Females are becoming farm owners and decision-makers, but more need to step up and be leaders, says speaker
CALGARY — Technological advancements are making farms more female friendly. “It’s brains over brawn today,” said Maggie Van Camp, editor of Country Guide magazine. In her own life, automated systems in her broiler chicken operation in Ontario allow her to work off the farm. During the Advancing Women in Agriculture conference in Calgary March 7, […] Read moreStories by Karen Morrison
Be advocates, educate on food safety
Karen Morrison attended the Advancing Women In Agriculture Conference in Calgary and filed this report. CALGARY — Scientific evidence alone is not sufficient to sway the minds of increasingly skeptical consumers about food safety. Jennifer Henderson, director of food safety with Cargill, reminded those attending the Advancing Women in Agriculture conference March 7 in Calgary […] Read more
Coach acts as guide down path to goals
CALGARY — A coach can help families navigate difficult relationships and challenging work on the farm. Jacquie Stephens and Kay Kuenker of Breakthrough Consulting, who led a workshop at the Advancing Women in Agriculture conference March 6 in Calgary, said they offer an outsider’s perspective. “It can be really valuable to have a different set […] Read more
Women ‘backbone of agriculture’
assuming all genetic relationships equal good working relationships believing the business can financially support all family members who want to join assuming others must change but not me presuming a conversation is a contract believing mind reading is an acceptable form of communication failing to build communication skills and meeting tools when times are good […] Read more
Business model puts family first, says expert
CALGARY — Operating the farm as a business-first family operation rather than a family-first business shifts the tone of the conversation, said Alberta farmer Connie Stasiuk. The participant at the Advancing Women in Agriculture conference in Calgary said doing so takes the emotion out of the equation. “When talking about business, it’s strictly the dynamics, […] Read more
Growers tap thirst for local, organic
MATTITUCK, N.Y. — Certified organic hops growers on Long Island have found their niche within a niche in microbreweries and the demand for locally made products. Marcos Ribeiro and Pat Libutti of Craft Master Hops grew 12 acres of hops in their first year and will add another six this spring. “Organic breweries have a […] Read more
Farm safety
The Progressive Agriculture Foundation marks 23 years of delivering presentations on potential dangers and safety around farm chemicals, grain bins and equipment, train crossings, wildlife and other hazards unique to rural areas
An entanglement in a tractor’s power take-off launched the idea for Progressive Agriculture safety days in Lac La Biche, Alta. Colleen Pierce’s son, then in Grade 6, was pounding posts with his father the fall day it happened. He was wearing his father’s coveralls and straddling the power take-off when it grabbed the garment and […] Read more
Hearing and breathing: don’t take them for granted
Ringing in your ears after a day in the tractor is a sign that you’ve already suffered hearing damage. During an Invest in Your Health program in Saskatoon March 1, University of Saskatchewan agriculture college students were offered head to toe personal protective equipment from the AgriSafe Network. The presentation helps people identify their exposures […] Read more
Floodwaters leave health issues in their wake
Lurking in the muddy water, mould spores or chemicals are serious threats to those without proper protection
Risks from spring flooding don’t end when the water recedes, said a safety expert. Carolyn Sheridan, clinical director with the AgriSafe Network, said farmers are busy dealing with the immediate crisis during the acute phase of a flood. “Then it’s afterwards that we have all these other things that hit us,” she said. That includes […] Read moreExercise key to good health
MYSTIC, Conn. — Getting enough rest is just as important as regular physical activity, said a fitness trainer. Speaking at the North American Farmers’ Direct Marketing Association in Mystic, Connecticut, Feb. 7, Deanna Black said rest, physical activity and good nutrition can all help keep stress at bay in farm businesses. Black said most people […] Read more
