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



Specs and SPACs, Part 2

...and how my idiot son quintupled his money in two months

No children were insulted in the writing of this article. In fact, our youngest gave me the subtitle, and is the lead character in the story. (Read Part 1, here) As they were growing up, our kids were learning how to allocate scarce resources from their allowance and sports refereeing earnings between immediate gratification (a […] Read more



In this farm couple's case, there are two alternative strategies to cut taxes.

A couple looks for a low-tax route to turn their farm into retirement income

With no kids who want to take on the farm, a low-tax exit strategy is needed

A couple we’ll call Chuck, 68, and Liz, 66, farm 1,000 acres in south-central Manitoba. Their all-grain operation is profitable, but they want out. Their children, two middle-aged daughters, are not interested in farming. That leaves the sale of the farm as the best and only way for the couple to quit the business and […] Read more

Calving season is well underway with some great looking calves.

A busy beginning to calving season

Eppich News: A quick start, but with a couple of unfortunate losses

We celebrated James’s first birthday on Feb. 18. Time has passed so fast on us. It does not seem like a year already! The weather also turned nicer. It felt quite warm in comparison to the -35 C we had the week before. With the warmer weather, the snow started melting during the day and […] Read more


Toban Dyck: The bar between “lunacy” and “worth exploring” has lowered considerably

In the wake of COVID-19, few things remain sacred. In this case, it’s tillage

The changes we’ve all been forced to endure have called my spring plans into question. The disruption that has been thrust upon us, leaving us to choose between adapting to an ever-changing political and social landscape, enduring it, stubbornly opposing it and everything in-between has seeped into my farming plans. I’m looking at this spring […] Read more

Crops such as alfalfa hay (seen here), corn stover or small grain cereal straw contain huge amounts of potassium.

The role and availability of potassium in crops and soils

This key macronutrient is often misunderstood and misrepresented

Potassium is a key macronutrient in all plant and animal nutrition. Its role and availability in crops and soils is frequently misunderstood and misrepresented. In plant tissues, potassium (K) is second only to nitrogen (N) in amount found in plants. It may make up one to three per cent by weight of crop plants, from […] Read more