What has FCC done with your feedback? We have learned and we have taken action. This section contains stories of what FCC has learned from Vision members and how their input has effected FCC's actions.
Social media usage among online producers
A new Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Vision Panel survey shows that about half of online Canadian producers (54%) surveyed have caught the social media bug, using at least one network. They plan to increase the amount of time they spend using social media in the future.
“We wanted to obtain information about the growing trend toward social media use – whether and how producers were incorporating it in their operations,” explains FCC Chief Operating Officer, Dan Bergen. “Producers have always adopted new technology to grow their business, so it was interesting to find out how they were using this new information channel.”
For more detail about the FCC Vision Panel survey findings,
click here.
Farm Operations- Pooling resources
A recent FCC Vision Panel survey showed that nearly three-quarters of respondents (74 per cent) own their equipment and 14 per cent own some equipment and rent the rest. Interestingly, over one-third of producers (37 per cent) share one or more pieces of equipment with a neighbour.
“The average amount of an equipment loan at FCC has increased in the past two years from approximately $70,000 to $76,000,” says Bly. “Sharing equipment may be a good business decision as the cost of equipment increases and producers seek alternative ways to save. FCC has responded by creating a leasing program for farm equipment. It’s really important that producers have the right equipment for the job. They need to do their homework to assess when they should replace equipment at the most cost-effective time for their operation.”
For more detail about the FCC Vision Panel survey findings, click here.
2010 Rented Farmland report
A recent FCC Vision Panel survey showed that almost six in ten producers (58 per cent) both own and rent the land where their production is located. The survey, completed in November 2009 by 971 producers across the country, revealed that of those producers who indicated that they rent some or all of their land, almost half (45 per cent) report that they are renting more land now than they were five years ago. However, producers from Quebec (55 per cent) and the Atlantic provinces (60 per cent) are significantly more likely than most other provinces to report that they are renting about the same amount of land as they were five years ago. For more detail about the FCC Vision Panel survey findings, click here.
Impact of Economic Conditions on Canadian Producers and AgriBusiness
In 2010, 49 per cent of Canadian producers and agribusiness and agri-food operators plan to pay down debt, 29 per cent say they won’t spend much differently than in 2009 and 22 per cent will seek more financing. This is the second year that Canada’s leading provider of financial and business services to the agriculture industry has completed the study.
Producers (50%) are significantly more likely than non-producers (42%) to report that they plan to pay down existing debt in 2010, while non-producers (44%) are significantly more likely than producers (26%) to report that they do not plan to make changes to their financing in the next year. Overall, a significant number of respondents report that they do not plan to make changes to their spending in 2010 on transportation (71%), storage (68%), labour (63%), equipment (45%) or inputs (44%).
For more information regarding the study findings, click here.
Green Economy
More than 60 per cent of individuals surveyed by FCC say they are considering environmental stewardship and the use of environmentally-friendly management practices to reduce their environmental footprint and provide financial value for their business.
The results suggest that environmental impacts are gradually becoming a factor of day-to-day business for many producers and agribusinesses.
For more information regarding the study findings, click here.
Optimism in Canadian Agriculture 2009
Despite uncertainty in the industry, more than half of all respondents (55%) remain optimistic about the future of agriculture.
In 2009 respondents continue to see career opportunities in agriculture: respondents remain advocates for careers in agriculture or an agricultural field as two thirds (67%) would encourage a friend or family member to enter the field in 2009
Respondents continue to identify challenges in the agriculture sector; however this year the list of top challenges has broadened.
For complete results, including an analysis of the opportunities & challenges facing Canadian agriculture both by province and sector, see the full report click here
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Appendix A - British Columbia Appendix B - Alberta Appendix C - Saskatchewan
Appendix D - Manitoba Appendix E - Ontario Appendix F - Quebec Appendix G - Atlantic
Beef report Crop report Dairy report Poultry report
What are the developments since 1959 that have had the greatest positive impact on Canadian agriculture?
FCC is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009. The agriculture industry has evolved since FCC’s inception in 1959 and FCC wanted to hear what changes producers believe have had the greatest positive impact on Canadian agriculture.
In July, FCC asked Vision Panel members to rank the top five advancements they felt had the greatest positive impact on agriculture from a predetermined list. Three advancements emerged as clear favourites: direct seeding systems, Internet and email communication, and the development of new crop protection products.
To view how each of the 18 changes stacked up,click here. Further details can also be found in the feature article in the November/December edition of the AgriSuccess Journal.
Farm Technology Report 2009
A national survey released by FCC outlines producers’ motivation and future plans for technology adoption, and describes the savings resulting from previous technology adoption. Over 65 per cent of primary producers who responded to the survey plan to implement one or more additional cost-saving technologies/devices on their farm/ranch in the next five years. Examples include upgrading computer systems, using computerized field maps and installing robotic milkers in dairy operations.
Producers indicated that they are motivated to consider cost saving technologies for the following reasons: the potential for increased productivity, the immediate and future reduction in operating costs and time savings.
For more information regarding the studies findings click here.
Impact of economic changes on Canadian producers and agribusinesses
A new Farm Credit Canada survey of Canadian producers and agribusinesses shows that current succession/business plans and changes in the global economy are driving changes they plan to make in 2009.
“This is positive as we know that producers who have strong farm management skills are more likely to succeed,” says Dan Bergen, Farm Credit Canada’s Chief Operating Officer. “It also confirms what we have been saying, that in spite of challenges in some sectors, producers and agribusiness operators, overall, are moving forward. They are more concerned with the impact of the global economy rather than the national and local economies. This is good news for the agriculture industry and for the Canadian economy.”
For more information regarding the study findings, click here