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
Onboarding summer staff for agricultural businesses
A strategic approach to seasonal part-timers might be your ticket to growth
Moving your farm’s books to the cloud
Reading Time: 2 minutes As far as topics go, farm bookkeeping and office administration don’t get a lot of attention. Why would they when there’s drought and drones, multi-million-dollar farm acquisitions, trade wars, tariffs and labour disruptions to focus on instead? But it’s a subject that’s creating a bottleneck, preventing some farm operations from reaching their growth potential and […] Read more
Saskatchewan farmers adapt to professional and personal transitions
From retirement to adapting operations, today’s farmers are making transitions like never before. Here’s how two farmers used them to grow
Reading Time: 4 minutes The agriculture industry is grappling with change, perhaps more than ever before. Which is why it’s also more important than ever for farmers to understand how to navigate transitions, both professional and personal, successfully. Lesley Kelly has seen a lot of change throughout her career and she’s grateful for that — despite the fact that […] Read more
Producers pivot in the face of changing climate
No one ever said farming was easy. Now, challenges posed by weather extremes have some producers looking at their enterprises a little differently
Reading Time: 9 minutes A recent study by Farmers for Climate Change revealed that climate is a top worry for producers. Respondents listed reduced profits and yields due to extreme weather events as key concerns. Many producers expressed interest in adopting new practices to develop greater resiliency. Seventy-six percent of producers said extreme weather had an impact on their […] Read more
Picking the right crop varieties for your farm
Use this easy method to help you narrow down your seed choices
Reading Time: 5 minutes Based on the amount of seed information available to growers in the past, we get the impression that it was a bit like throwing darts when it came to choosing an ideal seed. Your method of choice may have been to try a variety that your farm neighbour had success with or maybe you just […] Read more
Nova Scotia greenhouse rebuilds after severe snow storm
How an employee-owned greenhouse built back better than ever after a severe snowstorm destroyed several of their greenhouses
Reading Time: 6 minutes Nothing forces change like having your business literally flattened. In 2015, a February storm brought snow to Falmouth, Nova Scotia. At Avon Valley Floral’s greenhouses, the snow froze into a thin layer of ice. Then came more ice and snow. Greenhouse staff cranked up the aged boiler system, but it was too late to melt […] Read more
Manitoba farmers share their farm succession story
Transitioning the family farm can be riddled with challenges. The Stepplers have learned that working collaboratively offers a better chance of success for all
Reading Time: 7 minutes It’s a fact that most families squabble. Individuals don’t always see eye to eye, and they can’t always work together. But if they can find a way, it can make a world of difference to the profitability and future of their farm — and the success of their relationships with each other. The Stepplers managed […] Read more
Manitoba dairy farmers relocate to Vancouver Island
A Gutsy Move: How do a couple of dairy farmers pick up and move halfway across the country?
Reading Time: 6 minutes Chelsea Enns knew she wanted a different kind of dairy business. Enns and her husband, Albert Gorter, were looking to expand their dairy near Steinbach, Man., by adding their own processing plant to make dairy products. Then the perfect business, Little Qualicum Cheeseworks, a small family-run cheesemaking facility, came up for sale near Parksville, B.C. […] Read more
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
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
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
