Farm Newsletter March 2016

The biggest conversation in Saskatchewan since my Christmas Newsletter has been the weather! El Nino has brought unseasonably warm and dry conditions to Saskatchewan. Some analysts say it is the warmest winter in 80 years! While most of the North and East part of the province welcome a warmer drier climate parts of the South and West are hoping for spring rains to get good germinating moisture for seeding time! Hopefully the old adage “Seed in the dust and bins will bust” will apply to the 2016 season!

Oil prices have certainly been a topic of discussion as well. This industry has gone through one of the worst oil crashes in modern history. The hardest hit province has been Alberta which relies heavily on oil and gas production. Alberta farmers have flocked to Saskatchewan in what some have been calling an “exodus”, making great opportunities for Sellers of farms and ranches on the Saskatchewan side of the border. Although these low oil prices have hurt Saskatchewan’s revenue stream, only 15% of our revenue comes from Oil and gas and our extremely diversified portfolio of resources has us looking better financially than most regions in North America. There is no place that I would rather be right now than Saskatchewan!

TED CAWKWELL

RE/MAX Blue Chip Realty

306.327.7661

ted@tedcawkwell.com

"An Expert In The Field"

For the most up-to-date information and listings, please visit my website.

The low Canadian dollar has also played a major factor on Saskatchewan farms this winter. The low dollar has really helped keep commodity prices high but it has had an adverse negative effect on machinery prices. For the most part producers are talking about the positives that the low dollar has had for them this past winter.

Cattle prices have moved down from the all-time record high set in 2015 but they are still quite strong and most feel the marketplace is much more stable than it was a year ago. This stability and continued strength in the marketplace has prompted more ranch sales than in past winters.

Farmland values continue to hold strong due to stability and profitability on both grain farms and ranches. Continuing low interest rates have also helped keep these values high. The number of farmland sales have stabilized after the “boom” of 2011-2014. Most realtors feel that the market is “slower” although I see this as simply a shift back to normal.

My listings have been selling extremely well and I have 19 recorded farmland sales in 2016. This has resulted in a lower inventory of farms as it has been challenging to replace listings at the rate that I am selling them. Keep your eyes on my website or phone me for the most up to date information as listings are added and removed weekly from this list of available opportunities.

The “PRIME” buying and selling season typically runs until the end of April. If you are interested in buying or selling farmland call me to discuss how you can take advantage of this active marketplace.

For farm news, up to date market reports or other leading edge information visit us on Facebook or Linked In.

Or also our website http://www.tedcawkwell.com

M LS #543758 160 Acres RM of Preeceville #334. A full 1/4 section of prime real estate with a new executive custom designed 1350 sf
home located on the Porcupine Provincial Forest fringe.

MLS #560728
390 Acres RM of Kinistino #459. This package of land truly has a dual purpose, grain land and quality recreation land. If you are looking for recreational land that you can rent out for cash flow this is the package for you!

MLS #559238 319 Acres RM of Hazel Dell #335. This property is one of the most visually spectacular recreational properties in the province! The Assiniboia River meanders through both quarters while pouring over various natural waterfalls.

MLS #5 50621 146 Acres RM of Dundurn #314. This quarter is 20 minutes south of Saskatoon. The land is mostly open and level making it easily farmable.
The land is only 1 mile from Blackstrap lake making it a perfect location for an acreage or recreational property with farming revenue.

MLS # 562526 159 Acres Rm Of Hazel Dell #335.
This land is near a commercial hog barn and receives a strong application of fertilizer at a drastically reduced price approximately every 3 years. The land quality has been greatly increased due to the many years of manure applications

MLS #564053 240 Acres RM of Buchanan #304. This 240 acre parcel of land is all in one block making a nice sized field. The land is currently in grass production although the quality of the land is good enough that it could be converted to grain land if that was a preference.