Reading Time: 5 minutes Finding the time is our greatest challenge,” Jennifer Peart acknowledges from their farm at Jerseyville, Ont., where she and husband, Charlie Anderson, are committed to making their business management as strong as their production capability. It isn’t easy. It isn’t simple. But the couple find they’re making gains by defining who is responsible for what, […] Read more
The greatest challenge for this farm operation
Their business schedule and clear must-do’s drive farm growth
Bryt Farms positions itself for growth in dairy industry
Whether it’s a classic expansion or a leap into the unknown, the pressure is on
Reading Time: 6 minutes “So many people told us ‘You can’t do it’. I think that just lit a fire underneath us and made us work harder.” Which is what Dave and Jennifer Bryson of Dobbinton, Ont., have done, proving all the doubters wrong. But they did something else too. The Brysons developed a decision-making model that keeps them […] Read more
Down the road from Jeremy Clarkson
They’re each calledJeremy and each is a unique U.K. farmer of a kind you may never find in Canada. On top of that, our Jay Whetter is a fan of both. But which is the one we should be watching?
Reading Time: 9 minutes I was coming into the very southwest of England, into the county called Cornwall, where there was a lot I wanted to see and do, including a visit to farmer I’d been looking forward to meeting here named Jeremy Oatey. Before going to the airport, a colleague at the Canola Council of Canada asked me […] Read more
Summer Series: Why it’s important for you to get fit
[Make It Count] I’m a farmer. Why on earth would I want to exercise?
Reading Time: 8 minutes So much of farming is so physically demanding. Even the easy jobs take enough running around to require physical stamina. And let’s face it, no matter where you are on the farm or who you are, if something is in front of you, the first option is always to just deal with it. This isn’t […] Read more
Summer Series: Skills training that can make you a better farmer
[Make It Count] It’s a whole new world. For Jamie Christie, mid-career education means driving farm growth by adding skills no one used to think are needed on the farm. Which should be on the top of your list? And where to find them?
Reading Time: 9 minutes First, you could get process-minded about it. If you recognize it would pay to get serious about adding an education focus to your farm, there’s a logical way to get started. Make a list of the current skills that everyone involved in the operation has, then assess where there are knowledge gaps and training needs. […] Read more
Summer Series: Podcast with Mark Brock
Reading Time: < 1 minute For the last instalment of our Summer Series podcast, we spoke with Mark Brock, an Ontario grain and sheep farmer and Nuffield scholar, about what drives his business decisions and how he treats farming not only as a lifestyle, but as a business. Listen to this episode and past episodes at country-guide.ca or on Apple […] Read more
Summer Series: The importance of creating clear job descriptions
[Make It Count] If job descriptions sound like a waste of time, you haven’t looked deep enough
Reading Time: 5 minutes Yes, job descriptions do take time and effort. And yes, they can seem bureaucratic, like the sort of thing that makes you glad you don’t work for the government. But those in the know say job descriptions on your farm will be worth the investment, and their value will be even more valuable if your […] Read more
Summer Series: Creating a positive culture
[Make it Count] Will creating a better workplace culture really improve your bottom line enough to justify all the buzz it’s getting?
Reading Time: 3 minutes Sure, a positive workplace culture can make your farm a more enjoyable place to work, and who doesn’t want a few more smiles in their day? But will a better workplace culture really improve your bottom line? According to a growing body of psychological research, the answer is a clear “yes.” The new science says […] Read more
Summer Series: Coming home to farm
[Make It Count] Don’t expect the keys to be waiting, warns Andy Caygeon Junkin. Instead, carve out a path to self-improvement
Reading Time: 6 minutes Let’s imagine you have just come back to the family farm. You have completed your diploma or degree, your head is full of ideas, your energy is overflowing, and you are absolutely itching to sit down and have a conversation with Mom and Dad about when and how you are going to take over the […] Read more
Summer Series: 6 signs it’s time to change farm advisors
[Make it Count] Are you getting what you need from your farm advisor? When is it time to break up?
Reading Time: 6 minutes The right farm advisor can help a business improve efficiencies, optimize performance and grow revenue. They also provide support to overcome challenges, but despite these benefits, the number of farmers using advisors has declined from 32 per cent in 2015 to 23 per cent in 2020, according to Farm Management Canada’s Dollars and Sense Study. […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
