We’re often told not to dwell on the past, but what about the future? Elatia Abate, futurist, spoke at the Grow Canada Conference at Ottawa, Ont., to help producers build a bridge between the now — and what’s coming next. Looking at what’s next, Abate says we need to pay attention to the rate of… Read More

Agriculture and food issues often cross provincial, national and international boundaries. Being a leader of a farm organization frequently requires representatives to look well beyond the farm gate to tackle issues that impact their members. That’s certainly the case for Thunder Bay, Ont., dairy farmer Peggy Brekveld, who in 2023 will again lead the Ontario… Read More

Succession planning isn’t just for farms — it’s important for every business. A few years ago, Josée Lemoine brought her business, Pivot Performance, into the Backswath Management fold. As planned, Backswath founder Terry Betker is now stepping down (but not away) from leading the business, as Lemoine will step up to lead the company as… Read More

An organic farming couple from Saskatchewan and a pair of dairy farming brothers from Quebec have been named Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2022. Cody Straza and Allison Squires, who operate Upland Organics, and brothers Étienne Lessard and Guillaume Lessard, who farm together under Ferme Holdream Inc., were chosen from the field of seven nominees… Read More

It’s a stressful world out there, there’s no doubt about it. Whether it be personal stress, emotional stress, or financial stress…the list goes on. One of the stressors we do have some power to dial down a bit, says Stuart Person, senior vice president of MNP, is financial stress. This can be done through three… Read More

Running any business is a challenge, but running a family business and managing different personality styles carries with it a special kind of obstacle, as team mates love each other but also need to like each other. Greg Lingelbach is a Small Business Chair of TEC Canada, a business coaching and peer mentorship organization. He… Read More

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

A new not-for-profit organization plans to take a hands-on approach to farmer mental wellness across the country. Organizers of the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing (CCAW) say they will support farmers with a research-to-action approach to mental health. “Compared to the Canadian public, farmers experience elevated rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Unfortunately,… Read More