If you’ve heard me speak, then you know I’m passionate about rural life. I happen to think I have the greatest office there ever was – looking over the fields at our farm in Moosomin, Saskatchewan. As idyllic as it sounds, there are also challenges that come with rural living. Often, there are services, funding […]
If there is one thing Canadians learned in 2022, it was how important agriculture is to each and every one of us. First the pandemic, then the war in Ukraine and now a looming recession with the cost of everything, including our food, skyrocketing. I’ve decided my word for the year is “volatility.” Seeing bare […]
I know consumers care about where their food comes from and how it’s grown. When buying food for your family, you want to know that it’s been ethically and responsibly grown and that it’s good for you. Consumers these days are asking more questions about where their food comes from and farmers will be happy […]
During September, I spent almost every day in either a combine or sprayer. Like many farmers during harvest, I basically ran the business from my phone – assigning work orders, purchasing inputs, marketing grain, and making capital decisions. On a good day, and I stress a good day, I’ll only drop 3 calls or wait […]
This is Part Two of our series about the importance of having a mentor. You can read Part One here. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a hockey fan. I love to play it, watch it and now, I coach it. So, I love that my mentor and friend, Danny Klinefelter, quotes Wayne Gretzky when […]
Expand your mind, expand your network A few folks have asked why Evan and I decided to start Farmer Coach. The answer is two words – Danny Klinefelter. If we can impart even one iota of the wisdom Danny has shared with us, then we will consider Farmer Coach a success. I joke that Danny […]
As we work towards our climate and production goals, the importance of agricultural policy can’t be overstated. And, if it isn’t done right, the consequences could be disastrous to Canadian farmers. I can deal with a bad year, a bad crop, and even Mother Nature, but I can’t insure against bad policy. Our global reputation […]
How we attract the next generation to play on our teams One of the constant struggles on the farm is finding and keeping good people. For too long, farm work has been considered menial, low paying work. In Saskatchewan, we lose many potential employees to the oil and gas sector, which has traditionally paid better […]
I call myself a recovering accountant. I joke about it, but I do love numbers. Numbers don’t lie. As much as I have a soft spot for a family farm and building a legacy for my children, it always comes down to the financial statements. If your operation is not profitable its isn’t very sustainable […]
A recurring theme in many of my blog posts is collaboration. We are stronger together than we are alone. For too long, the mindset of farmers has been that they must go at it alone. We often refer to it as “rugged individualism” – the idea that one must be self-reliant and independent from any […]
It has been great to finally get back to in-person events. Recently, I was invited to speak at the Globe and Mail’s Sustainable Agriculture event about my vision of the farm of tomorrow. I’ve linked the presentation and the event videos below, but here’s a high-level recap. It’s a perspective that I think is important […]
As the federal government gets ready to increase the carbon tax on April 1st, we are hearing a lot from Canadians, including farmers. And, rightly so. As farmers, we view the carbon tax as a direct hit to our bottom line. But, I’m not writing today to debate the carbon tax. What I would like to […]