At the start of a new decade it is time to take stock and think ahead to what our industry might be like at the end of this decade. The last time I tried such an exercise was in December 1979, looking ahead to what the 1980s would bring. I predicted that at the end […] Read more
Les Henry: Where will Prairie agriculture be in 2030?
Les Henry predicts eight changes coming to agriculture in the next decade
Les Henry: Diary of my 2019 wheat crop
This growing season was challenging, but the end result was better than expected
The 2019 crop year will go on record as one of the more challenging in a long time. In the past decade we have had a very good run of good crops — often with harvest weather that allowed long stretches where dry grain could be binned. At the same time, we have enjoyed crop […] Read more
Les Henry: United Grain Growers’ mail-order home business
The company that founded Grainews also sold catalogue homes on the Prairies
First things first. In early October, there was still a lot of crop out in many areas with quality degrading rapidly. Here’s hoping for a great late autumn to allow the harvest to wrap up. Above all, keep safe at a stressful time. Almost a generation has gone by since the end of United Grain […] Read more
PHOTOS: Les Henry: Wildlife on my Blackstrap farm
Almost all of my encounters with wildlife have been positive and occasionally photos have been possible. This is what I’ve learned
For 25 years I have owned land just a half hour drive south of Saskatoon, just east of Blackstrap Lake. In that time, I have had many wildlife encounters and observed several cycles of Mother Nature and her creatures. Wildlife conservation Some city slickers like to think farmers are bent on destruction of Mother Nature. […] Read more
Les Henry: Water information in Western Canada is flowing nicely
Look to these sources for information on where to find water during dry spells
The past few years, growing-season rain on many Canadian Prairie farms has been much less than needed for a good crop. From 2005 to 2014 high snowfall plus much above-average rainfall provided more than enough moisture for crop growth. The excess rain and snow filled the soil and raised the water table by as much […] Read more
Les Henry: My 1980 visit to China and an outlook for China’s future
Forty years of change in China is nothing compared to the country’s long history
China has been very much in the farm media in Western Canada in the past months. In September 1980 it was my good fortune to be part of a mission to China from Saskatchewan. Our team of four was charged with the task of determining the feasibility of establishing a dryland demonstration farm in China to display Saskatchewan […] Read more
Les Henry: Is your slough water safe for cattle?
If you’re looking to sloughs for water, screen them with an EC meter to be safe
As the drought drags in many parts of the Prairies, there is great concern about crops. Many areas started the season with little subsoil moisture reserve and most areas have had too little rain. In some cases it is almost none — at my Dundurn farm, the total rainfall for the year to date as […] Read more
Les Henry: Water quality and herbicides
You know your herbicides. But what’s in the other 999 gallons you put in the tank?
As we gear up to fill the sprayer and begin killing weeds maybe we should take another look at what is in the other 999 gallons in the sprayer. It is well known that the water should be clean with no silt or debris present, but this piece deals with the dissolved “goodies” you cannot […] Read more
Les Henry: CO2, global climate and crop yields
It’s not all bad news: research shows higher yields from higher levels of CO2
About one year ago I began searching the scientific literature to determine the impact of increased carbon dioxide in our atmosphere on crop yields. It was a frustrating experience. Most of the articles seemed to have the pre-determined conclusion that CO2 was a villain rather than the major nutrient in all of our crops. A […] Read more
Les Henry: Anhydrous ammonia and the 4Rs
Time to bring back what should be the cheapest form of nitrogen fertilizer
Almost all farm press of late that talks about fertilizer use emphasizes the 4R concept. That means that we will take each nutrient and decide what is the “right” source to use, what is the “right” application rate, what is the “right” placement and what is the “right” time to apply that nutrient. The nutrient […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
