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Ron Tone started his own independent agronomy business in 1996 following a 17-year farming career in southern Manitoba.
GrowPro

Having those tough conversations

A veteran agronomist, speaking at the recent Manitoba Agronomists Conference, offers advice on how to handle difficult discussions with clients

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There is perhaps no bigger challenge for an agronomist than having a tough but frank conversation with a farmer client. You won’t get any argument on that count from Ron Tone. He founded Tone Ag Consulting in 1996, following a 17-year career as a farmer. His independent agricultural consulting firm specializes in damage claims, crop […] Read more
How we connect with others, such as our parents, depends on variables including our cultural backgrounds, our personal styles — and our external stressors.
Columns, Farm Life

On-farm communication improves when we start with connection

Seeds of Encouragement: Where you stand with your offspring comes from their relationships to you

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Elaine writes: In so many of the families we coach, we see communication breakdowns leading to escalation of conflicts. In some cases, using strategies that provide family members with the tools they need to have better communication can help — but in many cases a relationship between family members has broken down to the point […] Read more
Laval-based Alimentation Couche-Tard, which owns the Circle K and Couche-Tard convenience store brands, in August announced a “friendly, non-binding” merger proposal to Seven & i Holdings, owner of the 7-Eleven brand. The Tokyo company last month rejected Couche-Tard’s proposal.
Columns, Home Quarter Investing, Markets

Even in a weak economy, strong performers exist

Investing for Fun and Profit: We limit our exposure in some sectors, but ‘there’s more than one way to skin a cat’

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The saying “There’s more than one way to skin a cat” probably dates back to medieval times when both domestic and wild cats were skinned for their fur. A literal interpretation would be rather repugnant in modern times, yet the saying persists to represent multiple ways to achieve a goal. Two issues ago, I bemoaned […] Read more
As I’ve already experienced with telcos, declining profitability often leads to declining service levels.
Columns, Home Quarter Investing, Markets

Can Canada’s banks and telcos maintain as reliable performers?

Investing for Fun and Profit: Also includes an update on the latest status of the Titanium Strength Portfolio

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This is my 100th column over the past six years for Grainews. I hope you’ve enjoyed the wit and wisdom, albeit limited, and that my musings helped your off-farm investing success. This is also the first column written following the May 15 anniversary of the Titanium Strength Portfolio (TSP). At its outset, the purpose was […] Read more
Be a better listener
Farm Life

Be a better listener

Feelings of not being heard can fuel frustration in farm families. Here are some tips that can help

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In January, I had the delight of watching a group of 20 farm employees and managers racing against the clock to change race car tires in Bob Parker’s Pit Crew Challenge. Parker is a longtime friend and motivational speaker. His Pit Crew Challenge, which features real NASCAR-type race cars and former race car drivers, challenges […] Read more
If you want to build trust, you need to show care for the values of others, show up with competence and do your job well.
Farm Life, FarmLife

Froese: Stop the micromanaging

Farm founders can have a hard time letting the next generation take charge. Here are some tips that can help

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Men and women who are farm founders must eventually let go of being the ultimate decision makers as they mentor the next generation to be the main farm managers. This is not an easy dance. They need to learn to let go of being in control of every part, however small the enterprise or activity […] Read more
(RoyalFair.org video screengrab via YouTube)
General

AgriCommunication plan to seek farmer-consumer dialogue

Ag exhibitions among expected beneficiaries

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The federal government has put up new funding toward improving consumers’ awareness of the “strengths” of Canada’s ag sector — and to improve farmer awareness of what those consumers want and expect. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Thursday announced an $8 million, three-year funding envelope for the first of two streams of what’s now called […] Read more
Let’s be honest about the filters we carry as farmers.
Farm Life, FarmLife

Froese: Clear, concise communication is better understood and received

Sometimes our automatic ‘filters’ get in the way of this so we need to be aware of what those could be

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Elaine, I am feeling paralyzed and overwhelmed with this farm transfer thing.” “How do I talk to the kids without emotions running wild?” “We do fine until we try to get a sit-down family meeting with an agenda, then no one is really honest with what is going on here.” Communication that is clear, and […] Read more
(StockstudioX/E+/Getty Images)
General

Fraser: In ag marketing, emotions need to start trumping facts

Emotional transparency 'actually goes a long way'

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Go to an agricultural event and someone will inevitably point out how bad farmers are at getting their message to consumers. As annoying as it is, those comments underscore an increasingly important theme in Canadian agriculture: communication. It used to be enough to grow and market your crops, but that has changed dramatically over the […] Read more
If a situation is becoming stuck, 
try asking the other person how they 
would like to
move forward.
Farm Life, FarmLife

A new frame to see transition possibility and movement

Here’s some language tools to use to help persuade and influence others

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If you’re fighting storms or sorting cows, grab five minutes to soak this story in. You cannot neglect tending to the needs of your cows. Let’s talk about embracing the same urgency with your farm transition conversations. My speaker friend Shelle Rose Charvet, author of Words that Change Minds, has tools for better language that […] Read more

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AGCanadaTV: In case you missed it; your national ag news recap for July 11, 2025

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