farm management Archives - Page 6 of 7

Think twice before expanding your farm operation

Bigger or better? Sometimes it makes more sense to stay the size you are

By Brian Wittal March 14, 2016

Attending or speaking at conferences, meetings and seminars over the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to have numerous discussions with producers on a multitude of topics. Most of the discussions centered around what is going to happen in grain markets, what should they seed and when should they price their grain. As […] Read more

Columns, Features

How farmers can up their game

10 ways to run your farm more like a professional business

By Lilian Schaer February 18, 2016

Farming is often described as both a lifestyle and a living. And and although not every farm is a small business, even a small farm is a business. That concept of running a business like a business, though, can often get lost in the day to day management of a farm operation, especially if there […] Read more

Alberta consultant, Merle Good, right, speaks with Nova Scotia farmers Wayne and Nicole Oulton in Edmonton about getting the most out of tax strategies and new approaches to farm business arrangements.

Columns, Features

Defining roles can save the farm

Deciding and confirming “who’s in charge here” can take frustration out of the family farm

By Lee Hart February 18, 2016

Improved communications and actually defining roles and responsibilities on a family farm can not only make the day go better, but can actually save a farm business, says a long-time Alberta consultant. Confusion over who is in charge can lead to some very stressful situations, says Merle Good, a well know consulting agricultural tax specialist […] Read more

Kim Keller first developed the Farm At Hand concept at her family’s farm near Gronlid in northeastern Saskatchewan. (Country Guide photo by Photos by Kathryn)

Crops, Machinery

FarmLink picks up mobile management app

By Grainews Staff, GFM Network News November 19, 2015

A Saskatchewan-developed, cloud-based mobile app for farm management is being uploaded into Prairie grain marketing consultancy FarmLink Marketing Solutions. Winnipeg-based FarmLink announced Tuesday it will merge Farm At Hand, the software platform developed by Kim Keller and Himanshu Singh, into its operations. Financial terms of the merger weren’t released. “It has long been our belief […] Read more

Features, Practical Tips

Six tips for hiring and keeping your farm employees

Farm Management: Thinking of hiring more staff to make sure next season runs more smoothly? Try these hiring tips

By Michael Flood November 5, 2015

One of the advantages of family farming (and family-owned businesses in general) is working with people who naturally love and trust each other. While there are common frictions and unique difficulties in working with family, it is usually more fulfilling than working with the relative strangers. Unfortunately, as farms get larger and tasks get more […] Read more

Cereals, Columns

Farm management: Getting from good to great

Farming is a numbers game. Make sure you  make the most of the details on your farm 

By Brian Wittal June 22, 2015

In March, I spent four days traveling from Grande Prairie to Lethbridge as part of the Leading Edge Farm Management series sponsored by the Alberta Canola Producers Commission and I had the good fortune to be in the company of some very accomplished individuals. Dr. Danny Klinefelter from Texas A+M University who, I would say, […] Read more

Features

New tool measures farm operation sustainability

Demand for “field print” calculations is on the rise

By Rebecca Hannam April 21, 2015

Energy consumption, land use, erosion and climate impact are key to environmental management. Consumers and food retailers are now demanding this type of information. But how do you measure your efficiency? A new calculator can help. Denis Tremorin, director of sustainability at Pulse Canada, is the driving force behind the Canadian Field Print Calculator project and […] Read more

Columns, Crops

A look back and a step up

When the next generation moves home to the farm, it’s a time for change and role re-evaluation

By Sarah Weigum February 12, 2015

I am somewhat late for the season of “year in reviews,” so I thought I’d do one better and review, briefly, my last three years on the farm. In May 2015 it will be four years since I moved back to the farm, so I’ve been through four crop seasons. When I moved back to […] Read more

Farm Life, FarmLife

Who gets to make the ultimate decision on this farm?

Here’s some helpful overview questions to aid the decision-making process

By Elaine Froese November 18, 2014

One of speaker Norm Rubin’s universal laws of life goes like this: “Make everyone a stakeholder. Involve everyone on your team in your farm; ask for their input and opinions. Recognize that all those involved in your business will build your business. When you make everyone in your network a stakeholder, whether they have a financial […] Read more

Photo of a 2011 hog barn fire in Taber, Alta.

Features

Be prepared for fire so your assets don’t go up in smoke

“That will never happen to us,” we all think. Until it does

By Melanie Epp September 23, 2014

At 4:30 am on June 6, 2012, dairy farmer Harry Byce woke up very suddenly to what he thought was the sound of rain on his hay. It was odd that he heard it before he smelled it, but that’s the way the mind works when deep asleep. Concerned about his hay, he jumped out […] Read more

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle hit contract highs on tight supply

U.S. grains: Soybeans tumble on doubts over U.S.-China trade progress

Alberta harvest wrapping up: report

Tag Archives farm management