It’s clear that a modest financial base can produce substantial returns late in life with well-managed tax exposure and a view to transfer of assets to the next generation.

Farm Financial Planner: A Manitoba couple generates more income and pays less tax

How the couple secured retirement and transferred their remaining land to their son

In central Manitoba, a couple we’ll call Harry, 80, and Mary, 76, had a mixed grain and beef cattle farm for four decades. They sold the home quarter to their youngest son, taking back a long-term mortgage with favourable terms. They kept 320 acres, which they have rented out to a neighbour. Their plan was […] Read more

A soil core showing the dry layer from one- to three-foot depths. In this situation, the only plant-available water is in the top foot. Roots will not penetrate the dry layer to access the moist soil beneath. Sufficient rain must fall to wet up the dry layer before the deeper moisture comes into play.

Les Henry: Soil moisture and rain

One plus one does not always equal two

Soil moisture as a soil management issue has finally come into its own with the advent of tech savvy young folk using soil moisture probes to get real information in real time. Thanks to those who provide me with information to help make the annual, three-province, Soil Moisture Map as of freeze-up. To make a […] Read more


Toban Dyck: A deeper dive into policy

Agriculture is in need of synthesis

I am going back to university. By the time you read this, I will have a class or two under my belt. At 40 years of age, this could be interesting. I have decided to take a deeper dive into policy. I have been working in the agricultural industry at the farm group level for […] Read more

In addition to yield potential and pod integrity, consider herbicide- resistance traits when choosing canola varieties for your farm.

Consider herbicide-resistance traits when choosing canola varieties

Q & A with an expert

[UPDATED: Jan. 14, 2021] Q: Should weed populations in my field affect my canola decision? A: When selecting canola varieties for your operation in 2021, yield potential and pod integrity are front of mind. However, different varieties utilize different herbicide-resistance traits, and this, too, should be considered. Canola varieties utilizing glufosinate (LibertyLink or LL), glyphosate […] Read more


About six years ago, Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote and John Cote decided to take the farm business in a whole new direction. They bought an 80-acre parcel of land near Saskatoon where they built a distillery and now grow flowers.

You never know what these farmers are up to

OYF alumni are letting no moss grow under their feet

Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers (COYF) had to forego the usual flurry of hugs and handshakes at their annual awards week this year, but they still ran an informative online event in early December. There were no winners to be announced for 2020. That part of the program was just postponed to, hopefully, later in 2021 […] Read more



Not enough days in the season

Eppich News: Two loads of calves taken to market just part of the fall projects

Oct. 14 was weaning day for our Eppich Quarter Horse foals. The foals weren’t too upset, but the mommas were. Within just a few days the corral quieted down and everyone accepted the change. The next day we took a load of calves on the two-horse trailer into Provost, Alta. for the sale the next […] Read more

The Prairies produce approximately 85 to 90 per cent of Canada’s honey with a major reliance on canola flowering.

Why do we let the tail wag the dog?

Is this a foretaste of livestock and grain farmer harassment in the near future?

All kinds of minor groups rail against the vast majority of ordinary citizens; for example, the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) or the anti-herbicide or pesticide groups in our cities. Take Edmonton, for example. In the city zoo, they have a long-term elephant called Lucy. The elephant is now […] Read more


Improved cost of production budgets can improve management decisions.

Is there a right way to calculate farm cost of production?

It depends on whether you’re budgeting or performing an investment analysis

“Know your cost of production” is an annual farm advisor’s rallying cry. This is still good advice with ever-rising costs and uncertain revenue. How exactly should you calculate cost of production when there seems to be different approaches throughout the industry? More specifically, what should you include and not include? To answer that question, it […] Read more

Why investment is one of the most overused words

Why investment is one of the most overused words

To be a true investment, the purchase must meet three criteria

Our city cousins almost unanimously believe a house is likely to be the biggest investment they will ever make. We have all heard this and many believe it to be true. Then, after purchasing a house, they often invest in renovations to increase its value, and, of course, they must invest in furniture to make […] Read more