Reading Time: 4 minutes If you think those off-colour jokes, sexist comments, or the occasional angry outburst are harmless, you should think again. The research is clear that rude behaviour can hurt your farm’s bottom line. For more than 20 years, Christine Porath, an associate professor at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., has […] Read more
How much did that off-colour joke cost you?
More than you probably think, because we all work harder and better in workplaces where we feel respected
Will it snow?
Volunteer research by these farmers is helping to advance weather science
Reading Time: 4 minutes As farmers are well aware, rain and snowfall can vary considerably over short distances. What farmer hasn’t suffered a dry spell when promising rain clouds drifted north or south of their farm, giving their neighbours a crop-saving “million-dollar” rain? Likewise, we’ve all seen very small pockets get clobbered with gully-producing storms or crop-flattening hail. The […] Read more
Living with dementia
These strategies can add life quality and meaning for both of you
Reading Time: 5 minutes The challenges of a dementia diagnosis can be compounded by feelings of isolation and loneliness when family and friends stop visiting because they don’t know what to say or do. “People stay away because they don’t know how to communicate with them, but it magnifies the difficulties,” says Dr. Al Power, a medical doctor who […] Read more
A health plan that pays
It makes more and more sense to put your focus on employee health and wellness
Reading Time: 3 minutes Creating a safe, healthy and supportive workplace isn’t just good for your workers — it’s also good for your business. “The health of your workers is tied to the health of your business,” says Jade Reeve, a manager with the Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council (CAHRC), an Ottawa-based non-profit organization focused on addressing human resource […] Read more
Reaching out
Your neighbour is diagnosed with depression. What do you say next time you meet?
Reading Time: 5 minutes When it comes to talking about mental health, there’s a shift taking place in agriculture. Producers are bravely sharing their stories at farm meetings and on social media. Corporations and organizations are creating supportive resources. All this is helping to reduce the stigma around mental health. With the incredibly high levels of stress farmers face […] Read more
The annual performance review
Does it really make sense to put employees and team members through a performance appraisal?
Reading Time: 4 minutes You’re busy, of course, so finding an excuse for not doing annual performance evaluations with employees and team members looks so very tempting. Would it really be so bad if you pushed the reviews onto the back burner? The answer is an unequivocal “yes,” according to Dr. Sara Mann, an associate professor specializing in human […] Read more
Promises to yourself
When the pressure is on, farmers get amazing things done. Now, a new technique called WOOP can help you score when the pressure is off as well
Reading Time: 5 minutes Farmers are good at getting things done under pressure. When the crop needs to get in the ground or the hay has to be baled before the rain, farmers follow through. But when there’s no deadline, farmers can fall prey to procrastination just like everybody else, says Carleton University professor Dr. Tim Pychyl, who also […] Read more
Get professional with your HR
The Doelman family is finding their HR plan is an essential pillar for their farm’s success. You may too
Reading Time: 5 minutes With the current shortage of good labour in the ag industry, putting more effort into HR planning can help you keep your staff, thereby saving the cost and aggravation of recruiting and training new people — if you can find them. Hiring new staff is worse than dating, says Jennifer Doelman, who farms with her […] Read more
The ‘write’ way
With big stakes at play on today’s farms, it’s more important than ever to make sure what you write sends a clear message
Reading Time: 4 minutes We’ve all had occasions when we’ve read something and we were left muttering, “I have no idea what that person was trying to say.” Not only does poor writing not accomplish the goal of communicating the intended information, it also wastes the time of both reader and writer. The number one goal of good writing […] Read more
Keep employees on the farm
Do you really know if your employees are thinking of quitting?
Reading Time: 5 minutes Hiring and training the right people is costly, and the last thing you need as you head into the busy season is the added stress of losing a key person. The good news is there is a lot you can do as an employer to keep your staff. Even better, it’s not just about higher […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
