GROWING 21st CENTURY FARMERS: Q&A WITH MIKE BAKOS

Aug 30, 2017

Q&A with Fanshawe's Agri-Business Management Graduate, Mike Bakos

By Cameron Kok,
Current Student, Bachelor of Commerce,
Fanshawe College

In September 2016, Fanshawe College launched the Agri-Business Management Graduate Certificate program at its Simcoe/Norfolk Regional Campus. This September, the program will also be delivered in London at the Western Fair District. We connected with a student from the first graduating Simcoe class, Mike Bakos, to get his perspective on the unique new program.

About Mike:

Age: 25

Previous Post-Secondary Education: Honours Bachelor of Science & Bachelor of Education, Brock University

Family Farm: J&B Bakos Farms (and in partnership with The Growers Sweet Harvest Watermelons)
____

Why did you decide to enroll Fanshawe’s Agri-Business Management program?

“I wanted to get more immersed in the farming community that we have in Norfolk County, and although I am a fourth-generation farmer and my family is fairly well known in the area, I wanted to get a deeper understanding of what is going on in my community, especially in the agricultural community, and what other opportunities are out there.”

What did you hope to get from the program?
“As someone devoted to life-long learning, I decided to attend the program with the hopes of being able to bring some 21st century thinking and practical knowledge to my family’s farming operation. I assessed what improvements I wanted to focus on, and attended the program part-time as I was supply teaching part-time as well.”

Now that you’re a graduate, what are your future career plans?

“My intention for enrolling was to take my Family Farm to the “next level”. It would seem that farmers now have to wear even more “hats” as their business grows and expands. We now think about things like developing a brand and promoting our business. My intention is to grow my family business and make it even more viable. Due to programs like this, I can now make even more educated decisions when mapping out the future of my family farm.”

Is there anything unexpected that you got out of the program that will help you now that you’re a graduate?

“The program was an excellent networking opportunity for me, and allowed me to meet a ton of community leaders both in and out of the farming/Agri-related sectors. Because of my interest in getting more involved, I ended up being introduced to the Norfolk Agricultural Advisory board. I now sit on the board and really get a sense of what is going on in Norfolk.”

Learn more the program at fanshawec.ca/AGM1J (Simcoe) and fanshawec.ca/AGM2 (London)

Video: Is China Buying US Soybeans + USDA Nov 14th Crop Report could be “Game Changing”

After a week of a U.S./China trade truce, markets/trade is skeptical that we have not seen a signed agreement nor heard much from China or seen any details. There are rumors that China is buying soybean futures & not the physical. Trust in Trump?
12 MMT of U.S. soybean purchases by China by year-end is better than 0 but we all need to give it more time and give it a chance to unfold. China did lower the tariffs on Ag and is buying U.S. wheat and sorghum.
U.S. supreme court could rule against Trumps tariffs, but the Trump administration does have a plan B.
U.S. government shutdown is now the longest in history at 38 days.
But despite a U.S. government shutdown we will be getting a USDA November crop report next Friday and it could be “game changing.” If the USDA provides a bullish surprise with lower U.S. corn and soybean yields and ending stocks that are lower than expected both corn and soybean futures will break out above their ceilings at $4.35/bu and $11.35/bu respectively.
The funds continued their selling in live and feeder cattle futures on continued fears that the Trump administration want to lower U.S. beef prices. The fundamentals have not changed, only market psychology has.
Stocks markets continue to worry about a weak U.S. job market, but you can blame ChatGPT for that. In the future, we will have a more efficient, productive and growing economy with a higher unemployment rate until we have more skilled AI workers.
After 34 new record highs in the S & P 500 and 124 new records in the NASDAQ in 2025 we are back to a correction and investor profit taking as AI valuations may have gotten too stretched near-term ahead of NVDA’s 3rd quarter earnings announcement on Nov. 19th. But this is not an AI bubble.
75% of Tesla shareholders approved a $1 trillion pay package for Elon Musk!
It has rained in South America in the last 7 days, but both the American and European models agree that Central Brazil remains dry in the next 14-days!

Canada’s birthday gift from Ontario agriculture: Recognizing longstanding farm families

Ontario producer attends North American Manure Expo in Wisconsin