Reading Time: 4 minutes Farming can be overwhelming during peak seasons. A never-ending job list means you’re overloaded — which means your team is probably already operating at maximum capacity as well, so delegating isn’t an option. What can you do? Kelly Dobson, executive coach and fourth-generation Fairfax, Man., farmer says a common complaint from his clients is that […] Read more
Moving beyond delegation on the farm
Summer Series: When everyone is too busy and delegating isn’t an option, what’s a busy farmer to do?
You don’t have to be a people person to be a good leader
Summer Series: Just follow these basic tips to polish your leadership skills
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you read Country Guide you are most likely a farm manager or owner which means that perhaps you’re often focused on human resources management. But if you don’t think you’re great with people, not to worry. Many times, I’ve come across farm managers who have evolved their people skills in a short amount of […] Read more
What is a farm legacy?
Summer Series: Discussions about legacy have become more complex. How can you balance legacy and family when it comes to the next generation?
Reading Time: 3 minutes The definition of “legacy” in agriculture is changing. I have worked in this industry in some capacity for more than two decades and the one constant is that every family farm believes in legacy, the ability to create something that your children want to be a part of after you are gone. For years, that […] Read more
Flower power, with help from some feathered friends
Summer Series: The pros and cons of chickens on a flower farm
Reading Time: 3 minutes After five years as owner-operator of flower farm Shifting Blooms, Raney’s long-time love of chickens is paying off more than she initially thought. The mix of Ameraucana, Easter Egger, Swedish flower hens, Copper Marans, silkies, an Orpington and a Polish chicken create a rainbow of eggs for her farm stand. But her chickens give so […] Read more
How to take charge of animal health on your farm
Summer Series: Keep these eight strategies in mind to manage and prevent animal health issues on the farm
Reading Time: 4 minutes Balancing animal health with farm profitability can be challenging. Adopting a proactive approach to animal care is one of the most effective ways to minimize veterinary costs. “Establishing animal health protocols and early intervention as a regular practice on your farm can not only enhance the health and well-being of livestock, but can help farmers […] Read more
VIDEO: Is your parents’ accountant the best fit for the farm?
Reading Time: < 1 minute How can you tell your parents that the accountant they’ve had for years might not currently be the best option for the farm? An email from Worried We’re Missing Something asked our resident awkward conversation pro, Patti Durand from Brightrack Consulting, for advice about what they should say to mom and dad to ensure that […] Read more
A guide to farm financial ratios
Long lists of available financial ratios can be overwhelming. Here are three financial ratios that matter to bankers and how understanding them can strengthen your farm’s financial future
Reading Time: 7 minutes Some farm managers love to spend the winter poring over their financial statements and analyzing all ratios and indicators and how they’ve changed over time. Others would rather be outside working with cattle or at conferences learning the latest disease management techniques. If you’re not in the first category, your banker might know more about […] Read more
VIDEO: How to ask for a raise on the farm
Reading Time: < 1 minute If you’re thinking of asking for a raise but know that conversations about money can be awkward — especially if the boss is mom or dad — then you’ll want to listen to this week’s episode of Awkward Ag for step-by-step advice. Click on the links below to watch more videos in the Awkward Ag […] Read more
Shifting tides bring change to agriculture
Summer Series: Will short-term pain cause long-term gain for Canada’s ag industry?
Reading Time: 4 minutes Warren Buffet once said, “Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.” Well, the tide is going out in primary producer agriculture. Who will be left with clothes on? Is the shifting tide due to the highest cost of production ever? The changing policy discussions? The geopolitical factors that come […] Read more
How to develop a leader’s mindset at every stage of your career
Summer Series: Leadership looks different at every stage of your farm career. And the stories you hear, the ones you seek out or the ones you tell yourself all effect how you lead
Reading Time: 3 minutes From the time we are born stories help us learn important lessons. Every day I look around for stories that can help me understand what is or isn’t working on our farm. It might be small anecdotes or maybe a line from an employee or a supplier that sticks with me. If I can understand […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
