Farmland Values: The Cost of Staying In — US vs. Canada 2026

Farmland values in Western Canada now track almost identically to the United States — 16 years of cash rent to cover a 35% down payment on a quarter. Four years ago that number was 12. Eric Olson from MNP and David Widmar from Agricultural Economic Insights joined Dan live to run the math from both sides of the border: what the American data tells Canadian operators about where this is heading, and what separates the producers who will weather it from those who won't. The conversation covers ZIRP and its hangover on asset values, AgriStability vs. US ad hoc payments, cash rent vs. contribution margin, separating the farm business from the land ownership business, and a live napkin-math calculator both guests built for you to run your own numbers. Presenting partner: MNP Ag Intellect | mnp.ca Eric Olson | MNP Farm Management Consulting | mnp.ca David Widmar | Agricultural Economic Insights | aei.ag Hammond Realty — Saskatchewan farmland transitions — https://hammondrealty.ca CropAid Nutrition — Soil health system — https://cropaidnutrition.com Bone Trail Originals — Handcrafted appreciation pieces — https://bonetrail.ca Gripp.ag — Equipment tracking and farm operations platform — https://gripp.ag Convergence Conference 2027 — February 2 to 4 — https://www.convergence.ag/ Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss a live briefing. Growing the Future Productions — Western Canadian agriculture's foremost live briefing platform. CHAPTERS 0:00 Opening: 16 years of rent to cover one land down payment 3:00 Introducing Eric Olson (MNP) and David Widmar (AEI) 5:00 ZIRP: how zero percent rates distorted farmland values 9:00 Canada's rate environment and what farmers are feeling 11:00 US row crop squeeze: prices down, costs stubborn, ad hoc checks 14:00 AgriStability vs. US ad hoc payments — two different models 20:00 Why Canada's best producers have the best coverage 24:00 When risk management tools create more long-term risk 30:00 Napkin math: how many years of rent to cover a down payment? 34:00 Canada's numbers: $8,500 land, $180 rent — almost the same as US 39:00 Harry Siemens live: can the next generation afford to buy land? 41:00 Separating the farm business from the real estate business 49:00 Metric 2: how many acres of rent to cover your first payment? 57:00 Interest rates affect your land value, not just your borrowing cost #farmlandvalues #farmlandaffordability #cashrentfarmland #farmeconomicscanada