Posts Tagged ‘Farming’

« Older Entries

How do we treat the girls?

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

“We all knew the farm would go to the boys. We were born in the ‘30’s and everyone expected Dad and Mom to roll it over to their sons. We were given educations, no land.”

“We wondered why my sister and I were not part of the family discussion about who would have the home place. It really hurt. Dad couldn’t understand why I was crying when we talked about it later.”

“The girls in our family all married well. I guess our parents felt we were well taken care of. My brothers got all the dairy quota and the farm. We girls got $10,000. I’m not sure my lawyer today would think that was fair!”

“Out here in dry land Saskatchewan we  wonder if we’re lucky we got cash and we are not stuck with the risk of the farm !” Continue reading How do we treat the girls? »

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Farm Family Coaching, Farm Succession | 2 Comments »

Is the Farm Terminally Ill?

Tuesday, June 15th, 2010

What do you want when your cattle farm feels like it is terminally ill?

Hope. Hope that you will find a way to make things work again.

Where is a sense of hope when you feel like your farm is dying?

As a believer, my hope is in God, that He will make a way.  As an encourager, I ask you to ponder and consider how to process and live  with depressed livestock market prices.. As a farmer, I’ve learned to separate out the things I have control over, and the things I don’t.

Glean from the people with terminal illness, and see if some of their wisdom can transfer to the farm that feels like it is terminally ill: Continue reading Is the Farm Terminally Ill? »

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Farm Family Coaching, Farming Business | No Comments »

Can you be the hired man again?

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

One of the tricks of a great farm succession is the ability of the founder to let go of management, and ultimately ownership. There are many 60 something and 70 something farm dads on the bald prairie that just don’t know how to change from being the main manager to “the hired man.”  I know hired man is not the politically correct term,  I should say “employee”.  Employees make a wage, and I don’t know if Dad is getting a paycheque!

When you started farming for your dad you were labour, then you gained skill to manage, and then you took over the operation by buying shares, or land, or assets.

Now at age 67 or 72 you are wanting to step back,  and only work when you feel like it. You are again the labour component. Continue reading Can you be the hired man again? »

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Farm Succession, Farming Business | No Comments »

Breaking up is hard to do

Thursday, June 3rd, 2010

A farmer’s biggest challenge is finding an financial advisor, tax specialist and legal professional who they can trust. They are wondering if they are being well-served by their current team of advisors, as some folks are not getting clear answers to their questions, and sometimes don’t know what questions to ask !

The song says “breaking up is hard to do…and I know, I know that  it is true…” I think is it hard to fire your advisors, because we live in small towns, have to drive further for more options, and we are a loyal bunch.

The question is…how do you find a better one? Continue reading Breaking up is hard to do »

Tags: , ,
Posted in Farming Business | No Comments »

Breaking up is hard to do… firing your advisors

Monday, April 19th, 2010

In March I spent time with 70 farmers in Alberta who were seeking new ideas on how to do some tough things right, like transferring the farm to the next generation. One of their biggest challenges is finding a financial advisor, tax specialist and legal professional who they can trust. They are wondering if they are being well-served by their current team of advisors, as some folks are not getting clear answers to their questions, and sometimes don’t know what questions to ask! Continue reading Breaking up is hard to do… firing your advisors »

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Farm Family Coaching, Farming Business, Grainews Articles | No Comments »

« Older Entries