Reading Time: 5 minutes As farm businesses grow and become more complex, farmers are recognizing the importance of harnessing the full potential of the farm’s human resources. This means creating an inclusive workplace where both male and female members of the team can thrive and help the farm business meet its goals. A diverse workforce, it turns out, will […] Read more
The inclusive, prosperous farm
Looking to boost your farm’s numbers? Bring a diverse work force to the job, and set them up to perform at their best
Raise resilient kids
How? Share your family stories with them. Research proves it’s a strategy that works
Reading Time: 4 minutes My parents came to Canada from the Netherlands after the Second World War. They came with very little money and only a few words of English, but they had a dream to own their own farm. Through hard work, diligence and a positive attitude, they were successful. But it wasn’t easy and when I have […] Read more
A better workplace for women
In today’s tight labour markets, a workplace that attracts women employees may give your farm the edge you’re looking for
Reading Time: 4 minutes With the farm labour shortage expected to go from bad to worse all across Canada, farms that can attract untapped communities of job seekers may have a big advantage. Which means women. Women are Canada’s largest under-utilized pool of potential farm employees. The numbers prove it. Women make up only 36 per cent of the […] Read more
Your next employee
The solution to your labour shortage may be just waiting for you to give her a chance
Reading Time: 5 minutes There’s a labour shortage on Canadian grain farms. And if industry predictions are correct, it’s only going to get worse… a lot worse. Following a three-year study, the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) reported in 2016 that several factors will combine to create a growing shortage of domestic labour for farms. With an anticipated […] Read more
Guide Life: Distracted driving
On the farm or on the road, turn that cellphone off!
Reading Time: 5 minutes Farmers know safety is important. So why do so many of us overlook one of the leading causes of injury and death? Distracted driving is a contributing factor in 80 per cent of vehicle collisions, leading to four million car crashes in North America each year. And in case you’re skeptical, those aren’t numbers that […] Read more
What do your customers care about?
Check out the mainstream books, films and other media that are shaping what consumers think about what you do
Reading Time: 4 minutes Gluten-free, organic, GMO, free-run — these just hint at the kind of vocabulary being tossed about by consumers today. Packed with good intentions and a little knowledge, such notions are warping the demand for food products, and they may be laying a path for legislation. Never before has there been so much being written, said […] Read more
Eat together: Have a healthier family
20 years of research proves that sitting down to eat together is good for body, brain and mental health
Reading Time: 6 minutes Here is one thing you can do that will help your kids succeed in school and life, and it’s as simple as making it a habit to eat together as a family. It sounds too good to be true, but true is exactly what it is. That’s according to Dr. Anne Fishel, a family therapist […] Read more
What’s your cultural intelligence quotient?
Creating an environment that welcomes and is open to other cultures actually helps boost farm performance
Reading Time: 4 minutes Along with the country overall, our rural communities are becoming much more culturally diverse. The evidence is that this is a good thing for agriculture. Research shows that diversity enhances innovation in the workplace. As well, agriculture relies on newcomers to fill the growing demand for workers in the industry. However, diversity in the workplace […] Read more
Friendships for your life
For more and more of us, loneliness is a serious health risk
Reading Time: 5 minutes In the farming community, being independent is a point of pride. However, too much independence is actually bad for your health if it leads to social isolation. The research is clear. Multiple studies over the past three decades have shown that loneliness kills. It’s as bad for your health as smoking, being obese, having high […] Read more
Communications 101
These simple strategies will reduce day-to-day conflict on your farm, increase efficiency, and help get everyone on the same page
Reading Time: 5 minutes Ever feel like other people just don’t understand you? Do people on the farm complain that you always misunderstand what they’re saying? Does it sometimes feel like you’re all speaking different languages? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are not alone. Frustrations around communication are common. Nor should that surprise us, […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
