Ag Productivity Gains 170 percent between 1948 and 2013...

[TOM4CWB]

We could make a strong case for US and Canadian productivity gains in our Ag community to be relatively similar and mirror for practical purposes....

This was in this weeks DTN Fri Jan 29, 2016 06:07 AM CST

By DTN's Washington Insider;

US Ag Output Growth Driven By Productivity Gains
Rising U.S. agricultural total factor productivity (TFP) was seen between 1948 and 2013, as total agricultural output rose, while total agricultural inputs remained relatively flat, the Economic Research Service (ERS) reported.

TFP measures the difference between the aggregate total output of crop and livestock commodities relative to the total use of land, capital and material inputs. Growing TFP is indicative of efficiency gains due to new technology and improved management of farm resources.

U.S. farm sector output grew 170% between 1948 and 2013, while total farm inputs held steady during the same period, the gains resulted in a concurrent increase in TFP. Though inputs in the aggregate were mostly unchanged, but the composition of inputs has changed dramatically.

Labor use declined by 78% and land use dropped by 26% between 1948 and 2013, while the use of intermediate goods such as energy, chemicals and feed increased over the same period. Innovations in animal and crop genetics, chemicals, equipment and farm resource organization have been the primary driver of long-term agricultural productivity gains.

[bucket]

And the graincos and railways did what? in the same period?

Not arguing just asking.

[TOM4CWB]

One could make the argument:

$480 canola... is $345/t

$30 oil is $21.50/barrel

$6.50 CPS wht is $4.65/bu

$9 peas is $6.50/bu

55c/L Diesel is 39c/L

$25/hr labour is $18/hr

$300K tractor, combine or seeder is $215K

If we look at the end of Jan 2013 cdn$ charts... we were at par USDvsCDN$

$35/t grain freight is $25... for export...

An argument could be made... that the CDN$ has levelled the US/CDN differential in cost structures...

$3000/ac land is $2100...

Are we going back to par on the $CDNvsUS$

What will that do to farm input costs and income?

Interesting thoughts...

[bucket]

Or you could look at like 1000s of miles of track gone and fewer elevators.

And a highway bill no government can afford.

[sumdumguy]

Wow, cool but in 1029 our grandfather was getting $6.00 a bushel for wheat.

[sumdumguy]

Wow, cool but in 1929, our grandfather was getting $6.00 a bushel for wheat.

[bucket]

It's funny.

Farmers gain efficiencies and are to expect less because of it.

Everyone gains efficiencies and charge more. With really good excuses.

[Hopalong]

Except for currency values, United States and Canada production and handling systems and associated government policy are more similar than any time in my farming lifetime.
Still a far cry from some other parts of world (better) and not without failings but critics might look at good parts of our system as well as the bad.

[bucket]

Hopalong

That is simply not the case.

Maybe you could explain your statement.

And explain the correlation of railway and elevator abandonment and the resulting highway cost.

Or some of the farm programs that are close to being equal or bankable like they are in the states.

Part of the reason for bankable programs in most countries to provide transparency of the market.

We are so far from that here.

[Hopalong]

Some differences between Canada and U.S. in past were set aside acres, export subsidies, earlier consolidation in handling and transportation, COOL, Crow rates, wheat board, branch line subsidies and more.
As long as we remain independent there will be costs and benefits but think freer trade and markets is helping even things out.

[Hopalong]

Other threads have argued the merits of risk management programs like crop and revenue insurance and associated subsidy money.
Here again, think our government programs are becoming more similar, not as fast as some would like but going in right direction.
Now if we could just agree on a solution to supply management issue.

[bucket]

Hopalong

Do we have mandatory sales reporting?

Do we have vessel reports?

Do we have the same basis calculations?