My experiences with Saskatchewan Crop Insurance have been mostly positive. – Les Henry

Les Henry: Government farm programs

My experience as a two-bit farmer

Farm programs are much in the news these days. “I am from the government and am here to help you.” Have you ever heard that one before? Full disclosure — I am not an ag economist so this is largely opinion backed up with facts based on my experience as a two-bit farmer. A bit […] Read more

How to determine when to spray for flea beetles

How to determine when to spray for flea beetles

Q & A with an expert

Q: What factors should I consider when spraying for flea beetles? A: Over the last couple of years, southern Saskatchewan has experienced high flea beetle pressure. The warm, dry springs we have had are favourable for flea beetle emergence and activity. However, those same weather conditions slow crop growth, leaving canola plants at a vulnerable […] Read more


Editor’s Column: Farmers are worried about dry conditions this spring — here’s what some are doing about it

Editor’s Column: Farmers are worried about dry conditions this spring — here’s what some are doing about it

If you are worried about the dry conditions heading into this spring, a recent survey says you’re not alone. It also reveals the changes some Prairie producers will make to their plans for 2021 in response to the dry conditions. On April 9-10, a total of 719 active Canadian producers responded to a survey carried […] Read more

In order for crops to grow successfully, a select group of nutrients need to be present in your soil.

A look at organic farming

Your crop’s nutrient requirements are the same whether you choose organic or conventional production systems

The word organic in farm practice is just about totally confusing. Does it mean pesticide-free, GMO-free, or chemically produced fertilizer-free. Just keep in mind there are no such things as synthetic fertilizers. All fertilizers are simply minerals that are essential for plant growth. These minerals are the macro fertilizers, such as nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), […] Read more


Environmental, social and governance investing

Environmental, social and governance investing

Is it another new fad?

Business and investing fads come and go, much like other aspects of life. Those with merit last longer than others, while many fall into the trash bin of overhyped and bad ideas. Two decades ago, Six Sigma became a highly touted business concept, designed to reduce defect rates to less than 0.0003 per cent. I […] Read more

‘When moisture is the overriding limiting factor to crop yield, even the best land will not pay the mortgage in the long run. The past decade of extra precipitation has led to prices that, I think, are not sustainable.’ – Les Henry.

Les Henry: Farmland prices and net farm income

Beware the other side of the average

We have had recent inquiries about an update on farmland values. Our previous columns on this topic have included only Saskatchewan data. As I began to search for updated data, I stumbled upon Statistics Canada data for all three Prairie provinces. As well, net income from 1926 to 2019 was available. The raw data is […] Read more


Toban Dyck: Policy battles and progress

Toban Dyck: Policy battles and progress

There used to be a thing called the Manitoba Pool Elevators. It was a grain company founded in the early 1900s, but its history and trajectory through the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool and Agricore United is not the topic of this column. There are two filing cabinets in our basement. They contain farm records from before […] Read more

dairy cows eating TMR

Dairy Corner: Forage fibre the big driver in milk fat production

Put your TMR to the test to determine if it's the proper particle size


Maintaining good milk production with adequate milk fat is always the main source of good revenue on most dairy farms. Regardless of the actual feed ingredient formulation, it must work in tandem with the natural body functions of healthy cows. This is something we should keep in mind when reformulating current rations if restrictions are […] Read more



Spill response on the farm, Part 2

Spill response on the farm, Part 2

Unfortunately, spills and leaks occur for a variety of reasons. Prevention is key. If the steps provided in Part 1 of this feature are followed correctly, any spill or leak would be from unforeseen circumstances or human error. However, by implementing an emergency response plan (ERP), it is possible to respond quickly and safely to […] Read more