Reading Time: 2 minutes The reasons why we compromise on buildings are almost too obvious to mention. There’s the expense, for starters, plus the “we can make this work” resourcefulness that we take pride in as farmers, and of course there’s also the way we inherit so many buildings when our landbase expands. Yet Brian Holmes thinks he knows […] Read more
the building box
Here’s what Jim and Phillip Callaghan experienced — and what they learned — when they took a business approach to their farm expansion
Reading Time: 2 minutes Their goal was clear, just as it is on many farms across Canada. With growing families, brothers Jim and Phillip Callaghan needed to expand their Peterborough, Ont. home farm to generate additional income. In this case, the Callaghans are dairy farmers, so it made most sense to them to double their milk herd to 300 […] Read more
With a university degree zooming past $80,000, the fourth ‘R’ — a Registered Education Savings Plan — can be the smartest move of all for you, your children and grandchildren, and your farm
Reading Time: 2 minutes The key is to create saving strategies that work for your farm and your family Sometimes the choices seem easy, like saying “no” to registered education savings plans. When you’re young, the mortgage looms so large. If there is any spare cash, registered retirement savings plans at least are tax deductible. Tucking scarce dollars into […] Read more
Taking a swing at diversification
Reading Time: 2 minutes I want to be a small producer with a big margin — Fred Archibald “Giving it a shot is the safest strategy in business,” Fred Archibald says. “Sitting still takes nerve.” In 1968, when Fred’s father planted his first 40 acres of apple orchard just north of Lake Ontario at Bowmanville, he could never have […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
