“If you’re not growing you’re falling behind,” is an appropriate motto for how Michael Kalisvaart has managed his Edmonton, Alta.-area farm over the past 20 years. When it became clear the economics just weren’t behind the long-time, family-run farrow-to-finish hog operation, he launched out in the mid-1990s to build a straight grain and oilseed cropping […] Read more
Diversifying an Alberta farm
Joint ventures help Saskatchewan farmers grow the business
Chad and Darlene Krikau have built business partnerships to build their Saskatchewan grain and oilseed farm
Establishing business partnerships with other farmers has been an important element for Chad and Darlene Krikau over the past seven years as they have built their central Saskatchewan grain and oilseed farm. While it is nice to own everything yourself, the reality is that farm economics don’t always support the notion of owning every acre […] Read moreManitoba nominees focus on enterprise economics
For Tyler and Dorelle Fulton, knowing what parts of their business make a profit is the key to success
Tyler and Dorelle Fulton say it’s a sharp pencil that help keeps their southwest Manitoba cow-calf beef operation in the profit picture. They’ve separated the farm business — managed in a joint venture with Tyler’s parents — into four different enterprises. They monitor the profit potential of each enterprise throughout the year and adjust management […] Read moreOntario farm operates around a country store
It may not be quite as simple as “build it and they will come,” but Dana and Adam Thatcher, Ontario’s Outstanding Farmers, have found if you produce high-quality and healthy meat products customers will find you. The Thatchers, who converted their one-time Western Ontario hog operation into a diversified livestock enterprise complimented with an on-farm […] Read more
Dairy farmers focus on making the most of what they have
James and Amanda Kinsman might have more land or more dairy quota on their Christmas wish list, but since no one appears to be making any more of either in Nova Scotia they’re just doing their best to be as efficient and profitable with what is available. The Berwick, Nova Scotia dairy farmers would really […] Read more
Quebec dairy producers focus on quality cattle
Management fine-tuning and expanding the dairy herd are ahead for Luc Gervais and his wife Kim Brunelle on their long-time family dairy farm in south-central Quebec. Renovations to the dairy barn a few years ago was an important step in the growth of Ferme Germec Inc. located at Herouxville, a small farming community about 140 km […] Read more
B.C. producers dipping their toes into “natural beef” waters
The B.C Cattleman’s Association (BCCA), working with a major B.C. food retailer, is embracing the concept of producing natural, hormone free beef. It isn’t a statement that natural is any better than commodity or conventional beef, says Kevin Boon, BCCA general manager, it is simply recognizing if the market is there, B.C. ranchers can produce […] Read more
Hussar’s sweet song is a $50,000 winner
The Village of Hussar about an hour east of Calgary is a great example of how people can pull together with some effort and a bit of creativity to the benefit of the community at large. The farming and ranching community, with a population of about 200, recently won a $50,000 contest from Alberta-based […] Read more
Natural may be different, but not better
No sooner last month had I talked about A & W Restaurants announcing they were switching to natural, hormone-free beef in all their restaurants as part of the healthy-eating trend, and TV commercials showing happy, healthy people eating A & W burgers started. In that commercial the personable “manager” played by actor Allen Lulu is asking customers what they think of the new hormone-free burgers. […] Read more
W-5 images tough for egg industry to defend
I still had ham and eggs for breakfast this morning even after watching a CTV W-5 expose October 19 on some allegedly poor production practices at an Alberta egg farm. I did have second thoughts as I reached for those perfect white, healthy, lovingly produced eggs in the fridge. Even as much as I might […] Read more