Why the cow business is marginal

We are blessed to participate in this cow business, particularly at this time. My personal attraction to the beef business may come from my history and growing up with it, but the cow business is also one of the few businesses of which I am aware where the less work you do, the better money you […] Read more

Management tips to prevent calving problems

The best approach in dealing with calving problems is through prevention. It is the key, and producers have been very successful with these measures over the years. However, I still have a list of key preventative measures that serve as good reminders. Caesarian sections and calving pulls have dropped by 75 per cent over the […] Read more


Summer pea inoculant trials

Inoculant may build up in the soil over time, but researchers who ran summer trials in Swift Current say that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t keep applying it


This summer, thanks to funding through the Agricultural Demons-tration of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) program, three pea inoculant trials were conducted in Saskatchewan, at Swift Current, Scott, and Melfort. While the Swift Current results are in, the final report has not yet been written up, which means results are preliminary and have not been fully analyzed. […] Read more

Improved bale wrap

What’s the best way to protect the hay quality of large round bales? Until now, the answer has always been easy but not always practical — store bales indoors. For 2013, John Deere offers producers a better way with B-Wrap, the alternative to indoor storage. “B-Wrap is rolled onto round bales just like regular net […] Read more


Reminder about proper winter feeding

I wrote this reminder on my blog earlier this month, but figured it was worth repeating in print. It is actually three reminders: 1. Make sure you are feeding your cattle properly this winter; 2. If you can’t handle it and feel stressed, there are places to call that can provide help; and 3. If […] Read more

Fungicides and plant health

Farmers are well aware of the value of fungicides in protecting crops from plant diseases. But some fungicides promise even more. Crop protection companies now promote the plant health benefits of certain fungicides. They claim that using these fungicides can result in higher yields, even in the absence of disease. Group 11 fungicides The fungicides […] Read more


Industry loses well-known cattleman

A funeral service was held in early December for one of the larger-than-life characters of the Canadian beef industry, Neil Jahnke, who died at his ranch near Gouldtown, Sask., November 26. He was 70. Active in the family ranch, and the Canadian beef industry most of his life, highlights of his life and career were […] Read more

Row planters versus air drills

There are some benefits to gain from row planters, but your decision to buy one will depend on row spacing and seeding rates

Row planters offer some benefits over air drills when seeding soybeans, according to research done in Ontario and Manitoba. But those advantages won’t add up to a new equipment purchase for every farmer. Horst Bohner is a soybean specialist with Ontario’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. From 2008 through 2010, Bohner and his […] Read more


Year-end portfolio update

A lot has happened since December 1, 2012 and most things have raised the value of my portfolio. As I write on December 18, 2012, the American administration is still playing “catch me if you can” over higher taxes and lower entitlements. From what I can find, the U.S. constitution was designed to create this […] Read more

2013 outlook: flat is the new up in a troubled world

As a new year begins, the outlook for off-farm investments is clouded by troubles around the world. Canada is a sweet spot and the Prairies sweeter still, for Alberta, as always, is good to its business. It is becoming ever more the headquarters of corporate Canada. Saskatchewan is booming with its key products — grains, fertilizer, and […] Read more


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