Natural may be different, but not better

No sooner last month had I talked about A & W Restaurants announcing they were switching to natural, hormone-free beef in all their restaurants as part of the healthy-eating trend, and TV commercials showing happy, healthy people eating A & W burgers started. In that commercial the personable “manager” played by actor Allen Lulu is asking customers what they think of the new hormone-free burgers. […] Read more

When an old dairy farm goes to the goats

Even though I have never been a full time farmer, and in fact I haven’t lived on the Eastern Ontario family farm where I was born and raised for more than 40 years I felt a bit of a twinge earlier this year when family members were planning to sell the place. It was the […] Read more


Temperature and EC mapping

Soil electrical conductivity (EC) maps are becoming more common 
as an aid to precision map preparation. Interpretation is required

Field maps of soil electrical conductivity (EC) are becoming more common as an aid to preparing maps for Precision farming. This is a good addition to the information base. But, all the fancy equipment does is give you a number. Interpretation is required. EC measurements First, remember that All EC measurements are temperature dependent. Other […] Read more

Rules for selling stocks

It’s important to know when to buy, but if you’re going to get into 
the stock market, it may be more important to know when to sell

While buying right is important, in the type of market we now have I think learning good selling rules and using them is perhaps more important. In fact, often selling can save us from a wrong buying decision. For example, investors who bought shares in Enron, Nortel, Sask Wheat Pool and even Bombardier some years […] Read more



Contact choices

What is your storage capacity? What are your cash flow needs? Do you have any income tax issues? What crops did you grow and what pricing options are available for these grains? What is the quality of your grain? What is the market outlook, short term (three to six months) and long term (six to […] Read more


Editor’s column

If you let this issue of Grainews sit in a pile on your coffee table for a few weeks before you opened it up, we’re probably still working on harvest here at our farm in southeast Saskatchewan. Things have just been slow this season. We seeded late, and now we’re harvesting late. This is even […] Read more

First harvest in the bag

I engaged in one of the ‘Sexiest activities in the world,’” said the man sitting in the rear passenger side. “I wish there was a way to bottle that.” He was talking about combining, and the four of us were on our way to Big Iron in Fargo, North Dakota. There’s too much residue from […] Read more



Editor’s Column

In the last issue of Grainews I wrote about the July 13 hailstorm that swept over most of our land, doing a lot of damage. Since the article was published, we’ve heard from all kinds of friends and acquaintances, passing on condolences and kind wishes. All of the thoughtful comments have definitely made it easier […] Read more