A new study by Nicoleta Uzea and David Sparling entitled Farm Capital Investment and Growth reveals that while the rest of the world was mired in a recession, farmers in Canada were optimistic.  That optimism showed as they invested $11.4 B in their farms in 2009, more than ever before.  Nearly half of the money went into equipment, with 20% in real estate and another 12% in buildings.  Only 0.3% was invested in environmental protection.  Crop, potato, and dairy sector investments rose, while those in livestock plummeted.  And large farms continued to invest heavily in their businesses as smaller farms pulled back.

To read the press release please click here.

A new research brief from David Sparling and Nicoleta Uzea calls for a shift away from farm income programs like AgriInvest to a more focused investment along the entire agri-food chain from farms to food processors rather than simply giving more money to farmers as their incomes rise. The brief summarizes a larger report entitled Six Years that Changed Agriculture, which highlights changes to farm income from 2005-2010.

Read the press release.