Many farms and ranches that come to my team often ask a similar big question: How can they get more out of what they already have? They know something isn’t quite right with their operation, but they’re unsure what it could be or where to begin. All around them, challenges arise — whether it’s finding […] Read more
Tag Archives Perspectives on Management
Telling lenders a good farm story can help access capital
In an era in which agricultural markets can turn on a dime, securing reliable and affordable financing has become a critical challenge that can determine the success or failure of a farming operation. Access to capital is the cornerstone of a thriving farm, whether producers are looking to maintain cash flow, upgrade equipment or plan […] Read more
Peer power and professional precision can lead to success
In the dynamic and fast-changing world of agricultural production, successful farm management increasingly relies upon a combination of traditional wisdom and innovative strategies to improve business results and viability. Across the industry, farm management consultants are providing expert advice to farms on optimizing operations and financial and resource management. They’re helping to improve efficiency, profitability […] Read more
Much to consider when preparing farm’s next generation
In 2023, the Canadian Bar Association reported that $53 billion worth of land is expected to change hands as farmers retire over the next decade. Despite this, 88 per cent of farms lack written succession plans, and by 2033, 40 per cent of Canadian farmers will retire, marking a significant transition in Canadian agriculture. Additionally, […] Read more
Take action on mental health
The first part of the busy season is (mostly) in the rear-view mirror, so you may be taking stock of how your operation performed and are planning improvements in the next few months. As you analyze your operation, take time to check in with your team. Long hours in the tractor and late nights calving […] Read more
Use care and intention when forming a transition team
No two transition plans are the same. That is obvious to anyone who has read about the subject or has partially or completely navigated through the process. However, there are commonalities among lots of families and farms that manage through this important stage of the business lifecycle. One of those is that you will likely […] Read more
Variety of factors go into determining an asset’s worth
In my many years of work helping farm families to enhance their businesses, I often am asked questions such as, “how can I justify paying the currently high market prices for (insert agricultural asset here) to be able to grow or maintain my operations?” or “how are others able and willing to pay such high […] Read more
Opportunities are on the horizon: is your farm team ready?
The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council recently published its labour market forecast, Sowing Seeds of Change. The report goes into detail on some of the workforce challenges our industry will face between now and 2030. Producers say recruitment is becoming more difficult because of a lack of skilled labourers, the nature of the work (manual […] Read more
Developing strategy is hard because it takes discipline
On Dec. 31, 2023, Terry Betker, founder of Backswath Management, stopped writing for The Western Producer after 13 years. The team at Backswath has big shoes to fill as we take over the reins from Terry. Our voices will be different than his, of course, but we look forward to writing about various topics including, […] Read more
Columnist signs off, but knows ‘I didn’t get it all done’
Are you approaching retirement, or are at a stage where you can see it on the horizon? Maybe you know someone in that situation, or maybe you aren’t thinking about that yourself but people close to you think you should be. If you’re struggling to figure out how to move forward, it may make sense […] Read more
