The world runs on the strength of its farms — but unfortunately, the accident and injury rates for agricultural occupations are notoriously high. Even when highly skilled individuals work with heavy machinery, unpredictable livestock, and other hazards, sometimes accidents are unavoidable. An injury response plan should be a part of every family farm’s strategy, so here’s a […]
More than half of family farmers have a second job. It costs more to farm now, and profit margins are thinner. Corporations own their own land, cows, hogs — and they own the packing plant, making competition difficult. The price of farmland has skyrocketed. Farming is hard work, and it’s hard to make a living […]
Family farms are unique. Many children stick around to help. They marry and bring children into the family, adding more people to feed and help. Conflict is really common and it gets worse the more people that work together on the farm. Here are some more tips to help everyone work together on the family […]
As your children age, they may stick around and continue to help around the farm. They may marry, bringing another person in to help with the load. It can be hard for families to work together day-after-day without having conflicts. Here are some tips to help everyone work together on the family farm. Make sure […]
The key to a healthy farm operation is planning for the future through succession planning. Doing so will benefit not only you but your family as well. As you sit down to consider what you want for the future, take a look at four reasons why creating your plan is valuable. First, you create financial […]
When sharing the highs and the lows of life with your family, tension is bound to arise. When you not only live with your family but also work with them on the family farm, that tension can quickly eat its way into the dynamics of your close-knit daily lives. Farm life isn’t the same as […]
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What is Farm Mentoring?
Farming is so much more than tilling soil, planting seeds and watering crops. A successful farmer has to have a love of the land, patience and determination. He also needs to know biology, chemistry, animal husbandry, meteorology, business principles and much more. Becoming a successful farmer is no easy task. That is why farm mentoring is […]
Communication is a vital component of any business. Farms are no exception. Whether it is communicating with the family members involved in the running of the farm, or it is with outside employees who help out with the everyday workload, it is extremely important to have an organized system of communicating with each other. Clear communication […]
Just as every small business has its own characteristic strengths and weaknesses, a family farm is built upon a thousand unique factors. Market niche. Natural resources. Weather fluctuations. Worker availability. And… the in-laws. Plan For Success When in-laws come into the picture, start with an open mind. True, the stereotype is that in-laws are always your greatest […]
When family members go into business together, lines can often get easily blurred. On a family farm, bonding time may happen out in a hay-field, and business meetings may happen around the dinner table. When decisions must be made, though, it is important to have a plan for farm family meetings. Why should we plan a meeting? Between […]
