own rations in a customizable, easy-to-use format. To begin, producers select the…

Farmers and ranchers impacted by drought and wildfires can now enroll in the newly reopened AgriStability program. While enrolment for this year’s AgriStability program previously closed in the spring, the Government of Alberta and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced last week that producers can sign up for late participation until September 29. “Our government has…

Producers can get The Dish on the challenges and opportunities of perennial risk management August 1 at AgSmart in Olds, AB. The Dish is a special informational event hosted by Agriculture Financial Services (AFSC) and AgSmart. Attendees will gain insights into the opportunities and challenges related to perennial risk management in both Canada and the…

Farm Credit Canada’s annual report on regional land value trends shows that farmland across Canada continues to steadily rise in value. According to the 2022 Farmland Values Report, “the average value of cultivated Canadian farmland increased by 12.8% in 2022. This is the highest increase recorded since 2014 and follows gains of 8.3% in 2021…

Are you interested in applying for the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP)? Part of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, this program offers funding to producers wishing to implement projects with the goal of enhancing their operation’s environmental resiliency. A PDF with frequently asked questions about RALP is available to download here: For more information on…