Training fills the gaps between agriculture and technology - Country Guide
Glacier FarmMedia – Say there’s trouble with the automated GIS and mapping features on the tractor, but you can’t find a tech with enough knowledge to| Country Guide
Glacier FarmMedia – Say there’s trouble with the automated GIS and mapping features on the tractor, but you can’t find a tech with enough knowledge to| Country Guide
Taylor Schmitt, son of company founder Barry, is operations and business manager at Barr-Ag and is in charge of Middle East and domestic sales as well as| Country Guide
With more accurate and timely financial reporting, financial planning and analysis of your farm becomes more effective.| Country Guide
Crop planning involves decisions on return on investment and cost/benefit, and also cash flow and financing considerations. Some producers now utilize| Country Guide
Reading Time: 4minutes Given the seasonal nature of farming, summer students fill an important labour gap on many farms, especially those that operate in direct-to-consumer markets. With the continuing tight labour market, managing the hiring and training of seasonal employees (often students) well is critical to success. Unfortunately, too often the busy-ness of day-to-day farming during peak times […] Read more The post Onboarding summer staff for agricultural businesses appeared first on...| Country GuideGuide Life, Agriculture News & Resources - Country Guide
Reading Time: 12minutes You may have had help on the farm before on a seasonal, casual or term basis. Most farms probably have. But farming today is different, and so are the reasons why you might be considering a full-time employee. So how do you know when it’s time to take the plunge? Will it pay off, or […] Read more The post The case for hiring a full-time employee on your farm appeared first on Country Guide.| Country GuideGuide Life, Agriculture News & Resources - Country Guide
Reading Time: 6minutes The struggle to find work-life balance may be “the single most important thing in your life to get right,” says Weyburn, Sask. farmer, Jake Leguee. “It’s also one of the hardest things any of us will ever do.” Farming presents unique challenges for achieving work-life balance. While technologies like robotic milkers and birthing cameras in […] Read more The post Target: work-life balance appeared first on Country Guide.| Country GuideGuide Life, Agriculture News & Resources - Country Guide
Reading Time: 8minutes So much of farming is so physically demanding. Even the easy jobs take enough running around to require physical stamina. And let’s face it, no matter where you are on the farm or who you are, if something is in front of you, the first option is always to just deal with it. This isn’t […] Read more The post Summer Series: Why it’s important for you to get fit appeared first on Country Guide.| Country GuideGuide Life, Agriculture News & Resources - Country Guide
Reading Time: 5minutes Yes, job descriptions do take time and effort. And yes, they can seem bureaucratic, like the sort of thing that makes you glad you don’t work for the government. But those in the know say job descriptions on your farm will be worth the investment, and their value will be even more valuable if your […] Read more The post Summer Series: The importance of creating clear job descriptions appeared first on Country Guide.| Country GuideGuide Life, Agriculture News & Resources - Country Guide
Reading Time: 4minutes Farm leaders know that in a tight labour market, policies that promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) will help them attract and retain the best talent. Those not making headway on these critical issues will be left behind. That, by the way, is from a business prof, not a sociologist, and in addition to his […] Read more The post Summer Series: Bringing DEI to the farm appeared first on Country Guide.| Country GuideGuide Life, Agriculture News & Resources - Country Guide
If you build it, they will come, right? Dedicated and hard-working employees will if you follow the advice Barr-Ag has to offer about the “people| Country Guide
If you want your estate to create a legacy of positivity, you’ll have to proactively communicate your wishes through an estate plan.| Country Guide
The first step is making your farm succession plan a priority because it's about more than just the transfer of assets.| Country Guide
Today’s young farmers are focusing a lot more on business skills than previous generations.| Country Guide
What do agronomists wish farmers would ask for, or stop asking for, or understand better about their jobs?| Country Guide
For Nora Paulovich, as for farmers all across Canada, farm success means two big things. It means nurturing the land, and nurturing the family too,| Country Guide
The Irish government thought it was such a great idea. The year was 2007, and in Ireland, as in the Canada of that time, few farms were setting up formal| Country Guide
Reading Time: 6minutes Ontario nut farmer finds hidden talent and passion for helping others thrive. The post Ontario nut farmer builds her business on hidden talent appeared first on Country Guide.| Country GuideCountry Guide
Reading Time: 7minutes A bump in Canada’s NATO spending commitments could lead to infrastructure investments that would benefit rural areas The post Will investments in defence benefit Canadian agriculture? appeared first on Country Guide.| Country GuideCountry Guide
Reading Time: 3minutes October editorial The post Your farm, your conversation drives 140 years of Country Guide content appeared first on Country Guide.| Country GuideCountry Guide
Looking at what the agriculture industry misses out on when perceived leadership capabilities are taken at face value and push effective and skilled leaders — often women — to the sidelines.| Country Guide
“There is nothing left in the tank,” says Beverly Beuermann-King. She sees it regularly. “People get tapped out ... One more thing can throw them over the| Country Guide
As owner and operator of Shifting Blooms Flower Farm, Becky Zimmer, flower farmer, blogger and author uses the winter months to prepare for the new growing season.| Country Guide
This flower grower in Saskatchewan incorporates chickens into her operation to help fertilize her plants and make them healthier.| Country Guide
Long-time central Alberta agronomist Fred Wood says in the evolution of the consultant and farm client relationship “eventually you become friends.”| Country Guide
Brunel Sabourin, owner of Antara Agronomy and lead agronomist, says to provide the most benefit to a grower he prefers to work with all cropped acres.| Country Guide
Scott Gillespie says that when it comes to new farm products and technology his first step is to see what's available in terms of independent, third-party research results.| Country Guide
One of my first jobs was working as a mechanic’s helper at a farm equipment dealership in the late 1970s. Among my duties was using an F-250 Ford pickup| Country Guide
Since Ryan Hofford started converting his organic grain farm north of Swan River, Manitoba, to a conventional operation in 2021, he’s made dramatic| Country Guide
Having the basic skills and self-confidence to assist an animal that’s uncomfortable not only improves the animal’s welfare but can be the difference between calling the vet or not.| Country Guide
Farm families have been calling in lawyers, accountants and business advisors to help with their transition planning for decades.| Country Guide
How can you tell your parents that the accountant they've had for years might not currently be the best option for the farm?| Country Guide
“Solutions to the greatest challenges and opportunities are not found in strategy or quick fixes, they are found within the people who have problems.”| Country Guide
Although the number of women working in leadership positions in agriculture is increasing, women are still in the minority and continue to experience gender bias.| Country Guide
If you don’t calculate these three financial ratios on your farm, your banker will. So, why not start by doing the math at home and taking them along to your next meeting?| Country Guide
Land prices are 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?| Country Guide
When asked to define “success,” most farmers will tell you it’s about more than money. Family often comes up. High yields and good soil health are top of| Country Guide
The dad-daughter relationship is emerging as one of agriculture’s greatest strengths. Country Guide spoke with two young Manitoban women about how they’re| Country Guide
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,| Country Guide
For at least a century, researchers have been trying to define the essence of good leadership and its key elements.| Country Guide
If the kids are expressing an interest in the farm or their answer to the question “Do you really want this opportunity?” is yes, then both kids and| Country Guide
It didn’t take long in my accounting career to learn that farmers don’t like paying income tax. No one does really, but farmers seem to have a particular| Country Guide
A business plan is like a road map for your farm. You can plan your route, set a destination and track progress.| Country Guide
How to create shareholder agreements to help with farm succession, deal with unexpected events and ensure the farm corporation remains viable.| Country Guide
Author and 'recovering farmer' Gerry Friesen shares strategies for dealing with stress and tools for better farmer mental health.| Country Guide
Your wisdom, wealth of experience and knowledge are the farm's greatest asset. Share your greatest leadership stories.| Country Guide
How to use a measured approach to farm technology and equipment purchases.| Country Guide
This is the future. The farm’s central computer has all the farm data. It also scans seed performance comparisons, product labels and scientific papers in milliseconds.| Country Guide
The U.S. tariff situation could lead to new markets and has already led provincial governments to remove interprovincial trade barriers to facilitate trade across Canada.| Country Guide
Wednesdays and Thursdays are reserved for cutting flowers. Some blooms, however, will not last if they are cut too early.| Country Guide
Farms of the future will require skill sets that historically haven’t been considered in primary producer operations.| Country Guide
The cost to farm has doubled in 15 years, but this financial tool can help.| Country Guide
Building more time into the farm succession process can allow for setbacks -- but can also provide time to build up investments, experience and education.| Country Guide
The brainchild of British cycling coach Sir David Brailsford, marginal gains theory is the concept of tiny changes that add up over time.| Country Guide
Twenty-two-year-old Béatrice Neveu from Rawdon, Que. is a dairy farmer who milks 60 (mostly) Jersey cows alongside her dad.| Country Guide
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eIHni5Q_ViU Are you getting bad vibes from someone with whom you usually feel quite connected? It can be tough for everyone| Country Guide
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| Country Guide
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xl54Wufm4tY A few years ago, I made a simple decision that would end up changing the way I see leadership. I signed up to| Country Guide
“It doesn’t matter whether or not tariffs actually happen, the uncertainty remains,” says Tyler Fulton, president of the Canadian Cattle Association.| Country Guide
Establishing meeting ground rules can help your family find ways to communicate that work for your farm.| Country Guide
Where many farm leaders manage family members, long-time employees or seasonal crews, there’s an opportunity to shift to mentoring them instead.| Country Guide
Creating a culture of appreciation and respect in the workplace can also help support its leaders, says a resiliency and stress specialist.| Country Guide
Adam Funk provides agronomy services to clients in south-eastern Manitoba. He often looks to the U.S. to find new products, new varieties and agronomic research most relevant for his clients.| Country Guide
Long time southern Alberta crop consultant George Lubberts says farmers need to ask the same questions about new products or technology as any consumer.| Country Guide
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XwSQwbeTtUk Even the strongest leaders can find themselves caught in a swirl of frustration or fear when so much feels out| Country Guide
Technology provides vast amounts of information, but are we losing generational knowledge because of it?| Country Guide
In agriculture, we often push ourselves to be “rugged individualists,” but make no mistake: it takes a team to move a mountain.| Country Guide
A grain inventory adjustment expense in 2024 will affect your profitability and debt service ratio before you even spin a tire in the field this spring.| Country Guide
One of the hardest transitions for farm leaders is learning to release control, not in a passive way, but in an intentional, healthy way.| Country Guide
For over a decade, most succession plans were framed largely on some version of giving the assets to the farming children while using life insurance and/or estate-based gifts for the non-farmers.| Country Guide
Being a leader isn’t just about a fancy business title. It’s about leading by example, inspiring and empowering those around you.| Country Guide
Country Guide had a specific question to ask Syngenta CEO Jeff Rowe, such as what makes an Illinois farmboy the right fit to lead one of agriculture’s largest companies?| Country Guide
For generations, Canadian farms have been more than businesses. They are the backbone of our national food security and rural economic infrastructure.| Country Guide
Mental Health Week is a great opportunity for farmers to talk openly about mental health and how they can take practical steps to manage the stress and anxiety that comes with the industry.| Country Guide
On-farm research trials can help producers make better management decisions.| Country Guide
Finding your farm's competitive advantage in economic down cycles.| Country Guide
How farmers can manage stress and protect their mental health, and where they can access help.| Country Guide
Farmers work largely by themselves, especially on small to mid-size farms. But that no longer means you have to farm alone.| Country Guide
If you've been planning a farm project for more than a decade, it's time to look at why you're stuck.| Country Guide
There is just one word to describe the value of farmland in Canada: high. Or maybe that should be HIGH. Cultivated farmland across Canada jumped an| Country Guide
It’s no secret that many farm and ranch operations facing the prospect of transition to the next generation feel stuck and unsure how to proceed.| Country Guide
A financial advisor explains why you should consider digitizing your farm bookkeeping.| Country Guide
The sooner you start to think about retiring, you can minimize the impact of the adjustment when that time comes.| Country Guide
Farmers share how they've built additional enterprises to add revenue, diversify risk or create an opportunity for the younger generation during succession planning.| Country Guide
Farms and others discuss how vision statements help them expand and evolve their business.| Country Guide
Cattle Young Leaders program More than 180 mentor/mentee pairs have completed the Canadian Cattle Association’s annual Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL)| Country Guide
Subscribe to the Country Guide Podcast on YouTube Music or Apple so you can catch new episodes as they’re released. Numbers Toolkit: The Farmer Coach:| Country Guide
Alanna Koch may be near the end of her decades-long career, but many of the issues she faced as a working parent are still relevant today.| Country Guide
Carla and Tyrone Borsa had already put a lot of research into their sheep operation before the first set of hooves hit their pasture in 2022.| Country Guide
Chad and Stacey Meunier own Meunier Livestock Ltd. where they raise 4,500 cows, manage a finishing feedlot and crop forages to feed their cattle.| Country Guide
Twin Peaks Creamery opened its doors in spring 2023 and John Pruim’s dream of making ice cream from his family's dairy farm became a reality.| Country Guide
Farming is a complex business full of daily decisions with expensive consequences. Country Guide associate editor, April Stewart, sat down with Evan| Country Guide
Setting goals for a new calendar year can often feel like a challenge, but taking a proper evulative approach can help ensure success.| Country Guide
Looking for a way to talk to urban consumers about how farmers produce food? Jeanine Moyer takes farming right to the heart of Toronto.| Country Guide
On the surface, the news isn’t great for farmers looking to expand. Everywhere you look, it’s a seller’s market. The law of supply-demand is working| Country Guide
The current speed and cost of farm consolidation might have you wondering if growth will be possible for your operation.| Country Guide
How to avoid succession conversations from getting bogged down and getting things moving again.| Country Guide
One farm succession advisor tells families to take everything everyone has recently read or heard about succession and just put it off to the side.| Country Guide
It’s not easy to sell a business that you’ve poured your heart and soul into. And selling an agribusiness isn’t as simple as selling a piece of equipment or land.| Country Guide
