We didn t really need to have crossed
the country to find the farms and the businesses
we ve profiled in this issue of Country
Guide. Probably, within a dozen miles
of where you re reading this page right now,
we could have found more than enough
great examples to fill all our pages with
stories about people who are innovating the
way they run their businesses.
No one outside of agriculture understands
this. That s a pity, because like all of
you I wish sometimes that my city friends
and relatives would appreciate the reason
I m involved in agriculture, which is because
this is where so much of the world s freshest
and most energetic thinking is happening.
Read Also
Country Guide’s top 10 stories of 2024
All year, Country Guide has published content highlighting the conversations that drive farm families, their businesses and the industry forward….
When farm advisor Don McCannell
launched his new Country Guide column
a couple issues ago, he didn t mince words.
He warned us that he would say what he
means, and that s exactly what he did.
Writing that sole proprietorships can
be the most dangerous way to run your
business, McCannell went on to say, We
should be worried about the way we structure
our farms, and each of us should have a
plan to learn about our alternatives.
What s impressive to me about today s
agriculture is the number of farmers who are
determined to take a hard look at how they
do business. There s no way that this was as
true a generation ago, and there s no way
that it s as true of virtually any other segment
of society.
At bottom, it s just one aspect of something
that s even more central to the way
tomorrow s farmers are farming today.
They re investing in thinking about how
they can put themselves in control.
With so much going on in agricuture,
there s no way that any one issue of Country
Guide can do any more than scratch
the surface. From an editorial point of
view, really, the only practical approach
is to make sure that every story is worth
including while trying to keep our eye on
the overall balance.
To us, it boils down to a question of
control. I get asked all the time, why did I
pick this story or that. I especially get asked,
why did you run a story on garlic or, for that
matter, on ducks or on fiddleheads. And
my answers are always the same. The story
isn t really about ducks. It s about how four
sisters decided to take control of their farm
business, in this case by re-designing how
they work together. It s the same way that
our story on Manitoba grain grower Rick
Clouston isn t really about growing wheat in
the West, it s about how he uses his business
management skills to make better decisions.
Likewise, our stories on farm businesses
have two purposes. We want them to give
you insights about some of the people you re
doing business with, but we hope they ll also
give you a chance to study some really effective
business managers at their work, doing
things we all can learn from.
The issue is control.
Are we getting it right? Let me know. It s
a lacklustre day if I don t hear from at least a
couple farm readers. Tell me what you think.
I m at 519 674-1449, or you can reach me
at
[email protected].
