massey ferguson combine

Should I buy or lease that combine?

Angela Lovell asks the experts if buying or leasing is best for new equipment purchases

Should I lease or buy my next combine? Ask most people why they want to lease equipment and they’ll say “for tax purposes.” But that’s not the best reason for leasing, say the experts. “If you’re leasing a combine for $10,000 a year, you get an annual write-off of the full $10,000 a year over […] Read more

Grid soil sampling best for prediction

Cavalier Agrow agronomist says grid soil sampling trumps satellite imagery

Farmers who want to move into precision farming should focus less on satellite imagery and more on what’s happening under the soil’s surface, according to an agronomist. Bennie Dunhin is the agronomy manager at Cavalier Agrow, an ag retailer based in north-western Saskatchewan. Dunhin, who originally hails from South Africa, holds an MSc. in plant […] Read more


Safety plans specific to your farm

Safety plans specific to your farm

Don't ignore the danger zones. Make your farm safety match the reality on your farm

Farming today is much different than it was in the past. The vast array of knowledge and access to information can be overwhelming. The temptation to use a template and do the “bare minimum” for a farm safety plan is great. There is also a temptation to skim the safety-related materials provided with chemicals, equipment […] Read more

Don’t be afraid to be safe

Don’t be afraid to be safe

Farming is our legacy. But changing practices to farm safety is our future

Farm Safety week comes every March. If you’ve been reading Grainews regularly, you’ll know that I’ve been writing safety articles for this special feature for the past few years. Farming is part of my family. It has been for generations. We have some pieces of our history and our traditions we hold dear. Others must […] Read more


These field peas were seeded using the CTF system tucked in close to the standing stubble of the previous crop. The pea crop is able to use any residual nutrients from the previous crop and the standing cereal stubble provides protection and may help to support the pea crop as it matures. 


CTF delivers improved crop emergence

Consistently higher yields are yet to come, but CTF improves overall efficiency

Steve Larocque is using his precision farming system to get to the root of improved crop emergence, which in the last few seasons appears to be getting about 80 to 90 per cent of the seeds coming out the ground. The word root is used both literally and figuratively for the central Alberta farmer and […] Read more

One of the trials on the Stamp’s Select Seeds farm last summer took a look at plant growth regulators. (The field on the left was treated with a PGR, the field on the right was not)

Real life on-farm trials in Alberta

Farmers considering on-field trials can learn from this farmer who's been there

During the last growing season I was involved in a number of trials for grain, corn and silage. We found accurate results that I could trust and share with other farmers in the area. The corn trials inspired me to re-think our strategy with our trials regarding chemical products and the seed varieties we are […] Read more


Rape field, canola crops

8 tips to running your own crop trials

Tired of adapting other people's research to your farm? Get your own

Every acre can be a research acre, Nicole Philp told farmers at Saskatoon’s CropSphere in January. Farmers interested in testing new products and practices can create powerful data sets with a little co-ordination, said Philp, a Canola Council of Canada agronomist. But how can you make sure you get good data out of your on-farm […] Read more

Canaryseed for the people

Nine agronomic facts about growing canaryseed, Canada’s newest food product

In 2006, the Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan (CDCS) formed around a single purpose: to gain approval for the use of canaryseed for human consumption. Checkoff dollars and government programs funded extensive research led by food microbiologist, Carol Ann Patterson. For a decade, canaryseed was put through thousands of hours of toxicological, nutritional, and compositional […] Read more


Chickpea is one pulse crop seeing renewed interest from growers.

Pulse acres on the rise this spring

High prices are driving higher interest in planting peas and lentils this season

The Saskatchewan Pulse Growers Association (SPGA) predicts, in its January 2016 pulse outlook, that there will be a significant increase in pulse acres again this year, with lentils leading the charge. At least 4.46 million acres of lentils are expected to go in the ground this spring, with some market experts predicting it may go over […] Read more

The Canola Performance Trials

The Canola Performance Trials

Who pays for them? Why? Learn more about how to make the trials work for you

Do you depend on your provincial seed guides to help you make a choice about what varieties of canola you’re going to plant any given year? If so, you may be wondering, given that those great resources are available, why the Canola Performance Trials (CPT) are also important for making decisions for your particular acreage. […] Read more