Reading Time: 7 minutes How does a young animal learn to hunt? By observing the older generation. Humans are much the same. As a social species, we learn by mimicking, otherwise known as social learning. Social learning is the process through which we acquire knowledge and behaviours, by watching and imitating others. Like much of human social learning, transferring […] Read more
Knowledge lost and gained
Over the past few decades, technology has progressed exponentially, providing access to vast amounts of information. Ironically, this influx is contributing to a loss of important knowledge as well
An eye on the future
Reading Time: < 1 minute Woodleigh Farms, a sixth-generation farm located in Cavan, Ont., has made a dedicated effort in recent years to shift away from traditional methods of agriculture to more regenerative and sustainable farming practices. Norm Lamothe joined his wife Emily’s sixth-generation farm when her parents were at that fork in the road so many farmers find themselves […] Read more
A modern pioneer adventure
Reading Time: 2 minutes Farming is a complex business. In March 2020 the Teerling family of Lindsay Lake Farms was set to move their farm from Germany to Nova Scotia. The limitations on growth in their native Germany prompted them to look for a new place to call home. After visiting Nova Scotia in 2019, and deciding on a […] Read more
Ontario sisters strike farm business partnership
Business partnerships can be tricky to navigate at the best of times. Throw in family members, a new on-farm business and a growing family legacy, and it’s a whole other level
Reading Time: 7 minutes For several years, sisters Kori de Boer and Casie Kuypers were informally part of their family’s original dairy farm in Palgrave, Ont., run by their dad and uncle. When their dad and uncle’s partnership wrapped up a few years ago, they knew that if they didn’t want the dairy to stay small (which would mean […] Read more
PEI farm plans for the future
Many factors go into planning how a farm operates day to day, year to year. What about generation to generation? This P.E.I. farm honours the past to plan for the future
Reading Time: 8 minutes One important MacNeill family value weaves through generations of this P.E.I. farm family: there’s nothing wrong with a good day’s work. Cows might come and go on this sixth-generation dairy farm and decades-worth of visitors have lived the farm life if only for a brief summer vacation in the on-farm cottages. Even hurricane Fiona left […] Read more
Planning for 2025 and beyond
Reading Time: 3 minutes Farming is a complex business full of daily decisions with expensive consequences. Country Guide associate editor, April Stewart, sat down with Evan Shout, a.k.a. the Farmer Coach, for his thoughts and top tips on how farmers can prepare to make decisions not only for the coming year but for the next decade. Below is an […] Read more
Setting goals in the new year that can work
New year, new goals. Or maybe not. What keeps us from sticking to and achieving our goals?
Reading Time: 5 minutes Ah, the optimism a new year brings. An invisible line drawn in your mind’s eye between the last year and next as you flip open a fresh calendar. (Or, if you’re younger than me, scroll to the next month on your phone’s calendar app). Your eyes sparkle with eagerness, you drum your fingers in anticipation, […] Read more
The numbers you need to know when selling an agribusiness
Learn from an industry leader how to build and generate the total value of your farm. (Hint: it’s never only about the numbers)
Reading Time: 5 minutes It’s not easy to sell a business that you’ve poured your heart and soul into. And selling an agribusiness isn’t as simple as selling a piece of equipment or land. Potential buyers must meet the owner’s criteria, often including that they must be a good bet to protect their legacy, which means they may also […] Read more
To debt, or not to debt
Debt is the big question as we head into 2025. Is more debt essential for farm success?
Reading Time: 8 minutes There are many pressures on the agriculture industry and its individual businesses. As Canadian growers and producers, our farms are expected to do more at every turn. Farms must maintain peak performance. That’s clear. And they must generate or leverage ahead-of-the-curve innovation and technology. But that’s just the start. They must also analyze and manage […] Read more
Turning tough farm conversations into soft landings
How can you discuss the things that matter most without everyone blowing their lids, and you blowing yours too?
Reading Time: 5 minutes Are you even a real farmer if you haven’t had any tough conversations on the farm? All kidding aside, running a business with family and often non-family employees can involve some difficult and emotionally charged conversations. Country Guide searched out three books written by professors, corporate trainers and members of the Harvard Negotiation Project for […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
