two farmers standing in a field crop with a green combine in the background

Leaders need support, too

Summer Series: Today’s ag leaders shoulder a heavy mental and emotional load. Despite their stoic leadership skills team members must remember that sometimes their leader needs support, too

Reading Time: 4 minutes “Leaders are expected to remain composed, to offer reassurance and to be a safe harbour for their teams… it can be draining,” says Jennifer MacTavish, a Guelph, Ont., executive coach and mediator.  This can lead to burnout, especially during times of uncertainty. MacTavish, who spent 20 years in leadership roles with agricultural industry associations, has […] Read more

young man and woman farmers with a tractor and cultivator in the background

How women lead with confidence in agriculture

Summer Series: While women working in agriculture is certainly not as rare as it used to be, gender biases haven’t kept pace with the change. But with the help of peers and industry learning opportunities women are confidently stepping into leadership roles

Reading Time: 6 minutes Gender bias is complicated. It can be intentional, but it can also be subconscious or structural, such as when it’s embedded in organizational policies or societal norms.  And it often goes unseen by those who don’t experience it themselves. Although the number of women working in leadership positions in agriculture is increasing, women are still […] Read more


A group of farmers standing in a field examining soybean crop before harvesting

Adding emotional intelligence to your farm toolbox

Strengthening your emotional intelligence can pay big dividends, personally and professionally

Reading Time: 5 minutes Imagine there was a relatively simple way you could amp up your leadership skills, reduce your stress, help you more easily resolve conflict and provide insight into what other people are thinking and feeling. Emotional intelligence, first identified by researchers John Mayer and Peter Salovey in 1990, was originally presented as the ability to understand […] Read more

Cheerful siblings, sisters, enjoying a summer day in a wheat field with a father and grandfather.

Closing the on-farm generation gap

Generations have always squabbled about issues and viewpoints, but the generational communication gap can be filled with curiosity and empathy

Reading Time: 4 minutes The clash between generations over outlooks, opinions, values and beliefs dates to ancient times. In fact, this disparity of perspective has a name: the generation gap. Each generation is shaped by the predominant forces at play during their formative years. Acknowledging these influences can improve communication among the generations, says River Falls, Wisconsin leadership development […] Read more


Gerry Friesen, author of The Recovering Farmer.

What to do when worry takes over

Getting control over your worries can be far easier said than done — but you can get a good start if you practice these tips

Reading Time: 4 minutes “I don’t tell my story because it’s unique. I tell it because it isn’t,” says former Manitoba hog farmer Gerry Friesen. A little over 20 years ago Friesen’s farm was in financial crisis after years of market volatility, tariffs and low prices. “At the time, my mind was working overtime, replaying worst case scenarios, questioning […] Read more

Ava Emily van Beusekom and family, Stonekreek Feed & Farm Supply.

Understand motivation to stay energized

Contrary to belief, motivation is not about discipline or willpower. It’s more complex, but there’s a lot you can do to boost yours

Reading Time: 6 minutes Let’s be honest. We’ve all had sluggish or frustrating days where we wonder why the heck we’re doing what we do. It can be challenging to find the motivation to get out of bed, do a chore, start a project. Motivation can be complex. What gets you excited about work today might not be the […] Read more


New Brunswick farmer Norm Bradford found that painting artworks in winter helped him get through the long, dark days.

Finding your passion project

What to do with your time off? There are plenty of options that have nothing to do with the farm

Reading Time: 6 minutes Farming is more than a career, it’s an identity. Which, up to a point, is a good thing. But the evidence is in, and it says that if the farm takes too much of your time and too much of your energy, that’s not good for your mental health, or for the health of your […] Read more

Building trust is a skill that farm managers can develop by focusing on the three main pillars of trust during each interaction with team members.

Why trust matters on the farm

Trust is at the heart of our personal and professional relationships. When this important foundation is cracked, what can you do to repair it?

Reading Time: 4 minutes Trust is at the foundation of every business and personal interaction. We can’t see it or touch it, but we sure know when it’s missing. It’s a red flag. While trust can feel like an intangible, Halifax business consultant Natalie Doyle Oldfield says that its impact can be measured and there are clear benefits of […] Read more


Group of people standing outside on farm field with agricultural machinery in background during harvest season

Onboarding summer staff for agricultural businesses

A strategic approach to seasonal part-timers might be your ticket to growth

Reading Time: 4 minutes Given the seasonal nature of farming, summer students fill an important labour gap on many farms, especially those that operate in direct-to-consumer markets. With the continuing tight labour market, managing the hiring and training of seasonal employees (often students) well is critical to success. Unfortunately, too often the busy-ness of day-to-day farming during peak times […] Read more

3D illustration of a gauge with needle pointing more than 200 percent

Wellness ROI

In a tight labour market, could wellness programs help recruit and retain employees?

Reading Time: 5 minutes Investing in employee well-being pays off. Beverley Beuermann-King, a mental health and resiliency expert in Little Britain, Ont., says the research proves it. Return on investment (ROI) data for corporate wellness programs shows that investing in employee well-being results in improved employee engagement, increased productivity, reduced absenteeism and fewer injuries. “If employees are healthy then […] Read more