“If it isn’t working out with their family, they can look for other opportunities,” Froese says. “This could be concentrating more on their career, exploring joint ventures with people who know how to do business and want to do business with them or looking for someone who doesn’t have a successor.” FOUNDING GENERATION The other common frustration she hears from farm women is from those nearing retirement age. While some are more engaged in the family business than others, there is a cohort who, like Froese herself, has played a traditional role on the farm but has made significant contributions to the family through off-farm income. She says farm women who are ready to retire are longing for significant changes in their residence, roles, and income streams. Froese often asks: When is it their turn to get what they need when they have given their best 40 years to the farm and family? “There are women in agriculture who are tired, and they’re hoping there’s a next generation to take over the bulk of the responsibility,” she says. “But there’s also pushback from them because their wants and needs aren’t being honoured, which is when there become fractures in the marriage.” Froese advises women not to hold back when it comes to asking for what they need. On her blog, she recommends conversation starters for aging women, such as “I would like to start shifting some of my current roles and lighten my load on this farm. Could we try…” or “I’ve bought a flipchart and found a talking stick so we can start having monthly family business meetings to discuss who wants to live on the main yard and when.” HEALTHY COMMUNICATION In any situation, Froese recommends using “I think,” “I feel,” “I want,” and “I need” statements as healthy ways to express emotion and start important conversations. Being clear is being kind. l ONTARIO GRAIN FARMER 31 MARCH 2023 People need to have boldness and courage to face hard conversations and work as a family unit to create solutions, share emotions, reach out and adapt, and put themselves in the other person’s shoes. Shieldex® has the broadest weed spectrum of the Group 27 post-emergent corn products taking care of tough weeds with the strength of an iron fist while offering a best-in-class re-cropping profile, crop safety, and environmental assessment, like a velvet glove protecting your fields. Shieldex is a registered trademark of Ishihara Sangyo Kaisha, Ltd. Registration no:32943 pest control products act. Always read and follow label directions. SCAN FOR MORE ON SHIELDEX Gentle on Your Crop Tough on Weeds
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