As we were just coming through a serious deep freeze in Calgary as I write this column for the March 2 issue of Grainews, it made me think about some of the winters as a kid growing up on the farm in eastern Ontario. As I recall through the later 1950s and ’60s, we always […] Read more
Is it over yet? Winter. I’m talking about winter
A bit of electricity and wood heat kept everything comfortable at 30 below
Livestock can benefit crop production
Combining the two benefits both beef and crops, says a Saskatchewan producer, and let’s not forget about the soil
Lance Walker says incorporating the livestock enterprise into more of the grain component on the family’s central Saskatchewan farm in recent years is already showing signs of increasing production, while reducing input costs. He’s excited to see where increasing the synergy between the two enterprises — that includes feeding cattle on cropland, multi-species cropping and […] Read more
Farmers put promises to the test
New products potentially improve standability and yields
Central-Alberta farmer Scott Keller is anxious to see what his malt barley will do this year as he applies increased fertility along with a plant growth regulator (PGR). Keller, who has pretty good success in growing barley that achieves malt quality on his farm near New Norway in Camrose County, generally holds back on applying […] Read more
You can’t buy me off with a great meal
Plenty have tried, but I am still a hard-nosed journalist, unless there is dessert
I certainly can’t remember every meal I’ve had over my lifetime, (I would have a serious problem if I did); however, as I was about to make beef liver and onions one late January Saturday night here in Calgary, it did cause me to think back about excellent food and hospitality that I’ve experienced over […] Read more
Regenerative agriculture beats high input costs
Alberta farmers apply a new mindset to crop production
Shorty Fensky says it was largely a matter of farm economic survival as he forgets about the “Y” word and applies crop production practices that focus on profitability for their family run mixed-farming operation in central Alberta. Fensky, who along with his brother Cevin produce cattle and crops at Thorsby, about half an hour southwest […] Read more
Building a 259 bushel/acre wheat crop
No doubt every variety has a yield potential, but there may be a lot more locked inside each wheat seed than we expect
How do you achieve a record setting wheat yield of nearly 259 bushels per acre? That’s a figure not every farmer in the world can shoot for. And no doubt it helps if you farm in New Zealand, have good soil, irrigation, and a 10-month growing season. And like I say, it is not a […] Read more
Lakeland College offers technology degree
Alberta college also expands its beef and applied crop research roles
There were two important developments at Alberta’s Lakeland College in January as the 108-year-old agricultural school headquartered at Vermilion announced it will offer Canada’s first degree in agriculture technology starting this fall. And in a second announcement, the college has received nearly $2 million in a grant to expand applied research in pulse crop agronomy […] Read more
Hopefully Lazy S Ranch sets tone for bull sale season
The 2021 prices were ahead of last year's averages
Buyers certainly showed their support for good quality beef genetics and also their confidence in the beef industry, with strong prices offered in late January at one of the first bull sales of season staged by Lazy S Ranch of Mayerthorpe, AB. It was the 52nd annual sale at the ranch owned by the Ainsworth […] Read more
Smaller cars, more capacity to help move grain
Who knew they even made a three-mile-long train?
Everyone is impressed this year with improved grain handling efficiency across Western Canada and that is a good thing. In some recent years with bottlenecks and mysterious delays in grain movement, it was almost like the rail companies were surprised Western Canada had grain and other commodities that needed to be moved to export position. […] Read more
Alberta Blue Book goes private
It will be published jointly by four Alberta crop commissions
For the first time in more than 40 years the long-standing bible of crop protection products in Alberta, often referred to as the Blue Book, will be published by private industry rather than the provincial government. Starting in 2021, the Blue Book — Alberta’s crop protection guide — will be published in a joint effort […] Read more