Reading Time: 3 minutes An Internet search will reveal several definitions of the roles and responsibilities for the chief executive officer (CEO) of a business. The degree of formality of the actual position and its title varies considerably from business to business, depending on size, complexity, and organizational preferences. Potential roles and responsibilities of the CEO are summarized below. […] Read more
The farmer as CEO
AME Management: What roles and responsibilities must a farmer assume in order to be effective?
Three key alignments for top farm management
AME Management: Define your management structure for the future
Reading Time: 3 minutes When the planets align, life on the farm can be very rewarding, like when your weather is perfect at the same time that there are production shortfalls in other parts of the world and you can price into market highs. There are other alignments, however, that are much more within your control when you are […] Read more
Guide HR: ‘Is he suffering from the god complex?’
A narcissistic personality can come in any shape or size and can put your business at risk
Reading Time: 3 minutes He is always right,” says Matthew, age 25. “We always have to do things his way. Not even my mother can voice any kind of opinion. I’ve had enough.” When I met Matthew’s father, his initial comment was, “You will see right away that my son and my wife have problems.” At that point, I […] Read more
Farm At Hand farm app turns into an angel of an idea
As Kim Keller is proving, the test today is whether we can get innovative about how we handle our innovations
Reading Time: 8 minutes Admittedly, it’s hard to say exactly what makes any innovation a success, or why farms are such fertile ground for new ideas. Maybe it’s the opportunity to test new ideas under real-world conditions. Or because farmers are so practical, or so resourceful, or because they know how to persevere. Or, today, maybe it’s more likely […] Read more
The mother-daughter farm team of Blythe Brae Farms
By embracing the belief that leadership is a skill you can get better at, this mother-daughter team is smoothly integrating two generations in a complex farm
Reading Time: 6 minutes Go with your strengths. Then find resource people to help you fill in the gaps. That’s one of the guiding management principles of mother-daughter duo Sharon Hart and Valerie Hobbs who own and manage Blythe Brae Farms near Woodstock, Ont. Hart and Hobbs share responsibility for operations, finance, human resources and marketing at Blythe Brae […] Read more
Is there room for improvement on your farm?
Who knew? Formal process improvement is emerging as your farm’s best bet for solid gains
Reading Time: 6 minutes Farms have an impressive record of increasing their production efficiency through scale, scientific improvements and innovation. Efficiency is the ultimate controllable factor in commodity margins. “Every year we do more with less, better,” says Dick Wittman, Idaho farmer and consultant. “We are becoming safer, more environmentally sound, and more efficient.” As our farms become more […] Read more
Editor’s Desk: The point of the telling
Reading Time: 2 minutes I’m reminded of the old story of the preacher who learned a valuable trick very early in his career, although it was a trick that he thought was a bit unchurch-like and that he was careful never to reveal. When he started his sermon each Sunday, this preacher would sneak his hand into his pocket […] Read more
Unleash your Midas touch
Adopt these seven habits of Canada’s top farmers
Reading Time: 7 minutes Does it seem some farmers just have that touch? Anything they start turns into gold. Is it just timing? Genius? Luck? Or do these farmers regularly do things that enable them to excel? Or do they cultivate skills that the rest of us don’t? Country Guide asked Jack Thomson, president of the Outstanding Young Farmer […] Read more
Would your farm business benefit from an advisory board?
Reading Time: 3 minutes A number of farm businesses have already appointed or are considering either a board of directors or an advisory board to help them define and execute on their strategy. In this article, several considerations in developing an advisory board are addressed. How does it differ from a board of directors? Why have one? How do […] Read more
Farm failures
Big bankruptcies make big headlines, but smaller farms are under pressure too
Reading Time: 5 minutes Their names are widely known, including Wigmore Farms, Broadacre Agriculture, Big Sky Farms, BioExx Specialty Proteins, and others. They’re among the high-profile farms and agri-businesses that have shipwrecked in recent years and applied for creditor protection. Each has a story that’s unique, but their stories seem to share a lot of similarities too. The explanations […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
