Though there have been worse floods along the Red River in Manitoba, 2009 still packed a punch for many farmers.

Extreme weather events: Part 3 of a three-part series

In the third part of a three-part series on water, Les Henry takes a look at the long term

The past few wet years have left some folks wondering if this is the new normal. What with Global Warming and all, perhaps we will have to live with these wet extremes. What we fail to recognize is that our experiences — even old fossils like me — are but a very brief flash in […] Read more

tractor working a field

Cover cropping basics

There are lots of reasons to plant cover crops. 
Here’s some practical information to get yours started

With the decline of grain prices and the rising profit in livestock markets, there are more questions on using cover crops in both grain and livestock operations. What species to use? What seeding rates? Fertilizer requirements? When to seed? How to manage? How to terminate? Is there anything to “harvest”? 1. Setting a goal The first […] Read more


map of Lake Winnipeg watershed

Water quality: Part 2 of a three-part series

There is a lot of talk about water quality issues, but not 
all of the commonly-cited information is accurate

Note to readers: Before you read this article, I suggest you check back to page 14 of the April 15, 2013 issue of “Grainews.” The headline was “The Truth About Lake Winnipeg.” There will be some overlap with this piece. Water quality There are many aspects to water quality. For irrigation use, salt content is […] Read more

a flooded field

Excess water and farm drainage: Part 1 of 3

In the first part of the a three-part series, Les Henry tackles the dreaded 
“D-word” that can get folks’ dander up. That’s right. Drainage

This is Part 1 of a three-part series on drainage. Part 2 will deal with water quality and Part 3 with wet cycles and extreme weather. The past few years have been “back to the 1950s” for rain. Excess water has been the result. The 1950s spawned the Conservation and Development Branch (C&D) of Saskatchewan […] Read more


installing tile drainage in a field

Understanding farm water issues

Water: it’s necessary for life. But add the word “drainage” and it can also start fights

Corn prices. Why am I getting emails with those words in the subject line? Why does Gmail’s spam filter let that slip by? I’ve been telling people for a couple years now that I farm. To border guards and others who’d trust or like me more if I worked with my hands, I am a […] Read more

Tractor in a field draining a slough.

Water Cannon drains sloughs quickly

With a long reach, two Water Cannon models can reach into 
low spots in fields and move water out

Do you have annoying sloughs in some of your fields you’d like to get rid of? Or do you need to transfer water to a farm dugout? The people at Double A Trailers of Two Hills, Alberta, think they have the ideal machines to tackle those jobs. The company’s two Water Cannon models have a […] Read more