FCC Farmland Values Report: Ontario Farmland Values Increased 12.4% in 2014

Farm Credit Canada (FCC) released its annual Farmland Values Report. The national average farmland value increased 14% in 2014. This is a large increase over 2013, but lower increase than the 22% increase FCC reported last year. The patterns in farmland values differ across the country: Saskatchewan recorded an average increase of 19%, Ontario was at 12% while BC farmland showed an average gain of 4%.

Ontario

From the FCC Report: Ontario farmland values increased an average of 12.4% in 2014, following gains of 15.9% in 2013 and 30.1% in 2012. Average farmland values in the province have continued to rise since 1988.

In several areas of the province, demand for farmland significantly outweighed the supply, creating competition for available land. This, coupled with low interest rates, appeared to have played a role in rising values.

Demand came from many sectors, including large intensive livestock enterprises needing land for manure management and cropping requirements.

Non-agricultural buyers in southwestern Ontario continued to purchase farmland in select areas, creating greater overall competition for available land. Farmland in southern and central Ontario continued to be in high demand due to the availability of soil types that support high value crops.

Producers in eastern Ontario continued to expand, purchasing land in the immediate area and in neighbouring locations. Northern and eastern regions also saw prices rise as buyers from high-priced areas in southern and southwestern areas moved north in search of lowerpriced land. Markets in the north appeared to be dominated by a small number of buyers who acquired land, contributing to the increase in price.

However, while most areas saw moderate to significant increases, there were some that saw slight declines or no change in value. Sales in the province were accomplished through a mix of transactions including real estate brokered, property auction and land sold through the tendering process.

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Welcome to
Ontario Agriculture

Sign Up
or Sign In

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Bayer Seeks Tariffs on Glyphosate Imports

Bayer Seeks Tariffs on Glyphosate Imports, Sparking Farmer Concerns Over Rising Costs.

Quebec Biofood Sector Investment Gets a Boost

Canada is investing nearly $34 million to support innovation, jobs, and local food processing in Quebec’s biofood sector, strengthening supply chains and national food security goals.

New Swine Influenza Vaccine Technology Could Transform Hog Health Management

A breakthrough swine influenza vaccine platform could reduce disease severity, improve herd health, and help producers respond quickly to emerging virus strains.

Wheat midge – Overview

The wheat midge (Sitodiplosis mosellana) is found in most areas around the world wherever wheat is grown. In recent years, significant damage to wheat crops due to wheat midge has been reported in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, southern British Columbia, Minnesota, North Dakota and Idaho. All wheat varieties are currently susceptible to wheat midge, but some are more seriously affected than others. Although the midge also attacks other members of the grass family, including barley, couch grass, intermediate wheat grass and rye, infestations on these plants are usually not serious enough to warrant control. Research and breeding for wheat midge resistant wheat varieties is underway at the Cereals Research Centre (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Winnipeg) and the Crop Development Centre (University of Saskatchewan).

5 ideas to help attract and keep the best employees

Good employees are hard to find – and keep. That’s why some farms are looking for creative solutions to help retain workers. Whether it’s by way of increased compensation, nurturing a family-friendly workplace or creating opportunities for career advancements, here are five ways to create a desirable workplace: 1. Non-monetary compensation Benefits on top of wages can be a necessity to attract workers to more remote, rural locations like farms. Such compensation can include access to housing and transportation to the job site. Jeff Warkentin, the chief operating officer and farm manager of Hebert Grain Ventures, lists additional incentives that the 40,000-acre grain and oilseed operation in southeast Saskatchewan provides: Pension benefits Additional benefits, such as health plans Bonus and profitability programs. Bonuses are paid out to employees who achieve targeted goals, while profitability bonuses are distributed in profitable years for the company. 2. Family affair Including

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service