vreeling family

The farm transition trial

Transitioning the farm from one generation to the next is often fraught with challenges and can be an adventure into the unknown. But a focus on the bigger picture can help keep everyone aligned and form the basis for important decisions

Reading Time: 8 minutes For anyone affected by cancer, they have likely heard the adage that “a person doesn’t get cancer, the family does.” When 45-year-old grain farmer KR Vreeling was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2009, he and his wife, Tammy, realized they needed to expedite their farm transition plan or, at the very least, that they needed […] Read more








Business accounting concept, Business man using calculator with computer laptop, budget and loan paper in office.

Why do farmers hate paying taxes?

There are plenty of reasons why farmers might hate paying taxes – and several ways to avoid it

Reading Time: 3 minutes It didn’t take long in my accounting career to learn that farmers don’t like paying income tax. No one does really, but farmers seem to have a particular disdain for sending money to Ottawa. I think there are a few reasons for this. One is cash basis income tax treatment which means farmers can often […] Read more



two farmers shaking hands with grain bins in the background

Employment agreements: A tool to manage employees

Reading Time: 3 minutes The days of a one-parcel, 100-acre family farm are long past. As farm operations become larger and more sophisticated, so does the need for properly managing farm operations. And that starts with the workforce. Proper training, supervision, and safety policies and procedures are paramount when it comes to managing a workforce. Additionally, the importance of […] Read more

farmer standing in a field

Moving beyond delegation on the farm

Summer Series: When everyone is too busy and delegating isn’t an option, what’s a busy farmer to do?

Reading Time: 4 minutes Farming can be overwhelming during peak seasons. A never-ending job list means you’re overloaded — which means your team is probably already operating at maximum capacity as well, so delegating isn’t an option. What can you do? Kelly Dobson, executive coach and fourth-generation Fairfax, Man., farmer says a common complaint from his clients is that […] Read more