We’ve seen results from an early-campaign survey on what Canadians are worried about in regards to food, and we’ve heard from each of the four main parties heading into this federal election. But what I want to know is, what are YOUR priorities, Canadian agriculture? As media, I watched the debate, I interviewed Sylvain Charlebois… Read More
It’s unlikely that anyone goes in to a marriage expecting it to fail, but the reality is that marriages do end, and when a farm business and farm property is involved it can get very messy, very quickly — It doesn’t have to be this way. Instead of thinking of a pre-nuptial agreement as an… Read More
When a farm business transitions from one generation to the next, there’s a laundry list of technical things to do — business structure changes, estate planning, loans, and insurance. But there’s more to farm succession than just the technical aspects, and Farm Credit Canada (FCC) has created a new role within the organization to help… Read More
Labour shortages in agriculture are a challenge across nearly the entire sector, and unfortunately the issue cannot be fixed overnight. At this year’s Canadian Beef Industry Conference held at Calgary, Alta., the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) gave an update on the state of labour for the beef industry, along with agriculture as a… Read More
If you have a goal or a vision, how do you push past adversity and make what needs to happen, happen? Karl Subban, motivational speaker, educator, and father of five, says that the key to getting where you want to go is to believe in the power of your own potential. That’s where our success… Read More
Beginning in 2020, Farm Management Canada is launching a new National Farm Leadership Program, created with LeaderShift Inc. The 11-week course is a blend of online and in-person training, including a three-day residency seven weeks into the curriculum. Participants can expect to spend about four hours per week on coursework, and participants will have their… Read More
Like so many other countries, Canada’s birth rate is less than its death rate. The logical conclusion, then, is that if Canada wants to maintain or grow its population, it will have to not only welcome but also actively recruit people from other countries to live here. The topic of immigration is highly political leading… Read More
In a survey of over 1,300 Canadian farm employers, 47 per cent say they can not fulfill their labour needs, and one in three respondents said they receive zero Canadian applicants when they post an available job. With approximately 37 per cent of the workforce expected to retire in the next 10 years, agriculture’s labour… Read More
Behind the scenes, to front and centre, women have always played a critical role in farming and in the agriculture industry. In this episode of Mind Your Farm Business, host Shaun Haney speaks with three women from unique backgrounds and stages of their careers, to talk about their perspective on the challenges and opportunities that… Read More
Changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations could be on the way, following proposed changes published in the Canadian Gazette. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) are seeking comments from all interested parties on a proposal to amend the regulations to allow temporary foreign workers more flexibility in… Read More
It seemed like a rare opportunity to bring agriculture to the fore when, in 2014, the United Nations’ General Assembly declared it to be the International Year of Family Farming. At the time, it said the declaration was to “raise the profile of family farming and smallholder farming by focusing world attention on its significant role in eradicating hunger… Read More
If you’re quick about it, you may be able to access funding from the federal government to hire a summer student. Earlier this week, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced that the Youth Employment and Skills Program was open for applications. The program offers cost-share of employee wages and benefits at 50%, up to a maximum… Read More
The Ag Women’s Network (AWN) has announced that Farm Credit Canada (FCC) will fund this year’s mentorship program for Ontario women in agriculture. “A mentorship is a valuable tool for leadership development, and we are proud to offer the mentorship program for a second year. Our team has taken feedback from industry and last year’s… Read More
Who learns more from a mentorship — the mentor or the mentee? The answer may surprise you. As Deb Stark, former deputy minister of agriculture for Ontario, explains, a good mentoring relationship has value for all parties involved, but success requires communication and commitment from those involved. In this episode of Mind Your Farm Business,… Read More
If you talk about big picture stuff at the very face-to-face kitchen table, your family is far more likely to successfully navigate the farm transition from one generation to the next. Dr. Tom Deans, author and intergenerational wealth expert, says that when business owners (looking at you, farmers!) visit the topic early and often with… Read More