Quattro Ventures in Alberta is one of very few. Emily Ford, senior agronomist at the joint-venture farm where mint is cultivated for the essential oils market, knows of only one other Prairie farm producing this specialty crop.

Ford said this presents some unique challenges for agronomists like herself.

“When you are growing other specialty crops, let’s say potatoes in southern Alberta for example, you usually have a wealth of peers and experts to phone up when something looks funny or you have a problem,” Ford said.

Why it matters: If a given crop isn’t often commercially grown on the Prairies, that doesn’t necessarily mean it was never possible.

With mint, there isn’t a network of people Ford can readily turn to for help. She noted some agronomic information is available through organizations, such as the Mint Industry Research Council in the United States, but much of what Ford understands about commercial mint production has been largely self-taught.

“I didn’t know anything about mint five years ago until I started working at Quattro,” Ford said, adding trial and error has been an important aspect of the learning process.

“If you are given the opportunity to work with a crop like this, you just dive in, read as much as you can, lean on the people who know something about it, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. You have to work with farmers to figure it out together, because mint is so different from other crops that are really commonly grown,” she said.

“I think agronomists become agronomists because we’re curious people who want to find out how things work, so I can say this has been a fun challenge.”

Community curiosity around this novel crop has been strong as well. Ford noted a lot of producers in the area have visited Quattro Ventures so they could get a first-hand look at commercial mint production.

“We do a lot of farm tours, but so far no one has taken the plunge and tried it.”

Located in the Bow Island/Burdett area in southeastern Alberta, Quattro Ventures comprises five family farms cultivating a diverse array of crops across dryland and irrigated acres. This includes dill, another speciality crop grown for the essential oils market, as well as cereals, seed canola, peas and potatoes.

Ford helps run the 3,000-acre operation as part of the farm’s management team, which includes both owners and non-owners. Quattro Ventures was founded by the Palliser Triangle Marketing Group, a collection of forward-thinking farmers intent on exploring new agricultural marketing opportunities. The idea behind it was to unite the strengths of individual family farms while leveraging the group’s collective knowledge, resources and markets.

Essential oils are highly concentrated, aromatic liquids extracted from plants that capture the plant’s fragrance and flavour. The spearmint and peppermint essential oils produced by Quattro Ventures go into such things as candy, chewing gum, toothpaste and cosmetics, while the farm’s dill essential oil is used for dill pickles.

According to Ford, India and the U.S. Pacific Northwest are the main areas that produce mint for the essential oils market. In Ford’s estimation, Quattro Ventures has grown to the point where it now produces 25 per cent of North America’s mint oil.

One reason more Prairie farms haven’t followed Quattro Ventures’ lead could be that commercial mint production isn’t for the faint of heart.

Mint is a perennial rhizome crop that propagates through rhizome cuttings, not seed, so specialized agricultural machinery is required for planting and harvesting. Specialized processing equipment is also needed to extract and distill the oil from the harvested mint leaves.

Ford acknowledged some farmers may shy away from the risks associated with producing an unfamiliar crop such as mint, given the hefty expense of getting everything up and running.

“It’s a big investment. You need to have specialized equipment and facilities to process the oil and get it to market, and it’s very expensive.”

Area well-suited for mint

According to Ford, Quattro Ventures’s location in southeastern Alberta has several attributes that make it a prime area for producing high-quality mint oil.

One is linked to where it is situated in the Canadian brown soil zone. “Because of the soil types we have here, we produce a certain oil that meets quality standards the flavour houses or brokers are looking for with purity, menthol content, aroma, all of those sorts of things.”

Growing conditions in the area are another major plus. Mint requires long, warm summer days and cooler nights for optimal oil production. Quattro Ventures fits the bill, with an extended growing window of 124 to 132 frost-free days and average crop heat units in the 2,400 range.

As well, mint is a thirsty crop requiring reliable, consistent moisture, especially during peak summer heat. Quattro Ventures relies heavily on irrigation infrastructure provided by the St. Mary River system — something that’s particularly important within the drought-prone Palliser Triangle region where the farm is located.

“You can’t grow mint without irrigation,” Ford said. “At peak crop staging with the hot, dry weather, you’re looking at an inch to an inch and a half of water a week.”

Planting and field management

Each mint production cycle at Quattro Ventures starts with disease-free tissue culture plantlets the farm gets from a specialty nursery. The plantlets aren’t planted in fields right away but are placed in nursery blocks where they serve as a source of clean rhizome rootstock.

“Once those plantlets are established, the next spring we go back and dig up some of the rhizomes from that clean stock. We use a modified potato digger to dig up them up and then they’re planted into a production field.

“You only need one inch of a viable rhizome to create a mint plant. The first year we really focus on establishment and then after that, we’re looking at production and are harvesting a crop every year.”

The mint fields, once established, will remain productive for up to five years, Ford said, adding “because it is a five-year crop, there is no tillage on that piece of land for five years.” She noted this kind of tillage reprieve provides a nice break for fields, particularly since Quattro Ventures grows some heavier tillage crops, such as sugar beets and potatoes.

“I think that’s really beneficial for soil health, not just for the mint crop but for all the other subsequent crops we grow on that land.”

According to Ford, mint is a heavy feeding crop for fertilizer, which is applied to Quattro Ventures mint fields in the spring. Typically, each acre receives 120 to 150 pounds of nitrogen, along with 100 pounds of potassium and 80 pounds of phosphorus. Because mint doesn’t grow in rows, fertilizer is distributed through broadcast applications.

In recent years, Quattro Ventures has started using environmentally smart nitrogen products for its nitrogen applications in mint fields. Ford said the slow-release fertilizer allows nutrient availability to be better matched with crop uptake. It has also meant fertigation, something the farm has practiced in the past, is no longer needed.

The mint at Quattro Ventures is typically harvested in late July to early August. Swathed crops are chopped with forage harvesters and loaded into specialized tubs, which connect directly to steam lines at a central distillation facility at the farm where the essential oils are extracted.

Crop residues left over from the distilling process serve a very useful purpose, Ford said. They spread the “mint plugs” on the fields to increase organic matter and remediate areas that are erosion-prone.

“It is a nice soil addition, with very similar characteristics to well-composted cattle manure. And there aren’t any restrictions on what fields you can put it on because it’s clean. It has been steamed to 300 degrees, so essentially all the weed seeds are not viable.”

Weed, disease and pest management

According to Ford, weed control in mint is critical, especially after it is first planted in a production field.

She noted because mint is a broadleaf crop, there are limited options for broadleaf weed control. As a result, Ford said, “we really focus on the first couple of years trying to get weed free. Usually by the fifth year, it’s a tough time to try to control those broadleaf weeds.”

Careful herbicide selection is also essential because of rotational considerations for the following crops. “Re-cropping restrictions mean there are only certain chemicals we can apply in the first couple of years of a mint stand.”

As far as disease threats go, powdery mildew is an important one to watch for in mint because it is a heavy canopy crop. Powdery mildew is a fungal infection that can cause mint leaves to wilt and fall off.

“It is imperative to maintain those leaves, because the leaves are where the oil is. You don’t want them on the ground,” Ford said, adding early fungicide applications are used as a preventative measure at Quattro Ventures to help protect against powdery mildew.

Ford noted verticillium wilt is also on the farm’s radar since it has been a problem for mint producers elsewhere, particularly in areas when mint has been cultivated for much longer than it has in southeastern Alberta.

“We have been lucky not to see it here. That’s something you have to really watch out for, because there’s nothing to be done about verticillium wilt once it shows up.”

According to Ford, disease control efforts are hampered due to very few products with minor use registration being available for a specialty crop such as mint. It’s a big reason Quattro Ventures always ensures it is sourcing disease-free mint stock.

Ford said while mint is generally resistant to major insect pressure, spider mites can emerge during hot, dry spells. They can harm mint plants by sucking the oil out of the leaves.

However, spider mites usually only appear near the field edges, Ford noted, adding the bugs avoid moisture so they can be effectively controlled with irrigation.

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The announcement comes amid rising global feed grain prices and tightening supplies, and as more companies work toward reducing the carbon footprint of their operations. Insects are seen as a sustainable alternative to fishmeal and other high-protein feeds.

The plant will produce 60,000 tonnes of animal feed protein annually from Hermetia illucens, a highly nutritional type of fly, along with 20,000 tonnes of oils for poultry and swine rations and 400,000 tonnes of fertilizer, the companies said in a release.

According to InnovaFeed, the insect is already endemic in Europe and is not considered to be a pathogenic or invasive species.

Construction of the facility at Decatur, about 230 km southwest of Chicago, is slated to begin next year, pending permits and approvals.

The facility will be built adjacent to ADM’s massive corn processing complex and will use corn byproducts as feed for the insects, as well as waste heat and steam from the corn processing plant. The collaborative scheme will emit 80 per cent less carbon dioxide than a stand-alone facility, the companies said.

“ADM Decatur’s corn-based co-products will be recycled locally to feed insects through infrastructure connected to the site. This production model will also allow InnovaFeed to use 27 MW of residual energy recovered from the ADM process, energy that was not previously recovered,” InnovaFeed said in a statement.

InnovaFeed also on Thursday launched an insect protein production site in Nesle, northern France, currently the world’s largest with a capacity of 15,000 tonnes of insect protein. It will ultimately feed the equivalent of 400,000 tonnes of fish, poultry and pigs.

The companies did not disclose how much they would invest in the Decatur project.

— Reporting for Reuters by Karl Plume in Chicago and Sybille de La Hamaide in Paris; includes files from Glacier FarmMedia Network staff.

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It’s their Delo SD SAE 15W-30. This oil complies with the newest API CJ-4 classification standards, but it’s also backward compatible with the previous service categories required by older engines.

“This product is designed for what we term as severe duty applications,” Hazen says. “What those are by our definition are stop-and-go operations, frequent start up and shut down of the engine, and frequent engine cycling to adjust to varying loads.”

With so much emphasis lately on reducing fuel consumption, many truck fleet operators are instructing their drivers to reduce idle times by shutting diesel engines off as frequently as possible. While there are cost savings to be had with that practice in both on- and off-road applications, it can be hard on engine oil, degrading it prematurely.

“There is a potential down side,” Hazen cautions. “Because those types of operations can increase the temperature of the oil. And by increasing the temperature of the oil, you could accelerate such things as oxidation. Oxidation is a breakdown of the oil, and it can result in deposits and other things that can impact component life. This (15W-30) product is specifically designed for those severe duty applications. It will resist oxidation better than other oils on the market.”

• Read more: Is synthetic engine oil worth the extra cost?

Another benefit of going to a lighter weight 15W-30 instead of 15W-40 is it allows the engine to sip a little less fuel even during general operation.

“15W-40 for a long time has been the standard in both on- and off-highway type applications,” he says. “Recently in the on-highway applications, we’ve seen people moving to a 10W-30. And the reason for that is they want to reduce their fuel consumption. And a 10W-30 will give them some fuel consumption savings.”

“(With the 15W-30) we’ve realized 1.8 per cent fuel improvement, which is comparable to a 10W-30. What we say is with 15W-30 you can get comparable fuel savings as with a 10W-30, and we tested that in Class 6 trucks. That’s something for folks to consider. But the caveat I like to throw in there is fuel consumption is very much tied to the driver as well. The driver or operator has a lot of influence on fuel economy.”

Oil change intervals

According to Hazen, a 15W-40 oil would be better suited to longer oil change intervals than the lighter weight 15W-30. But, he adds, if you are actually operating machinery in conditions that meet Chevron’s severe duty definition, trying to stretch out those intervals out no matter what oil is used may be false economy.

“That (15W-40) would be my recommendation if they’re looking to extend drain intervals,” he says. “But if you can call it severe duty, I wouldn’t look to extend drain intervals.”

And, he says, owners should always consult the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations for viscosity selection and oil change intervals.

To see if your circumstances meet Chevron’s severe duty definition, you can go online to their new website, thisissevereduty.com, and take the quiz.

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“That is a very smart thing to do in a cold environment,” says Harry Hazen, North American marketing manager for Chevron. “There is definitely an improved flow with a synthetic. Synthetic oil has an inherently wider temperature range. It flows better in cold temperatures and maintains its viscosity at higher temperatures as well.”

Those improved flow characteristics offer better engine protection that can’t be matched by conventional, mineral-based oils. But it comes at a higher price. Despite that, is it the best choice for summer use, too?

It does offer some fuel economy gains all year round, and it can cope with extended oil change intervals. But in ag applications pushing oil change limits may not be advisable no matter what is in an engine crankcase.

“In an extreme cold environment synthetics make sense,” Hazen says. “And if you’re looking to do something with really extending drains pretty far out there, which I wouldn’t recommend for the ag environment, then that would be the two key advantages of a synthetic.”

“A synthetic oil is superior to a conventional oil,” he continues. “And what a farmer has to weigh is the benefits of that versus the costs. A synthetic will generally cost three or four times more than a premium (conventional) product. And premium products are really very good.”

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A good pre-winter checkup will help prevent downtime regardless of whether it is a piece of equipment or truck that you use every day to provide feed for your cattle or don’t use again until next year to farm and harvest.

• Power washing. When preparing motorized equipment and trucks for winter, begin by cleaning old oil and debris from the motor with a steam cleaner, power washer or a few cans of engine degreaser and a garden hose. Determine whether there are any system leaks.
• Change oil. It is a good idea to change the motor oil to prevent particulate sedimentation and remove moisture that has collected over the course of the summer. Over winter, the solids in motor oil fall out of suspension and collect in the bottom of the oil pan. Once on the bottom of the pan this sediment is not easily removed with subsequent oil changes, but can be dislodged under stressful operating conditions later, fouling filters and causing unnecessary wear.
• Check coolant level and concentration. Use a coolant concentration tester to make sure that your engine is protected to the coldest temperature you anticipate during the winter. A 50:50 ratio will protect your engine to -36 C, and will also raise the boiling point and protect your engine under extreme hot temperature operation.

In addition it is important to drain and replace coolant periodically. Coolant particulates will precipitate over extended periods of non-use and can occur after new coolant has been added to old coolant. And make sure to use a high-quality fleet coolant with an anti-electrolysis additive. In the case of heavy trucks, change the coolant filter.

And last, due to most tap water containing minerals, whenever possible, blend your coolant with distilled water to retard particulate formation and coolant breakdown. When you have completed this process, start the engine and allow it to come to operating temperature to properly circulate coolant through the engine.

• Check the engine fan for any wobble in the bearing. In engines where the fan is mounted off the water pump this play will indicate the onset of bearing and seal failure. Before leaving the coolant system check all the drive belts for the fan, alternator, etc. for damage and wear. This is a good time to get a jump on next season and replace these items.
• Clean or replace air filters. Over the winter, moister can collect in the solids within the air filter causing the dirt to solidify. Once the dirt has caked it is very difficult to effectively clean the air filter in the spring without damaging the filter.
• Check batteries. If the battery cells are not sealed, make sure the fluid levels are correct and refill with distilled water as needed. Remove any corrosion between the cable ends and the terminals. Use a terminal brush and a good terminal cleaner to neutralize and remove the corrosion.

If you do not have a can of terminal cleaner, you can mix a quart of warm water with a couple teaspoons of baking soda to neutralize the acid buildup on the battery and terminals. After wiping the terminals and the cable ends and allowing to dry, apply a couple coats of corrosion sealant to the terminals and cable ends. To reduce the risk of batteries going dead over winter, leave the battery cables disconnected until the first time you need the truck or equipment.

• Check air brakes. In the case of trucks and trailers with air brakes check for air leaks and fix them. Drain air storage tanks to remove any moisture. If the truck has an air dryer system, change the element to prevent problems later.
• Check hydraulics. While changing the hydraulic filters pay attention to the appearance of the fluid. If the fluid is cloudy or milky, this indicates the presence of moisture. Water in the system will dramatically shorten the life of pumps and seals, leading to costly repairs.
• A good cleaning. After servicing the engine and hydraulic system, use water or air to clean crop waste/chaff, dirt, and oil/grease from the body and frame.
• Get the grease gun. Fully grease all fittings. This will push any water or dirt out of the component and fill the void so moisture cannot enter over winter. Before moving on, be sure to check the fluid level in all gearboxes. If the fluids are low, check for leaking seals and refill to the proper levels.
• Top up fuel. In areas of high humidity it is a good idea to fill the fuel tanks to capacity to prevent excess condensation. Unless absolutely sure you won’t need to start a truck or piece of equipment with a diesel engine until the temperatures rise in the spring, treat the fuel in the tank with a good diesel fuel water dispersion additive and run the engine long enough to circulate the fuel.

One last note on the issue of condensation: if, at some point during the winter, you need to use a trailer with air brakes that has sat idle in the yard, pour a bottle of airline dryer in the air supply and service lines before you hook them to the tractor.

• Check the air pressure in the tires to make sure they are properly inflated. Periods of extended under-inflation can damage tires, and in the least, cause added labour in the spring when you find the tire flat.

Michael Thomas operates Thomas Ranch along with family near Salmon, Idaho. Contact him at: Thomasranch@centurytel.net.

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