A potential opportunity knocks

A potential opportunity knocks

For a young farmer, the opportunity to buy land close to home is a life-changing prospect

I brought Glenfiddich but they offered Laphroaig. I’ll chat about land with either brand of scotch in my hand, but if put to a fight, the smoky and absolutely delicious Laphroaig wins every time I’m not buying. I put up nominal resistance, saying something awkward and barely intelligible about how they shouldn’t waste their good […] Read more

Low interest rates: opportunity and peril

Low interest rates: opportunity and peril

Low interest rates are tempting, but in the long run, debt always comes with a risk

Almost every Canadian farm family has four financial goals: buy a home, pay off farm and home debt, educate the kids and build up retirement savings. Satisfying all is a problem of balancing each. Very low interest rates for the last five years have made it easier to pay off debts and buy a home, […] Read more


Canola swaths on my 
Dundurn farm August 31, 2015
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Still needed: canola combine

There is still a case for more research on combining speed, so we don’t lose valuable product

In the January 9, 2012, issue this column did a piece about combining canola and the need to adjust speed to the crop conditions and combine separation capacity. To recap, we said that in a 70 bushel canola crop in fall 2011 at Annaheim, Sask., it was necessary to go 1.5 m.p.h. to capture all […] Read more

What level of risk are you prepared to take on, and what price will you pay to reduce your overall risk?

Production, profitability and protection

The paper side of farming: A successful farm needs to turn a profit every year

Over the past few months we have seen a number of events unfold around the world that have sent grain markets tumbling, some to four-year lows. Devaluation of the Chinese Yuan, and subsequent sell off in the Chinese stock markets, 10-year lows in oil prices and a six-year low for the Canadian dollar. Overall, across […] Read more


durum wheat

Getting to know durum country

Reporter's Notebook: A French Durum SAS researcher may turn up at your doorstep, asking about durum

If you farm in Saskatchewan’s southern grain belt, you may have met Quentin Renault this summer. Quentin hails from France, but he’s in Canada for two years studying the durum supply chain, from farm to harbour. He spent his spring and summer driving dusty gravel roads in Saskatchewan’s durum belt, looking for farmers. On June […] Read more

One acre of land, six inches deep, weighs about 2,000,000 pounds.

Soil sampling and soil testing

Fall is generally the most convenient time for soil testing. Plan now for effective testing

In the last issue of Grainews Les Henry wrote a great article on soil testing. I couldn’t agree more that soil sampling and testing is a great tool to assess the soil nutrient levels in your fields so you can wisely plan your fertilizer program for next spring. Here are some of my thoughts on […] Read more



Pay attention to post-weaning programs for dairy cattle

Pay attention to post-weaning programs for dairy cattle

You want replacement heifers to grow at an optimum rate, but not too fast or too slow

Almost every time I visit a dairy barn, I make a point of looking at post-weaned replacement heifers as well. Raising young dairy heifers can be one of the greatest challenges even on the best-run dairies. I believe implementing a good post-weaning heifer program makes good sense and contributes to their future success as high-milk-producing dairy […] Read more


I feel an uncanny sense of responsibility.

When the rubber hits the road

Making decisions and paying the bills is turning Toban Dyck into a real farmer

Two days ago it was way too early. But that morning, driving by my field of soybeans, I wasn’t sure. In fact, it’s hard to be sure of anything related to the fate of my 110 acres. I drove to the approach, walked in a few feet, there didn’t seem to be much for weed […] Read more

This photo and the one further down are of the canola on my “breaking” land — recently broken land (this is only the second time its been under a seed drill). The pictures were taken on July 27, 2015. In fall 2014 the soil test N in this field was only 20 lbs./acre to one foot but the zero to six inch level organic matter was 6.5 per cent. The “normal” areas in this field got 94 lbs. N/acre as anhydrous. This area got only the 20 lbs. N/acre as broadcast 21-0-0-24. Obviously, mineralization is providing much of the N. My zone fertilization plan involves telling the custom applicator to leave out the breaking and salty ground. It works!

Soil: Test the right pound of ground

If you don’t measure what you have, you can’t know what to add. Know the basics of taking soil tests

First, some general tips around soil testing. The first thing to note about soil testing is that it is an index — it is not like a dipstick in a crankcase. A soil test (index) rates a soil as very low to excessive and is one piece of information to guide fertilizer use. But, use […] Read more