The Government of Ontario has introduced legislation to support the expansion of agricultural production in the Clay Belt region of northern Ontario and implement measures to streamline red tape in the agri-food industry. Within the overarching changes is a plan to introduce a Farmland Security Act to restrict foreign acquisition of provincial farmland. If passed,... Read More
Category: Farm Management
Stepping outside your comfort zone isn’t easy, but avoiding it can make challenges feel far bigger than they really are. Leaning into discomfort, rather than pushing it aside, can be the difference between staying stuck and moving forward. At the Advancing Women’s Conference in Calgary, Alta., Kimberly Lyall of Solutionary Leadership encouraged farmers and industry... Read More
Farm succession planning remains one of the most complex and often delayed conversations in agriculture, bringing together business, family, and financial considerations that can be difficult to navigate without the right support. Speaking at the Advancing Women’s Conference in Calgary, Alta., Sandra Macenko Merkley, senior wealth advisor with ScotiaMcLeod, encouraged farm families to take a... Read More
Communication, not capital, may be the most overlooked risk in farm succession—and Ron Krahn says it’s where many operations fall short. In this episode of the How Could I Know? podcast, hosted by Patti Durand and Chris Corbett of Brightrack Consulting, Ron Krahn, who farms with his family near Rivers, Manitoba, reflects on the lessons... Read More
Drew and Heather Spoelstra of Binbrook, Ont., have been named Ontario’s Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) for 2026, following the regional competition held April 7 to 9 in St. Jacobs, Ont. Based at Binbrook, the Spoelstras operate Roy-A-Lea Farms Ltd., a diversified family farm producing grains, hay, dairy, and beef. Heather Spoelstra leads the Roy-A-Lea Clydesdales... Read More
I know better than to ask a farmer when they plan to retire. Most will tell you....they don't. But many more do have ideas about things they'd like to do and see when they're maybe not so busy (ahem). The question of "retirement" is two-fold: what will you do with your time, but, more importantly,... Read More
Time is a constant pressure point on cow-calf operations, but where it actually goes — and how well it’s understood — is often less clear. In this episode of Ruminating with RealAg, Brenda Schoepp, mentor and industry veteran, and Kathy Larson, agricultural economist with the University of Saskatchewan join host Amber Bell, to unpack how... Read More
By Margaret Zafiriou This past year has been one for the books – such a lot has changed from a year ago. These dramatic changes have had repercussions for Ontario consumers, the economy, and for the province’s agriculture and agri-food sector. Record high population growth, lack of housing affordability and food security concerns, on top... Read More
Farmers have spoken loudly in a RealAgristudies survey on land ownership restrictions —and 75% agree that there should be stronger limits on who can own farmland. Farmland has been a high-returning asset for farmers, individuals, families, or investment funds over the past couple of decades. While price appreciation has helped farmers' balance sheets by increasing... Read More
Mental health continues to be a growing focus in agriculture, as farmers face increasing pressure from weather, markets, and the complexities of running multi-generational operations. In Alberta, the Agknow project has taken a closer look at what meaningful, farm-specific mental health support could look like, identifying both gaps and opportunities within the current system. Speaking... Read More