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
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?
Right for your farm too?
Reading Time: 3 minutes As more farms like Jackknife Creek Cattle & Land find success with their direct-to-consumer ventures, many experts believe it’s a good time for others to do the same. Food veteran Jo-Ann McArthur says Canada is ready and waiting. “Is it a good time? Absolutely,” she says. McArthur, president of Toronto-based Nourish Food Marketing, says now […] Read more
Have a decade-long plan for farm succession
Every farm has at least 10 jobs that take 10 years to learn. No wonder transitions are so complicated
Reading Time: 8 minutes Whatever word you use — whether you call it wisdom or if you think of it as insight — it may always be essential for running any farm but it is doubly important during transition. That’s “doubly” for a good reason, because not only does the senior generation need insight into the transition process if […] Read more
A new path to the farm’s future
Today’s farm families think in terms of transition, not succession, and they’re setting new goal posts too
Reading Time: 8 minutes The questions may be the same, but the tone has changed, says Kent Gulash, longtime farm family coach from Saskatoon. When families meet their transition advisors these days, they’re coming from a different place. “That’s because the dynamics around the value of farms have changed,” Gulash says. There’s trepidation now, he explains. Will the farm’s […] Read more
Bold Strides: Through efficient family-based planning
The first in our five-part “Bold Strides” series on farm families that are committing to big thinking through family planning, new ventures, revenue diversification, innovation and business operations. THIS MONTH: the Griffioen family, owners and operators of Vrederijk Dairy in Tavistock, Ontario
Reading Time: 3 minutes Since immigrating from Holland in 1997, Dirk and Karin Griffioen have continuously expanded their farming operation. Today, on a land base of 400 acres, the dairy milks over 140 cows with a robotic milking system. Now, after two decades of building, Dirk and Karin are looking to the future and for the best ways to […] Read more
Better at change
Just because change is a constant on the farm doesn’t mean you can’t get much better at it
Reading Time: 8 minutes Farmers understand change: The weather changes, markets change, economics change. Technologies change too and, through it all, farmers keep farming. You always have. You always will. Change is inevitable, but we can learn from how other farmers navigate their own big changes, and we can adapt to the next major shakeups on the farm. “Change […] Read more
Planning to grow your farm?
These eight steps led to success for a U.S. family that talks in terms of its great, great grandchildren
Reading Time: 10 minutes It was 1985 and Jerry Lorenzen wondered whether what he was looking at was an opportunity. Lorenzen was working as an animal feed salesperson in the U.S. Midwest, so every day he was driving past crops that were getting grown to feed livestock. And he had a question. With spiralling population growth, won’t we need […] Read more
The new farm team
Katie and Andre Steppler are both running the show at Steppler Farms
Reading Time: 6 minutes It’s the biggest business day of the year for Katie and Andre Steppler. Bull sale. Standing on the sales block at their annual bull sale every March, the Stepplers run a perfectly orchestrated show in front of an audience of 200. Many more watch online. Amid the booming flow of the auctioneer’s chant, a bull […] Read more
New B.C. youth work rules: Heavy lifting, ag chem handling out
New standards also lift province's 'general working age' to 16
Reading Time: 2 minutes “Light farm and yard work” are deemed appropriate for workers at ages 14 and 15 under new employment standards taking effect in British Columbia this fall. The province on Wednesday announced changes to its Employment Standards Act, which have been through the development and consultation stages since 2019, have now been finalized and will take […] Read more
Home is where there’s land to farm
The Schill family has set down new roots in Ontario’s Temiskaming region —and they’re glad they did
Reading Time: 6 minutes Farming takes an uncommon amount of willpower and commitment to make things work despite the many uncertainties that farmers everywhere know all too well. It’s a skill that’s groomed in each new generation as it comes along, and it’s often tied to the peculiarities of the same tract of land that’s been in the family, […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
