Change is everywhere in farming and often everything seems to be in flux, whether it's markets, trade relationships, weather, or family relationships. Depending on the circumstances, farmers react differently to change says Heather Watson, executive director at Farm Management Canada (FMC). "Some people see that as unwelcome and unnerving; others see it as an opportunity... Read More

Understanding how multi-generation farms approach big-picture topics can help farm management teams (i.e. family members) better navigate difficult conversations on the future of the farm. In this second part of a discussion with Justin Funk, managing partner of AgriStudies, podcast host Shaun Haney explores how differences in how generations set goals, measure progress, use technology,... Read More

When different generations work together in the farm business, conflict can arise over responsibility, ownership, succession, and day-to-day operations of the farm. Justin Funk, managing partner of AgriStudies, has done extensive research on what makes intergenerational farms unique in how they operate. In this Mind Your Farm Business podcast, Funk shares how differences in doing... Read More

A recent study by Farm Management Canada found that 63 per cent of Canada's producers say they understand and can use financial information for decision-making purposes. Further, producers who have a financial plan and use their financial information to inform decision-making were found to increase their profitability by up to 525 per cent, according to... Read More

Bill C-208, which would amend the Income Tax Act for the transfers of small businesses, family farms, or fishing corporations, passed its third reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday, May 12, sending it to the Senate for approval. The private member's bill, introduced by Manitoba Conservative MP Larry Maguire, would make it more... Read More

While much of the attention around the federal budget release on Monday was focused on the billions of dollars in new spending and programs, the budget also includes a significant measure that will make it more attractive for incorporated farms to purchase certain types of capital, including tractors, trucks, and other farm machinery. The budget,... Read More

Alberta Wheat Commission (AWC) has announced that its FarmCash Advance Payments Program, previously only available in Alberta, will now be available to producers in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, beginning March 15, 2021. FarmCash has provided Alberta producers of over 50 ag commodities — including major crops, livestock, and honey — with another option to... Read More

How do we recruit the next generation of agriculture employees? Reaching out and attracting new generations and talent into agriculture may be the next challenge facing our industry. Furthermore, as our society has evolved over the years, it seems that each new generation is further removed from agriculture. To explain some strategies to attract these... Read More

If you surround yourself with great people, you'll do amazing things; and ultimately, an advisory group should take some of the stress out of making the right decisions when running a farm business. If anyone knows the value of incorporating an advisory group into their business, it's Terry Aberhart. He farms 16,000 acres near Langenburg,... Read More