Last year in this space I wrote that agriculture has the potential to change the world. This year in our “Issue 52” edition, we focus on what it will take to change the world in a sustainable manner. These approaches to agriculture — sustainable, regenerative: what they mean and why they matter — are partly […] Read more
Farm business
Succession planning crucial for financial sustainability
Tough decisions and conversations will need to be made, say experts, but it will ensure a smoother transition
Families that are beginning the process of transitioning the farm should follow a number of general rules for it to be financially sustainable, say tax specialists. The key to any succession plan, no matter what stage it’s in, is communication between family members, said Riley Honess, a senior manager in tax with KPMG in Lethbridge. […] Read more
A sustainable farm with a mission
The Loewith dairy farm has a five-point mission statement pinned to the wall to remind staff of its values and priorities
COPETOWN, Ont. — When Ben Loewith walks through the dairy barns on his family farm, he is filled with contentment from a job well done. Keeping a modern dairy sustainable means protecting the environment, contending with urban encroachment, finding competent labour and raising healthy, productive cows. Continuous improvement in all those areas has always driven […] Read more
City boy returns to his combine operator days
A chance meeting with a farmer puts the author back in the seat of a combine after being away from the field for many years
In late October, I found a time machine and jumped in. It sent me back 40 years to my Manitoba farm boy days. I loved it. The machine was a slow-moving red monster that feasted off endless swaths of barley — a Case IH 8230 combine, owned by Darryl Shuttleworth of Balzac, Alta. Darryl was […] Read more
Sustainability top priority for Sask. family
On the Farm: The Leguees focus on sustainable production and developing long-term business relationships
FILLMORE, Sask. — Farming on the Canadian Prairies can be a risky business. That’s why effective risk management strategies are so important to farm manager Jake Leguee. Jake and his wife, Stephanie, are partners at Leguee Farms near Fillmore, Sask., about an hour’s drive southeast of Regina. The family has been farming in the Fillmore […] Read moreFamily involvement improves continuity on the farm
Without a doubt, one of the most transformative times for any family is the growth of the family tree. At its best, it’s a time for celebration by adding a new daughter or son, step-parent or sibling. At its worst, it’s a time of upheaval and mistrust that leaves the family in shambles. Now, overlay […] Read more
Weighing pros and cons of single family farm corporation
There are many options on how to structure your farm with family. A one-size-fits-all solution does not exist and there are many advantages and disadvantages of each potential structure. This article takes a deeper look into using a single family farm corporation for the succession of your operation. Family background Darren and Marilyn are each […] Read more
The vocabulary of combines
Finally, at age 67, I have found my niche in life: combining. I love everything about it, I am reasonably good at it (still have a lot to learn); and it takes place in my favourite season — fall. Combining is the realization of all the hard work that has gone into the year’s cropping, […] Read more
Stress must be managed properly in this tough fall
In recent days, the warmer weather returned, the snow left the fields and the combines were back at work. It should have been a good time for farmers, drinking up the fields with their machines, but instead it will be another intensely stressful harvest. And if forecasts are correct, they’ll be facing snow again shortly. […] Read more
B.C. family raises alpacas for fibre and meat
On the Farm: The Huacaya alpacas share space on the farm with registered polled Herefords and a feed business
ALDERGROVE, B.C. — The quest for quality drives every operation at Kensington Prairie Farm. Owned by Catherine Simpson and her husband, Jim Dales, the picturesque property at Aldergrove, B.C., is home to 60 Huacaya alpacas, 35 registered polled Herefords and an agriculture services division that produces high quality hay and silage, as well as custom […] Read more
