From a private business to the family corporation

What’s left after harvest depends on how the farm is organized and taxed

The idea of the family farm is just that — a concept. The reality is that tax rules, inheritance law, good business practice and the fundamental problem of making a living have changed the family farm from a private business to the family corporation. Organization and tax rules are now almost as important as farm […] Read more




Versatile tractor in the field

How to develop potassium fertilizer recommendations

When, where and how much potassium is needed for your crops

In previous Grainews issues, I have discussed how to develop nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer recommendations. In this issue, I will focus on the development of potassium (K) fertilizer recommendations. Most crops take up potassium in relatively high amounts, often similar to nitrogen. About 25 to 30 per cent of Prairie soils are estimated […] Read more


Les Henry: A look at soil nitrate-nitrogen

Les Henry: A look at soil nitrate-nitrogen

Is there enough residual nitrate-nitrogen in the soil to feed 2022 crops?

The drought of 2021 and the poor crops as a result have left us wondering what residual nitrate-nitrogen might be present in the soil to feed the 2022 crops. Nitrate in the environment The first thing we must realize is nitrate in the environment is, for the most part, a function of human activity in […] Read more

A connected farm is an efficient farm

A connected farm is an efficient farm

Q & A with an expert

Q: What are the benefits of collecting data and using digital tools on my farm? A: Data. This is a word we hear a lot in agriculture, and rightly so. We are now farming in the digital age and we need to see this as the huge opportunity that it is for farming operations. Historically, […] Read more


Over a long period of time the good and bad luck balances out and those with higher percentages of good decisions will do better.

Investing versus gambling

Short-term investing is an oxymoron

One of my frustrations with common verbiage around stock investing is the plethora of gambling analogies. Common expressions include sayings like, “If you wish to play this sector.…” as if purchasing a stock is like playing a craps or blackjack table. Another common expression is to “go all in,” as someone would at a poker […] Read more



Coyotes feed on rats, mice, voles, pocket gophers, ground squirrels, rabbits, geese, ducks, groundhogs, deer, wild boar, raccoons and other crop-damaging fauna, including grasshoppers and cutworms. Coyotes will also eat apples, berries, carrots and other vegetables.

The coyote conundrum continues

The coyote is guilty of livestock predation, but how does this cost compare with farm crop value gains?

When I lived in rural Alberta in the 1970s, I knew more than a few farmers and acreage owners who supplemented their incomes, sometimes substantially, with coyote pelts. The price for good pelts at that time was up to $100 or more. Today, with the advent of synthetic furs and an anti-wild-animal-product public atmosphere, coyote […] Read more

‘I think about technology a lot. My professional life as a consultant has only amplified this infatuation and it has justified many expenditures.’ – Toban Dyck.

Toban Dyck: What holds us back from adopting ag tech?

Let’s throw some ideas around to see what sticks

My wife and I are living at my parents’ house right now (and we may still be here by the time you read this). Our farmhouse is undergoing a renovation that requires the water to be shut off for up to two weeks, so we opted to leave. My parents are in Arizona, so the […] Read more