Reading Time: 8 minutes Of course any story on what’s ahead for Canada’s mid-size farms is going to start with a forkful of numbers. And of course, if you’re a mid-size farmer, those numbers aren’t exactly a joy to read. Instead, let us reprint part of an email from our in-box at Country Guide, just one of the more […] Read more
Summer Series: The uneasy middle
[Change Management] Canada’s mid-sized farms are under pressure. But don’t write them off quite so fast — at least not all of them
Summer Series: Opportunities ahead
[Change Management] What’s in store for Canada’s farms in 2024? The news is good, mostly
Reading Time: 10 minutes Land is up. Inputs are up. Commodities are volatile. And that’s just a start. Climate change is getting real. Interest rates are too. And the international scene is chaos. Does it all add up to good news for your farm in 2024? Bad news? And what can you do to keep your farm on the […] Read more
Summer Series: 7 trends in agriculture for 2024
[Change Management] The long term is clear. The world will need Canadian farmers to feed a global population expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050. But what about the short term, like next summer?
Reading Time: 6 minutes High interest rates, skyrocketing input costs, labour shortages, climate change … the exact mix varies from country to country but farmers around the world are facing threats to their ability to grow more food, which means farmers everywhere are looking for opportunities to improve production, preserve profits and protect the environment. What does it all […] Read more
Summer Series: Grow your farm manager
[Leadership] Leaders are made, not born. That much is clear. But how exactly do you make such a concept pay off on your farm?
Reading Time: 3 minutes There’s only so much time in a busy farm owner’s day. Here’s how can you help your farm manager develop their leadership skills, so you can focus on the big stuff.– April Stewart, CG Associate Editor Dr. Stephen Brown says: “You are not a leader until you have produced a leader who can produce another […] Read more
Summer Series: Do you have the tools to be a better farm leader?
[Leadership] Becoming a more effective leader will position you to adapt to the challenges and opportunities coming your way
Reading Time: 6 minutes The words “leadership” and “management” are often used interchangeably, but there are important differences – and by focusing on leadership, you can ensure you’re putting your energy and resources in the right areas of your farm business.– April Stewart, CG Associate Editor “Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things.” It’s a […] Read more
Summer Series: ‘Never stop learning’
Reading Time: 2 minutes Sheila Elder and her husband Jeff grow malt barley, canola, soybeans and wheat on their farm near Wawanesa, Manitoba. Elder says the best advice she’s ever been given is “never stop learning.” This advice, she says, applies to all areas of life, but especially farming. “It doesn’t matter how much I learn — there is […] Read more
Summer Series: Want a super farm business? Build your ‘superteam’
[Team Building] Top tips from the frontline on creating and optimizing a business management team for your farm
Reading Time: 6 minutes The words can be heard all across the country. “Our accountant, lawyer and bank manager are key players in decision-making on our farm,” says Luanne Lynn, who is currently past president of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers Program (she and husband Philip were Outstanding Young Farmers in 2005). The Lynns have a cash crop operation in […] Read more
Summer Series: How to use a situational analysis to set farm goals
[Best Advice] Consider a situational analysis in order to set goals for your farm
Reading Time: 9 minutes Knowing exactly where you’re starting from, and with what resources, leads to more efficient decision-making. Here’s a tool to help you plan for a new process, project or product on the farm.– April Stewart, CG Associate Editor Stories in Country Guide often explore the latest, the most innovative and sometimes the boldest in on-farm business […] Read more
Summer Series: Building a new farm
[Best Advice] There’s always good luck and bad. For the Friesens, though, building the farm is too important to stop
Reading Time: 9 minutes Forced to pivot as they were starting up their farm, the Friesens did what most farmers excel at: finding solutions, workarounds and innovative approaches. Read on to find out what the rest of us can learn from their story.– April Stewart, CG Associate Editor It was the summer of 2015 and Christi and Kelly Friesen […] Read more
Summer Series: What is a joint venture?
[Best Advice] Practice becoming increasingly useful for getting the next generation started
Reading Time: 3 minutes A joint venture can be a great way to test a business relationship. It can also be a way to help the next generation get started. Follow this best advice for setting up and running a successful joint venture.– April Stewart, CG Associate Editor Corporations, partnerships and joint ventures are the three most common business […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
