Helping Mother Nature with the fungi:bacteria ratio can keep our soils more productive
Soil health. Sounds like a good target we should be aiming at. Where do we start? What do we measure? How do we know when we get there? The first thing we need to find out is where are we? Nicole Masers is an agro-ecologist with Integrity Soils. For her three-day course in regenerative soil […] Read more
It was dry, but still a good year at Kevin Elmy’s Friendly Acres Seed Farm in eastern Saskatchewan
For the producers that wanted a drier year, we definitely got that in 2017. Between 2009 and 2016, we received just under 200 inches (500 mm) of rain, so a year with “normal” rain would have been well received. 2017 delivered 2-1/2 inches (63 mm), and two-thirds of that came in the beginning of June. […] Read more
Not all of the economic benefits of cover crops can be measured easily, but it’s worth a try
The first question that comes up when cover crops are discussed is “Do they pay?” Net returns from cover crops will be determined by what goals were set, what species were grown and other intrinsic benefits from the cover crop. In any business, net profit is the difference between costs and revenue. The two ways […] Read more
Every year is different on Kevin Elmy's farm. This year: cover crops, soybeans and rain
The good thing about farming is two years are rarely alike. 2016 started out a bit on the dry side, with close to ideal subsoil moisture. The occasional May shower did not delay seeding much. About 20 per cent of our acres were seeded in the fall of 2015 to Luoma winter triticale, which helped reduce the spring […] Read more
Cover crops can help build the “livestock” that lives in the soil and improves productivity
It appears that the idea of farmers improving the soil is starting to take hold. The Western Canadian Soil Health Conference was held in Edmonton, Alberta, the first part of December 2015. Nora Paulovich and Tom Fromme, co-chairs on the organizing committee, did a wonderful job pulling speakers together and organizing it. It started at […] Read more
There are lots of reasons to plant cover crops. Here’s some practical information to get yours started
With the decline of grain prices and the rising profit in livestock markets, there are more questions on using cover crops in both grain and livestock operations. What species to use? What seeding rates? Fertilizer requirements? When to seed? How to manage? How to terminate? Is there anything to “harvest”? 1. Setting a goal The first […] Read more
Regular Grainews contributor Kevin Elmy sums up 2014 at his east-central Saskatchewan farm
I am tired of rubber boots. This was Year 5 of well-above-growing-season rainfall. May started off with lots of water. The plan was to seed soybeans, grazing corn, a grain corn trial, brown mustard, spring triticale and cover crops. By the end of May, we had seeded 600 acres of soybeans, 1/3 of an acre […] Read more
When tried and true methods just don’t work, a 3-D fence can keep deer out
With the increasing number of grain bags in the countryside, deer have learned that there is a feast waiting for them in grain bags. Once a bag is opened, other animals join the buffet. Never mind what gets eaten, but storage losses from moisture entering the bags, excreta, downgrading factors and foreign material add up […] Read more
Kevin Elmy’s been experimenting with varieties for corn grazing
Like the last few years, our 2013 corn year started behind the eight ball. The winter of 2012 posed some seed logistics challenges. Some varieties had seed supply issues, seed size options were limited, new varieties were available but without local trials. These issues added to seasonal stress. Then, for us, snow and rain delayed […] Read more
With our short growing season, we have several options for cover crops in Western Canada. Kevin Elmy’s been trying some new ones on his farm
Across the United States, cover crops have been increasing in popularity. Between drought, delayed seeding, the high cost of putting the crop in, long growing season, high levels of inputs and leaching concerns, cover crops are taking hold. Most farmers planting cover crops are finding fewer nutrients in water run off, less erosion, less input […] Read more
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