Reading Time: 3 minutes I am a business mentor for a young woman who just landed a multimillion-dollar deal. She and her family took a risk, went without for a few years, and worked hard to get their product going. They had folks who believed in them but more importantly, they believed in themselves. She once said to me […] Read more
There is opportunity all around us and it’s there all the time
All sectors in agriculture have tremendous strengths and every farm operation can capitalize on them in some way
Celebrating food — and gaining a marketing edge
The story of an Australian oyster producer has lessons for any farmer who appreciates creative thinking
Reading Time: 3 minutes My friend Ewan McAsh is an oyster farmer on the Clyde River in New South Wales, Australia. He is a fellow Nuffield Scholar and was a travel mate of mine through Australia, Holland, U.K., India, and Qatar. A young man with vision, he was named in 2015 as a finalist for NSW farmer of the […] Read more
Empower your daughters to be great farmers
Understanding one’s abilities, becoming financially literate, and gaining experience outside the farm are all critical
Reading Time: 3 minutes More women own and operate farms and agribusinesses in Canada than ever before. What is it that women need to do to be great farmers and how can farms prepare daughters for the ownership of the family farm? Underlying any business transaction is value. And often, families focus on the value of the capital assets […] Read more
Tech companies charting a new food trend
Amazon, Uber, and Google are hoping to make billions by becoming middlemen in the food business
Reading Time: 3 minutes Uber Eats is not a giant meal that you serve your teenager. It is a service to deliver food to urban dwellers in a hurry through the Uber system of loosely collected, non-taxi drivers. It is just one of the companies, along with Amazon and Google, that are in the food business. Google in food? […] Read more
The downside of farm subsidies
Government money is usually welcomed but those who take it soon learn it can come with a heavy price
Reading Time: 3 minutes There are certain aspects of farming around the globe that are subsidized either directly or indirectly. In the world of trade, these are sensitive issues. For example, what is the true level of subsidization in China? How does it enhance its competitive advantage? What is the real cost of production? We have many guests in […] Read more
Bill 6 is law — now we need a plan to move forward
Designing practical workplace rules is a complex process that will take time, but farm groups will advocate on behalf of their members
Reading Time: 3 minutes Alberta Barley is very disappointed that the Government of Alberta chose to force the passage of the amended Bill 6 through the legislature on Dec. 10. The voice of farmers was consistent regarding the lack of consultation and especially the lack of clarity about how the bill would impact farmers and ranchers across the province. […] Read more
Each year brings many gifts and each new one promises more
The simple things are truly wondrous and we should cherish all the precious moments of our lives
Reading Time: 4 minutes It is the beginning of a new year and I have often contemplated how I would spend my time if given just a portion of it. I would go dancing. My cousin would sing in the band and all the extended family would be there — four generations of us. We would sing and chat […] Read more
Wants, needs, and some advice for young farmers
When you ask beginning farmers about their priorities, a few key themes quickly emerge
Reading Time: 4 minutes Farm Management Canada recently hosted a fabulous conference in Regina where I was also contributing. The conference was peppered with interactive breakout sessions that made for lively discussion. Three of the questions stuck in my mind and I would like to share five comments on each of those questions with you. I don’t think it […] Read more
This holiday season think green (as in green thumb)
Whether it’s high-res imaging, bugs, or cover crops, there’s no shortage of ways to make the family horticulturalist happy
Reading Time: 3 minutes With the holiday season upon us, there is one question causing the good people of the province to lose sleep at night: What to get the horticulturalist in their life? With that question in mind (and tongue firmly planted in cheek) I’ve compiled a list of ideas with something for every budget that is sure […] Read more
Every item of the feast has a great story behind it
When the table is set, give thanks to those who grew and processed the food — and all those who played a role in its history
Reading Time: 4 minutes My son gifts me a subscription to a Quebec-based cuisine magazine entitled Ricardo. The last issue had a little sidebar that read, “If you calculate the time elapsed from the moment seeds are sown, the festive meal takes an average of 295 days to land on our tables.” When you think about great meals in […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
