Welcome To The 47th Agriculture Update - Farming and Furious

2026 has brought wild weather, unpredictable policy and some major shakeups on operations across the prairies. Markets are anyone's guess, weather is volatile and many farmers are wishing they had just a few more cows around.

Not to worry though we live our lives a ¼ section at time and it's like my real estate agent and the politicians say: It's only interest - legacy lasts forever…

With that in mind we’re excited to offer the 2026 Agriculture Update Seminar: November 23 – 26 2026. This year we'll reflect on legacy and expanded considerations for blended families. In-laws, cousins, non residents, 2nd marriages and joint assets are all realities for the modern farm. We'll take a deep dive into who qualifies as a farmer, transfer strategies and farm protection with the expanded family in mind.

Sometimes even the best families need separate vehicles and we'll deep dive into farm butterfly rules, including related party butterfly. We'll review unique cases and the process for advanced tax rulings and tips / tricks from real farm reorganizations. With this in mind we'll examine Family Wealth and Business Wealth strategies to consider for properly structuring assets and the important family decisions when considering separating land and the farm business. As land prices climb we will discuss the use of co-ownership agreements and structuring them to address both farm operations and family wealth concerns.

Occasionally a plan goes off the tracks and can have major implications for the family farm. We'll review a number of scenarios when dealing with the unexpected from a tax and legal perspective. We'll examine death prior to formal agreements, loss of the junior generation, and tax and legal implications for family members when the unexpected happens. Our course will balance out with our Tips and Traps from the past year in our Fast and The Filings section.

This year we're going to need a team and are excited to hit the road with Colin Miller FCPA, FCA KPMG Lethbridge, Reid Wilkie LL.B. Smith & Hersey Agribusiness Law LLP, Riley Honess CPA Thomson Group. On behalf of your speakers and Alberta Canola Producers Commission we look forward to offering our 47th Agriculture Update for Professionals.

Joel Bokenfohr