A recent survey suggested that 52% of family businesses don’t have a succession plans. Farms are family businesses — does that number sound about right to you? If so, there are thousands upon thousands of farms and farmers that are still dragging their feet on planning the long-term viability of their farm businesses. What will… Read More
Category: Human Resources
Have you ever thought about the workplace culture on your farm or within your business? Good or bad, a culture will exist whether a manager or CEO has intentionally thought about it or not, says the former CEO of Walmart Canada. Culture is what drives a business — it’s the fabric of an organization, explains Mario… Read More
Finding people to work on farms is a major challenge in much of rural Canada. To understand the labour issues facing the ag sector, the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council is asking producers to complete a survey outlining their farms’ labour requirements. The Conference Board of Canada is conducting the survey on behalf of the CAHRC, seeking participation from… Read More
I suspect there are more people who’d elect for a non-necessary root canal than would like to strike up a conversation with dad about when he’ll finally hand over the reins to the farm. And that’s too bad, really, because the sooner the conversations about long-term farm business planning begin, the better chance there is… Read More
Agri-Food Management Excellence, Farm Management Canada and the family of Robert L. Ross have established the Robert L. Ross Memorial Scholarship program, rewarding one Canadian farmer with the opportunity to participate in the CTEAM program and “continue on a path towards excellence.” Robert (Bob) L. Ross was instrumental in inspiring and encouraging farm management excellence… Read More
If you’re looking for ways and means to step up your farm leadership skills and tackle the tough questions regarding moving the farm from one generation to the next, you’re not alone. Canadian farms are in the midst of significant business transition that’s set to continue well into the next decade. Farm Management Canada is… Read More
Last winter, Wyoming, Ontario, farmer Alfred Noorloos had a big decision to make. A neighbouring farm came up for sale and he wondered whether he should buy it. The beef and cash crop farmer was looking to expand, but was the timing right? Was his operation financially strong enough to justify the expansion? There were… Read More
Agri-Food Management Excellence (AME) Inc. and Farm Management Canada (FMC) have announced a new partnership to enhance the delivery of the Canadian Total Excellence in Agricultural Management (CTEAM) program, Canada’s only national farm business management training program. AME and FMC will be working together to conduct an in-depth analysis of the CTEAM program, assessing its… Read More
Who’d have thought drivers on public roads would ever be warned to beware of faster farm vehicles? Not me. Traditionally, people have moaned about getting stuck behind slow-moving farm gear, prompting the ag sector to plead for patience and try explaining it’s just doing its job, getting from one farm, or from one part of… Read More
You are probably reading a lot right now about the challenges with the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Sheila Pratt with the Edmonton Journal has been focused on the issue as it applies to allegedly reducing labor costs and the mistreatment of workers. Keep in mind that that the temporary foreign worker program is accessed by… Read More
Having one dark chapter in your life doesn’t mean that’s how the whole book has to be, says Mary Morrissey, a life coach and motivational speaker, who spoke at last month’s Advancing Women — Leadership in Agriculture conference. Morrissey is no stranger to set backs, challenges and being told her dreams were unattainable. But from… Read More
Do you remember when you decided you wanted to pursue a career in agriculture? Or were you someone who never really chose it, it was just what you had always done? An increasing number of individuals from a non-farming background go on to work in the agriculture industry — it’s a natural byproduct of a… Read More
Farm Management Canada and the Canadian Association of Diploma Agriculture Programs are collecting submissions from agricultural students across Canada and will award three winners with $1,000 towards furthering their education in agriculture. The award is designed to help students develop their communication skills by having the opportunity to voice their opinion on a subject related… Read More
Long-time followers and fans of Real Agriculture know two things: we love to do a conference or show wrap up at most of the events we cover, and, that we usually include incredibly serious, hard hitting news in each of them. Well, that second point may be a bit of a stretch, but the Real… Read More
People who like to plan or have everything go according to plan may or may not want to hear what Senator JoAnne Buth has to say about navigating a career path. In this enlightening interview between Buth and Real Agriculture’s Shaun Haney, filmed at the Advancing Women — Leadership in Agriculture conference, Buth relates how… Read More