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: Succession Planning
In less than 20 years, there will be no farmers or ranchers under the age of 35 left in the state of Wyoming, according to a study published in the U.S. journal Rangelands last week. Researchers analyzed demographic trends among farm and ranch operators in the state from 1920 to 2007, and as you would... Read More
Is your farm in the realty business? Equity on most Canadian farms is generated in two ways — selling the proceeds from production and by owning property with increasing value. Speaking at the Agricultural Excellence Conference in Winnipeg last week, the head of Canada’s largest farmland investment company argued there are situations where farmers would... Read More
Periods of conflict between family members will make or break a family farm. That’s why it’s important to address conflict like any other risk to a farm business, says a well-known farm family coach from Boissevain, Manitoba. Elaine Froese described the three C’s for managing conflict as part of her presentation at the Ag Excellence... 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 can't see the embedded audio, click here. If Ontario wants to build an industry, the Beef Farmers of Ontario have a solution — open up just a portion of the Great Clay Belt crown lands to aspiring ranchers. The Clay Belt in northern Ontario and Quebec covers an astounding 180,000 sq. km, split... Read More
Editor's note: This week, September 22-28, 2014, is national organic week. This post is dedicated to all 3 organic producers that read this site. Thank you for following along! "My dad let me do things my way, so I'm doing the same for them," laughs Josef Hagen, when asked what pushed his dairy farm near... 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