Farms.com Home   News

An Upside To Market Downturn

It's not all doom and gloom as far as what's happening in the financial world is concerned, particularly when it comes to agriculture.
 
Vulcan County's Director of Agricultural Services, Kelly Malmberg, says with oil prices falling, that means likely lower input costs for farmers come Spring.
 
"I've heard rumours that diesel and gas could be down around .70 cents. So, input costs, and I don't about the herbicide costs are going to yet, but fuel and fertilizer look pretty fair and we could get a bit of a break this Spring."
 
Malmberg, says the big concern for farmers are commodity prices and getting their products to market.
 
"Grain prices aren't as ugly as what the markets did yesterday (Monday). But grain prices are down, grain movement is tough. I think things are starting to get a little better. But yeah, agriculture's getting beat up. It's like all commodities, things are little tough here right now for sure."
 
Malmberg, says the Canadian dollar dropping in value against the U.S. dollar, isn't bad news for farmers.
 
"Usually a low dollar helps make our grain purchased by other countries more attractive. I guess if there's one positive we have a really bad dollar. But it makes the world buy more of our grain because it's cheaper to buy."
 
Malmberg says as always farmers have to do the best with what they have and just see where things go based on the best information at the time.
Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.