Reading Time: 4 minutes Farm leaders know that in a tight labour market, policies that promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) will help them attract and retain the best talent. Those not making headway on these critical issues will be left behind. That, by the way, is from a business prof, not a sociologist, and in addition to his […] Read more
Summer Series: Bringing DEI to the farm
[Change Management] Building diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives into your farm pays off. Here are five tips for getting it right
Summer Series: If you build it on HR…
[Leadership] This Alberta hay outfit is people first, business second, and boss Barry Schmitt says that’s why they post great numbers. So could their approach work for you?
Reading Time: 7 minutes If you build it, they will come, right? Dedicated and hard-working employees will if you follow the advice Barr-Ag has to offer about the “people factor”.– April Stewart, CG Associate Editor If you want something done, ask a busy person. We all sometimes say this, and there’s a good reason why. As generalizations go, this […] Read more
Time to celebrate
Summer is the perfect opportunity to host an employee appreciation party
Reading Time: 4 minutes On a sunny June afternoon, productivity comes to a standstill at Big Marble Farms as more than 300 employees leave the offices, greenhouse and packhouse and spend several hours playing games, navigating obstacle courses, throwing axes and jumping in blowup castles, all as part of the annual Employee Appreciation Day at the farm. “A reduction […] Read more
The art of giving and seeking advice
How good are you at giving advice? Better yet, how good would your family and your farm connections say you are at taking it?
Reading Time: 6 minutes We all like to know the answer, so when a farm discussion comes up and it’s obvious that a family member, employee or partner is struggling, it feels good to help, especially if the solution seems clever or obvious to us. But if you value those relationships and if you value your reputation, the experts […] Read more
Next gen talent scouting in agriculture
Reading Time: 3 minutes Taylor Schmitt, son of company founder Barry, is operations and business manager at Barr-Ag and is in charge of Middle East and domestic sales as well as domestic logistics. Yet it is on the HR side where Taylor has really come into his own. Over the last seven years, Taylor has interviewed 250-plus candidates and […] Read more
The scent of a place
Healthy vacations have never been more essential for you, the family and the farm. But where to go? Here’s a great idea: let your sense of smell and a favourite aroma guide you on a trip worth sniffing at!
Reading Time: 7 minutes The woman who sat down across the aisle from me on my train trip from Florence, Italy, to Milan could have been Gina Lollobrigida’s younger sister. But it wasn’t the striking resemblance or her drop-dead elegance that intrigued me, it was the intoxicating fragrance of flowers and spices that wafted from her carry-on bag on […] Read more
The business of mental health
Sick of the stress? These business practices are showing they’re good for the farm, and for you
Reading Time: 8 minutes Sure, farmers are tough. They have to be. How could they not know it? They’re told about it from the time they’re kids, raised with the knowledge they will face high levels of stress from unpredictable weather, soaring input costs, supply chain interruptions and so much more, all of it on top of a non-stop […] Read more
Guide Health: Why you should take better care of your fingernails
Protect your nails. Wear gloves and avoid perfumed products
Reading Time: 2 minutes Fingernails and toenails are composed of skin cells, with the nails growing from specialized epithelial cells in the region of the nail’s half-moon shaped base, called the nail matrix. The cells become keratinized and harden into strong natural proteins as they grow over the nail bed. The pink colour of the nails is due to […] Read more
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a …
Guide Books Review: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
Reading Time: 3 minutes The Subtle Art of Not Giving a … A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good LifeBy Mark Manson Let’s start with a warning to would-be readers of this book: if you’re offended by f-bombs and a few other swear-y words, you’ll want to give it a miss. But if you choose to read The Subtle […] Read more
Guide Health: Cold sores — why don’t they just go away?
Early treatment will give you better control
Reading Time: 2 minutes Cold sores, technically knows as herpes labialis, are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1. (Note: it is herpes simplex virus type 2 that is responsible for genital herpes infections). Across Canada, 90 per cent of us are exposed to herpes infection by the time we reach adulthood, although only 20 to 40 per cent […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
