Reading Time: < 1 minute Working on the farm with various family and non-family members means you might receive a lot of advice from a lot of people. But sometimes this unsolicited advice can make you feel like you’re still an inexperienced kid. So, how should you best respond to advice that you don’t agree with or when you’re not […] Read more
VIDEO: Responding to advice, whether you wanted it or not
Great farm leaders have dirt under their fingernails
Summer Series: Agriculture has had its share of great leaders. But what happens to the industry when the leadership pool starts to dry up?
Reading Time: 2 minutes I don’t believe that leaders are born. I believe they are made. I also believe that we are on the cusp of losing a significant amount of leadership in agriculture. Canadian and U.S. farmer demographics indicate that approximately 65 per cent of the industry is in the exit strategy stage. We are about to lose […] Read more
VIDEO: Building a farm that outlasts you
Summer Series: Legacy isn’t about control. It’s about leading today in a way that creates strength, curiosity and clarity for tomorrow’s owners
Reading Time: 3 minutes Legacy runs deep in agriculture. It’s not just about the land. It’s also about the family name, the farm’s story, the values and the impact that continue long after the current owner has stepped away from the day-to-day. For most farm leaders there comes a time when the question arises: What happens to the operation […] Read more
How women lead with confidence in agriculture
Summer Series: While women working in agriculture is certainly not as rare as it used to be, gender biases haven’t kept pace with the change. But with the help of peers and industry learning opportunities women are confidently stepping into leadership roles
Reading Time: 6 minutes Gender bias is complicated. It can be intentional, but it can also be subconscious or structural, such as when it’s embedded in organizational policies or societal norms. And it often goes unseen by those who don’t experience it themselves. Although the number of women working in leadership positions in agriculture is increasing, women are still […] Read more
Build your farm with these entrepreneurial skills
Summer Series: Today’s farm owners need to be on top of their game like never before — and it all starts with the right skills
Reading Time: 9 minutes “Farming is an important, low-margin business that has got to be fine-tuned like a guitar to make beautiful music.” This insight comes from Kim McConnell, someone who knows about business success — and how to make that beautiful music. After a long career in the agriculture industry, the former founder of AdFarm is still mentoring […] Read more
VIDEO: How to be the best leader for your farm
Summer Series: Being a leader isn’t just about a fancy business title. It’s about leading by example, inspiring and empowering those around you. How can you lead more intentionally on your farm?
Reading Time: 3 minutes Since I was a kid, I was told to never put gas in a diesel engine. Have you ever done that? I admit that I did. The hardest part wasn’t the cleanup, the cost, or the inconvenience. The hardest part was admitting what I did. Owning this mistake took me down two very different roads. […] Read more
VIDEO: Sharing your final wishes with family
Reading Time: < 1 minute Are you the child who knows more about what your parents have written in their wills? Are you worried that you’ll be the one left to explain your parents’ wishes to your siblings after your parents have died? If you want to avoid being the bearer of bad news, Patti Durand walks us through what […] Read more
How to talk about your farm succession estate plans
Summer Series: Estate planning is never easy — and more difficult still is the conversations you need to have with your family. But these conversations can be a great opportunity to teach the next generation about money, family relationships and how to make decisions together
Reading Time: 5 minutes You’ve worked hard your whole life and lived within your means. Now, you want your estate to help the future generation succeed — not create problems or heartache for your family. But if you want your estate to create a legacy of positivity, you’ll have to proactively communicate your wishes through an estate plan. Like […] Read more
Taming monsters: When farm succession rears its head
Summer Series: With today’s access to capital and cost of land, many farms have grown beyond the point of “built to sell.” What happens when infrastructure and land holdings are too big for an exit strategy?
Reading Time: 2 minutes Family farms were less complex when I was growing up and farming in the 1980s through the early 2000s. Decisions were made in thousands of dollars, not millions. Summers were spent at the lake, not in the cab of a sprayer. It was a great way of life, one that shaped my attitudes and behaviours. […] Read more
The agronomist wish list: Brunel Sabourin
These agronomists say they have great relationships with their farmer clients, but as with any relationship there is always room for improvement
Reading Time: 2 minutes What do agronomists wish farmers would ask for, or stop asking for, or understand better about their jobs? And how can farmers get the most out of their relationships with agronomists? While ultimately the customer calls the shots, Country Guide asked a few Western Canadian consulting agronomists what they would like to see from their […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
