How Much Water Can Your Soil Hold?

Table 1. Rise in water table for 1 inch of rain added to soil at full capacity Soil Texture Loamy Sand Loam Clay Inches of water table rise per inch of water added. 5 7 12 Soil is a porous medium. About half the volume is air space (pores) and the other half is solid […] Read more

Make Your Own Wool-Packer Stand

Back view 72” 40” 77” 78” 94” Side view 59” It might be a bit early for shearing, but it is never too early to be prepared. One thing that we have struggled with over the years is getting a shearer out to shear our small flock of 40 Rambouillet/Suffolk ewes. We have that rectified […] Read more


Analyze Before You Downsize

With a 20 per cent decrease in land comes a 20 per cent rise in fixed costs. When you raise the fixed costs, you raise the breakeven yield and the breakeven price. Basically you’re just piling risk on top of risk. Spring frost and a rough harvest in 2009 have pushed the coping skills of […] Read more

A “no” makes all the difference

In my November column on micronutrients, the word “no” was missing in a key sentence. The last sentence in paragraph one should have read as follows: Micronutrient research is not “glitzy” from a research person’s perspective because almost all experiments show NO positive response.


Revolution Started In Farm Shops

The first airseeder was a discer put together by the famous Jerome Bechard of the Lajord-Sedley area southeast of Regina. A recent article I read pointed out the impact of public research on the zero till revolution. Don Rennie, my boss for many years at University of Saskatchewan, almost single handedly championed the demise of […] Read more

What Will 2010 Bring?

Just like 2009, oilseeds will pay the bills in comparison to wheat and barley in 2010. Another year has come to an end, laying the groundwork for a fascinating 2010. It is always fun to look ahead and speculate on what the next 12 months could bring to Canadian agriculture. Here are a few of […] Read more


8 Ps Your Daughter-In-Law Needs

Afarm family with a very strong-willed daughter-in-law asks their business planner how to make progress with decision making since the “in-law” seems to have an opinion about every farm business decision made. The planner advised the farm team to consider farm business and shareholder decisions as their “territory,” making it clear that the spouse — […] Read more

Pearson Square Helps Set Rations

10% protein barley 32% protein distillers grains 16% ration 16 parts barley 6 parts distillers grains We use this Pearson Square to help us mix protein sources at the right amount to come up with our target — 16 per cent overall protein. This fall once again found us searching for feed due to excessive […] Read more


5 Priorities For Top Managers

If you are an avid golfer, have you ever paused to wonder how Tiger Woods excels in his sport. Many would assume that he is a naturally good golfer, but there are many good golfers in the world so what sets Tiger apart? It could the mental and physical planning and preparation that takes place […] Read more

Puzzling Low Yield? Think Micros

It has always been my opinion that we are a long way from knowing all the micronutrient deficiencies that exist on the Canadian Prairies. Micronutrient research is not “glitzy” from a research person’s perspective because almost all experiments show a positive response. A recent discussion with a colleague at the U. of S. brought micronutrients […] Read more