Agriculture rebounds from adversities

OTTAWA - Farmers are making hay now that the sector is shining again, a new report suggests.

One of Canada's oldest industries has rebounded from the adversities of the first half of this decade to become a highly productive and leading growth sector of the national economy, according to a report card on the health and outlook of the agricultural industry released Wednesday.

"Canada's agriculture sector is accustomed to dealing with adversity," notes the report by TD Bank. "But the past half decade has to rank as one of the most challenging periods on record.

"Since 2002, the fortunes of the sector have been pummelled by a number of unexpected surprises," it says, citing the negative impact of a soaring dollar, high energy prices, mad-cow disease, drought and avian flu.