Each year, Canadian Cattle Young Leaders (CYL) selects 16 program participants ages 18-35 from across the country and offers industry networking, travel, and skill building opportunities. A focal point of the program is matching participants with a hand-picked mentor in their specific area of interest in the Canadian beef industry for a nine-month mentorship experience…. Read More
Category: Human Resources
One of the biggest rewards of working in a family business is the opportunity to work every day with multiple generations. This can provide mentorship, learning, and truly rewarding memories and experiences, but it can also present real challenges. Generational differences are real but also sometimes misunderstood, as stereotypes skew perceptions and behaviours. For this… Read More
As the calendar turns to November, many are making plans for the winter months. Although the list of things to do in the winter can be just as extensive as the summer for many areas of agriculture, professional development is a focus for the winter months. Rob Stone, of Davidson, Sask., is one of those… Read More
Statistics Canada tells us that the average age of farmers is increasing. Of those farming in 2021, 60.5 per cent of farm operators were 55 years and up. Instead of looking at it as an unstoppable march to the older generation’s demise, let’s think about it from the standpoint of a chunk of the farming… Read More
The Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA) is on the hunt for a new leader to take the reins of the organization in January 2023, allowing for a transition period from the current leadership. The move comes as executive director Andrew Graham has announced his plans to retire in June 2023, after 33 years… Read More
The current president and CEO of Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd. (Gay Lea), Michael Barrett has announced his retirement, effective January 31, 2023. Barrett has been with Gay Lea for 22 years, serving as president and CEO since 2014, The board of directors has announced that Suzanna Dalrymple will sept in to the role effective… Read More
Winter wheat harvest is nearly complete across Ontario, and Western Canada is nudging ever closer to swath timing and the start of harvest. For many, setting up the harvest crew is a challenge. Finding the right people or sometimes just enough people can be really difficult, so we want to know — where are you… Read More
The work culture of a farm is much like its reputation — whether it’s intentional or not, it still exists. What makes a work culture? It’s not just people, it’s the behaviour of the people and how well they live out a business’s core values that create a work culture. People’s behaviour is shaped by… Read More
A new hardware system designed to simplify livestock water monitoring was among the recipients of innovation award winners at Ag in Motion, in Langham, Sask. FarmSimple is the creator of the product and set out to bring a year-round user friendly solution to the often time-consuming task of checking livestock water. The device monitors both… Read More
The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) has shared news of the passing of its executive director, Portia MacDonald-Dewhirst. She died July 24, 2022, from brain cancer. MacDonald-Dewhirst was a highly respected, tireless champion of Canadian agriculture, leading CAHRC for ten years. Among her many accomplishments, MacDonald-Dewhirst spearheaded the Labour Task Force and Workforce Action… Read More
The name on the executive director’s door at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) is temporary no more. Scott Ross was serving as the acting executive director and director of business risk management and farm policy. This week, the organization made the executive director role permanent. One of the reasons he took the job was… Read More
After serving seven years as the chief executive offices with the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, Ryder Lee is set to return to the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) as general manager, as of September 1, 2022. Lee held the post from November 2005 to 2015. CCA executive vice president Dennis Laycraft, says, “Ryder brings an exceptional range… Read More
Earlier this week, an announcement came through that consultations for the National Agricultural Labour Strategy are open. The consultations will allow the agriculture and agri-food sector to have an opportunity to weigh in on labour shortages, challenges, and obstacles through an online process. The labour strategy is put into action through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC),… Read More
The Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food has launched consultations for input in to a National Agricultural Labour Strategy. Opening June 27, and running until September 28, 2022, the agriculture and agri-food sector will have an opportunity to weigh in on labour shortages, challenges and obstacles through an online process. The National Agriculture Labour Strategy will seek to address… Read More
If the very idea of hiring a new employee stresses you out, the HR Toolkit offered by the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) might help. What’s more, your general farm organization membership may get you the toolkit free-of-charge. CAHRC is a national, non-profit organization focused on addressing human resource issues specific to farming and… Read More