I think we are very fortunate to have the columnists we do at Grainews. Each has a unique perspective and voice in the industry, is an expert in their field and provides information that directly or indirectly affects the profitability of your farms in an engaging and accessible way. If you’re not familiar with the columnists in the crop production section of Grainews, I’ve provided a bit of information below.
Toban Dyck informs and challenges us on topics like ag policy, identity and the direction of the sector. He carries us along on his journey to improve his farm operation, farm life and the ag industry. Over the years, the examples Andrew Allentuck has provided on the complex business of farm financial planning have helped many farmers understand how to make the most of their hard-earned money, how to pass the family farm to the next generation in the most financially prudent way, beneficial tax strategies and many other similar scenarios.
And if you’re a regular follower of Herman VanGenderen’s column about investing your money, you’ll have come out well ahead of other investors, especially over the past four years. His Titanium-Strength Model Portfolio has yielded a 48.8 per cent four-year total return. Lee Hart’s extraordinary wit, insights and singular perspective on farming and life keep us laughing while we explore agriculture and all the varieties of human life. Over the years, Ieuan Evans has shared his passion for research and its practical applications to crop production as well as interesting and relatable facts on the natural world and farming.
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Successive federal governments have been working to get out of the ad-hoc farm payment business — so whether existing programs fit the bill or not, it’s unsurprising when the feds try to shoehorn problems into one or more of those.
We’ve also had guest columnists like Ross McKenzie, who shared his soil fertility recommendations from four decades of soil and crop research with Alberta Agriculture in his Grainews series last winter.
And, last, but far from least, is Les Henry. I’ve left our longest-serving columnist until last because I would like to acknowledge a special award Les — who is already an award-winning soil scientist, Saskatchewan Agriculture Hall of Famer and University of Saskatchewan (U of S) professor emeritus of soil science — received this year. Les, who has been writing for Grainews for 45 years, was recognized this spring by the U of S with the highest honour the institution bestows for his extraordinary contributions to his field. In June, Les was awarded the honorary doctor of laws degree in appreciation of his lifetime achievements.
During his career, Les carried out vital research and extension work in many areas of soil science. A few of those topics included the effect of anhydrous ammonia on soils, the nutrient requirements of irrigated crops, potassium-deficient soils and ground-breaking work on soil salinity. His body of work for Grainews often follows and answers problems farmers are trying to solve in their fields, such as protein grading of wheat, the effects of nitrate in the subsoil, groundwater and wells and blue baby syndrome and soil salinity to name a few. He is the architect of the Stubble Soil Moisture Map used by the entire ag industry from farmers to grain marketing experts. The first map appeared in Grainews in February 1979.
Les, in his professional career and as a writer for Grainews, has the extraordinary ability to take complex information about soils and convey these ideas in a manner anyone can understand. This trait has endeared him to ag students, industry professionals and Grainews readers alike.
While addressing the convocation attendees in June, Les had one message for graduates: the importance of lifelong learning. To embrace lifelong learning, Les stresses to “learn, unlearn, relearn,” which Alberta agrologist Elston Solberg first coined. Longtime readers of Grainews have heard this refrain before.
One example Les provided his convocation audience of the importance to commit to lifelong learning was that of a crop’s response to potassium, where it was thought prior to 1966 Saskatchewan soils contained enough potassium and it was not needed as a fertilizer — back then, the science was considered settled on this matter. However, when the first Saskatchewan Soil Testing Laboratory opened in 1966 (here Les was instrumental as well), the first soil tests, conducted in the Carrot River area (by Les), revealed potassium-deficient soils. Strip trials in 1967 (carried out by Les) showed potash fertilizer increased barley yields fivefold.
I think Les’s curiosity, humility and his lifelong learning approach to life and research is an example for us all. It certainly is for me.
He said it best to his convocation audience of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources and College of Veterinary Medicine graduates: “Whenever you start to think you know it all, it is time to hang up your soil probe or scalpel…. I urge you to keep an open mind, be curious, follow the data and don’t be afraid to challenge norms. Just because 77 other people say it’s right, it doesn’t mean it’s right.”
Words to live by.
Congratulations to you, Les.
And to you, Grainews readers, I wish you a very happy and safe harvest season.
