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BMO underscores trends affecting Canadian agriculture

The Bank of Montreal has published an in-depth analysis of nine key trends. Here’s a topline of several economic indicators and what to expect in 2025.

The world economy is holding up. Economic growth in the U.S. has continued to exceed expectations, allaying earlier fears about the possibility of a Fed-induced recession. Brisk growth south of the border is acting as a crucial pillar of support for the global economy, given the loss of momentum in Japan, Europe, Canada and even China. Interest rates are still relatively high in most countries, but global growth appears on track to accelerate slightly in 2025 as long as geopolitical and trade risks don’t spiral.

The low-flying loonie. The weak Canadian dollar is acting as a broad support for domestic agricultural prices, which would likely be around 10 per cent lower under a more neutral exchange rate. The flip side, however, is that imported inputs are also costlier. 

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A chain harrow is a game changer

Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.