How to grow a finance team for your agribusiness

Building the finance team for your agribusiness requires the right mix of processes, technology and people

Reading Time: 3 minutes Typical growing pains for an agribusiness include managing the overhead of accounting and finance. I like to think of the operations and sales team as the invading army — looking to conquer more acres, market share and revenue. Meanwhile the accounting and finance team functions in a supporting role as the supply lines, providing current […] Read more



woman standing in a field of wheat stubble

What leadership means in the field (literally)

The effects of having more women leaders in ag could be economically significant for both the industry and at the farm level

Reading Time: 5 minutes In part one, we explored gendered perceptions of leadership, that is, does gender have anything to do with what makes an effective leader?  We looked at how lack of fit theory, role congruity theory, expectation states theory, the think manager-think male paradigm and the double bind influence the leadership opportunities women miss out on.  Now, […] Read more

farmer in a field beside a tractor at sunrise

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 photo of Vicki Brisson

Youth motivated to find answers to today’s agricultural challenges

Making the future: Exploring the perspectives and experiences of young up-and-comers in various sectors of Canada’s agriculture industry

Reading Time: 4 minutes This is the first in a series of articles exploring the perspectives and experiences of young people who are finding their passion, flexing their skills and contributing their insights and innovations to various sectors of Canada’s agriculture industry. They shared with Country Guide what excites them about the industry, what they think about its future […] Read more

two farmers standing in a field crop with a green combine in the background

Leaders need support, too

Summer Series: Today’s ag leaders shoulder a heavy mental and emotional load. Despite their stoic leadership skills team members must remember that sometimes their leader needs support, too

Reading Time: 4 minutes “Leaders are expected to remain composed, to offer reassurance and to be a safe harbour for their teams… it can be draining,” says Jennifer MacTavish, a Guelph, Ont., executive coach and mediator.  This can lead to burnout, especially during times of uncertainty. MacTavish, who spent 20 years in leadership roles with agricultural industry associations, has […] Read more