Country Guide

As a follow-up to yesterday's post about how mental health affects decision-making on the farm, today's post looks at wellness from your employees' point of view. In a tight labour market, could on-farm wellness programs help recruit and retain employees? Country Guide contributor Helen Lammers-Helps spoke with Beverly Beuermann-King, CSP about her recommendations + with farmers Ursina Studhalter, CPA and Stephanie Maynard for advice based on their current farm employee wellness programs. #cdnag #mentalhealth #farmmanagement #farmlife

Did you know that there's more to taking care of your mental health than for physical and/or personal reasons? Stress can also affect decision-making on the farm. Research at the University of Manitoba shows that while it is clear how weather and environmental challenges affect producer and animal health, the producer’s mental health can affect their livestock and other aspects of the business, too. And while moderate stress can be healthy, as it makes you more alert and perform better, the effect is brief. "Unfortunately, if we stay in that over-stressed zone for too long (chronic stress), our work is going to suffer,” says Cynthia Beck, a producer and registered psychologist. Country Guide contributor Melissa Jeffers-Bezan took a deep dive into this important topic to find out about the link between stress and decision-making, available resources and things we can do to mitigate our amount of stress. #cdnag #mentalhealth #mentalwellness #farmmanagement #yourfarmyourconversation

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When family and business overlap, it’s good practice to set out expectations for working in or exiting the business. A shareholder’s agreement can help you do that. It's an important document that provides a framework for the governance of a corporation, share transfer restrictions and exit provisions, among many other elements. In this article, Jon Barnett and Ashley Podolinsky from McKenzie Lake Lawyers LLP explain how - and why - you should formalize the family farm with shareholder agreements. #cdnag #farmmanagement #farmbusiness #YourFarmYourConversation

Benjamin Bridge Winery's “people-first” ethos has been front and centre since its inception. In addition to producing award-winning wines, founders Gerry McConnell and the late Dara Gordon made it their mission to create a winery that would not only be sustainable but a positive addition to the community and landscape. “It’s not about status. It’s about agriculture, it’s about community,” says Keltie MacNeill, director of sustainability and community engagement at Benjamin Bridge. Read about how they approach business growth and decision-making in the February Vision issue of #CountryGuide 👉 https://lnkd.in/g_ErU9mS (or visit country-guide.ca and click on the Digital Editions tab). #cdnwine #cdnag #foodandfarming #nsagriculture #eastcdnag

Business partnerships can be tricky to navigate at the best of times. Throw in family members, a new on-farm business and a growing family legacy, and it’s a whole other level. But sisters Kori and Casie of De Boers Market have worked hard to find their groove - and the hard work, planning and many conversations have them solidly on the road to success. Read their story in the February 'Vision' issue of Country Guide 👉 https://lnkd.in/gVwmr5NZ #cdnag #ontag #YourFarmYourConversation

This month's audio message from CG associate editor April Stewart (listen to it here: www.country-guide.ca) "Did the groundhog see his shadow in your neck of the woods? Hopefully not, so that spring is just around the corner! The February edition of Country Guide is our Vision issue (https://bit.ly/4hHcMPw). Unlike the groundhog who spends a lot of time in a hole, we spoke with farmers who are decidedly above ground, scanning the horizon for opportunities and positioning their business for growth and success by being anything but afraid of their own shadows. We looked into the concept of dreamer versus doer and whether one is more important for a farm business. We spoke with several entrepreneurial farmers who started up side hustles, and we spoke with a few farm families who create visions for their farms based not only on the future, but lessons from the past. Thanks so much for reading Country Guide and following us on our social channels. Your support and feedback are key to making Country Guide what it is: a place to highlight perspectives from both peers and experts; a place to find new approaches in how you work and succeed on your farm; and a place to feature farm business thinking that goes beyond today to how farmers can position their business for success in the future. As Country Guide heads into its 139th year, we look forward to continuing to spark the conversations that drive the decisions on your farm in 2025 and we wish you all the very best for a new year full of possibilities!" #YourFarmYourConversation #YourAnytimeAnywhereAdvisor #cdnag #farmmanagement

If 2022-level farm profits are over, what’s next? Our financial columnist, Craig Macfie CPA, PAg, shares his advice: https://lnkd.in/gAQu6kFP

Join us for 'Farm Financial Fluency for Grain and Oilseed Farmers' this March!

Our February Vision issue (https://lnkd.in/gMuepbJi) included a few stories about side hustles, those entrepreneurial ventures many farmers start up to generate extra income or to address an on-farm challenge - and, because, well, some of them just can't help it. Being a farmer requires innovative thinking and problem solving on an almost daily basis so it often comes naturally. 😉 If you've been toying with the idea of starting up a side hustle, here's a great article from #CountryGuide contributor Angela Lovell that lays out the key steps you need to consider first. #CdnAg #eastcdnag #westcdnag