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A Farmer’s Viewpoint Big Farmland Price Increases May be Ending by Kevin Hursh
Handling Knowing What You Want from a Grain Handling System by Angela Lovell
Grain Market Analysis Clarify Potential Hurdles During Uncertain Times by Scott Shiels
Farming Your Money Can We Control Our Fixed Costs? by Paul Kuntz
Storage Grain Handling and Storage: What to Know by Lisa Kopochinski 18 Those Wily Weeds Building a Better Weed Scientist? by Tammy Jones
Importance of Crop Hail Insurance by Lisa Kopochinski
Hursh
ASK A FARMER WHO KNOWS® How Much is Your Farm and Business Worth? by Nerissa McNaughton
KEVIN HURSH
TOM WOLF
SCOTT SHIELS
PAUL KUNTZ
TAMMY JONES
Kevin Hursh, P.Ag.
Kevin Hursh is one of the country’s leading agricultural commentators. He is an agrologist, journalist and farmer. Kevin and his wife Marlene run Hursh Consulting & Communications based in Saskatoon. They also own and operate a farm near Cabri in southwest Saskatchewan growing a wide variety of crops. Kevin writes regular columns for farm publications and can often be heard on Saskatchewan radio stations. In 2021, Kevin received a Distinguished Agrologist Award from the Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists. In 2023, he was inducted into the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame.
X: @KevinHursh1
Big Farmland Price Increases May be Ending
Prairie farmers have become accustomed to the price of land increasing each year, often quite substantially. Depending upon how the rest of 2025 unfolds, there may be a pause button on that long-standing trend.
Times have been good for most grain operations over the past couple of decades. However, if we’re brutally honest, rising land prices have contributed more to the growth of net worth than the actual farming operation. It’s like two separate enterprises – land investment and farming.
In Farm Credit Canada’s Farmland Values Report for 2024, cultivated farmland values increased an average of 7.1 per cent in Alberta, a nation-leading 13.1 per cent in Saskatchewan and 6.5 per cent in Manitoba. The year-over-year increase was substantial, but not as large as some previous years.
Digging further into the numbers reveals some regions where farmland prices did not increase or increased very little. In southern Alberta (the area below Calgary), average prices stayed the same as the previous year on cultivated dryland. There was, however, an 8.8 per cent price increase on irrigated land.
In southwestern Saskatchewan, the farmland price increase was only 4.1 per cent, far below the 11.1 to 19.9 per cent increases seen in other regions of the province.
Southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan have been hit with hot, dry summers in recent years, so it makes sense that land price increases are muted. What’s more difficult to explain is why those same regions are recording the greatest increases in the value of pastureland.
Alberta pastureland in the southern region saw a value increase of 10.6 per cent, far above the zero to 2.2 per cent recorded in other regions. Southwestern Saskatchewan pastureland increased in value by 15.9 per cent, far above the 1.8 to 5.7 per cent increase elsewhere.
As this is being written, tariffs by the U.S. and China are clouding the outlook for agriculture. While cattle prices are holding up quite well, most crop prices are soft. Canola, Canada’s most important crop, is particularly hard hit.
Perhaps with strong cattle prices, producers in those dry regions were particularly motivated to increase pastureland holdings. Perhaps some pastureland was purchased in the belief that it could be converted to grain production.
As this is being written, tariffs by the U.S. and China are clouding the outlook for agriculture. While cattle prices are holding up quite well, most crop prices are soft. Canola, Canada’s most important crop, is particularly hard hit.
There’s tremendous pent-up demand for farmland as many operations would love to expand. However, if a big drop in grain farm profitability occurs, it would be reasonable to expect land prices to stabilize and perhaps even drop in some areas.
Land always seems too expensive relative to the income it can
earn, but over the past 20-plus years all you had to do was wait a year and the price would be even higher. Those who bought the most at their earliest opportunity have seen amazing growth in their net worth.
The psychology changes once prices stabilize and potentially start to decline. Net worth drops each year and equity erodes. Lenders can get nervous.
Landlords, including investment companies, can decide it’s time to cash out and crystalize their returns. That puts more land on the market.
Not many years ago, land was relatively cheap in much of Saskatchewan. You could rent out your land and the rental payment would provide a four or five per cent annual return. Cash rents have increased, but not as quickly as land prices. Now, a two or three per cent return on the value of the land is much more common.
Some farmland owners are one or two generations removed from the farm. Sentimental value has diminished and even though land has been a great investment on paper, you can’t spend the money that’s tied up in land. This is another reason why the supply of land on the market could increase. Increasing supply could mean more downside price pressure.
Predicting the future is difficult at the best of times and these are times of rampant uncertainty. That said, it seems a reasonable bet that farmland prices aren’t going to be as buoyant this year as compared to what we’ve come to expect.
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Scott Shiels
Clarify Potential Hurdles During Uncertain Times
Scott Shiels grew up in Killarney, Man. and has been in the grain industry for 30 years. He has worked with Grain Millers Canada for 10 years and manages procurement for both conventional and organic oats for their Canadian operation.
As spring seeding descends upon us, the world we live in continues to exist in a state of uncertainty surrounding issues such as tariffs and trade agreements, both of which strongly affect grain markets and marketing strategies. Through the late winter and into the spring, producers were faced with very unstable markets due to the on-again/off-again sweeping import tariffs announced by the U.S., as well as extremely large tariffs placed on canola and peas by China. These tariffs led to extreme market volatility throughout the spring, which caused producers to question seeding intentions in an effort to mitigate the price damage caused by the tariffs.
By Angela Lovell
Scott is an elected board member for Farm and Food Care Saskatchewan and sits on several other committees on both the organic and conventional sides of the oat industry. Scott and his wife Jenn live on an acreage near Yorkton, Sask. Find out more at www. grainmillers.com.
Marketing in this kind of environment definitely has its challenges. Manoeuvring your way through contracts that may or may not have provisions for situations like import or export levies can be one of those challenges. I know that at least in the oat industry, the verbiage on contract terms and conditions varies from company to company, with some buyers having clauses that would place the liability for any tariffs on their customers. The long and short of it: make sure you clarify these potential hurdles while making your deals, and ensure the terms and conditions for the contracts you sign don’t contain any clauses to the contrary.
As it sits today, there are not a lot of crops putting black ink on the bottom line, at least not at today’s prices and with average yields. So how does one plan for the upcoming year with not a lot of crops giving optimistic outlooks?
Well, hopefully you have some of your anticipated production hedged from months ago. New crop pricing traditionally comes out in late October or early November, and this year those prices were pretty aggressive, especially the $15 canola and $5 oats. Forward pricing a percentage of your production and locking in a profitable number on that portion gives you flexibility going forward, and reduces the pressure that comes at this time of year. More often than not, unless the crop just planted is off to a bad start, the market is lower in the summer months than throughout the winter.
The other risk is even worse, and that is taking the chance there will be space and opportunities for moving your grain in the summer months. When markets are tight and prices are strong after seeding, most buyers are just pushing to get their needs met and will pull bids completely once their demand fills, leaving producers with stocks on the farm that they cannot move. In the event of a good crop coming in the field, this can leave you in a precarious position for bin space, and more importantly, possibly having to sell at the often lower summer price.
While we are all rooting for some stability in the ag marketplace, the reality is this instability may become the norm for the next while. I wish I could say that changes in the government, both on our side of the border and south, would stabilize things, but that just doesn’t seem to be the case today. Producers, and industry players alike, will need to lean on each other to forge the best path through these tougher times. Remember, we are all in this together!
Until next time…
Paul Kuntz
Paul Kuntz is the owner of Wheatland Financial. He offers financial consulting and debt broker services. Paul is also an advisor with Global Ag Risk Solutions. He can be reached through wheatlandfinancial.ca.
Can We Control Our Fixed Costs?
In the world of grain farming, we often do a gross margin analysis. In my practice, this is looking at the grain revenue less fertilizer, chemical and seed costs. This is the gross margin that has to pay all the other bills and make all the payments. This money is what you live on and also what grows your farm.
The amount of your gross margin is affected by yields, fluctuating grain prices and the cost of your inputs. For the most part, we do not have a lot of control in this area. We can improve our agronomy and our marketing skills, but a drought is a drought and cannot be changed. And a market crash is a market crash; we cannot prevent them.
Our fixed costs are where we do have control. Or do we?
My clients like to tell me, “That is the lowest my costs can be. There is nothing else I can do.” A lot of this is the perception of their situation and a desire to keep things as is.
There are areas where it is difficult to change. If you have more seeding power than you need, you may not be able to make it perfect. If your drill can seed 6,000 acres and you have 9,000 acres, you need two drills. With two drills, you can seed 12,000, but the problem is you do not have 12,000 acres, you have 9,000 acres. On paper, we can make changes to correct the payments to match the acres, but the reality is, you may not be able to do that in real life. The same goes for your sprayer and harvesting equipment.
Then you have the neighbour you rent land from. They have told you many times, “We are not selling the land; you can rent it for as long as you want.” Then they show up one winter day and announce, “We want to sell our land.” As a producer farming their land for years, you feel obligated to buy it. You tell yourself they are not making any more land. You tell yourself if you don’t buy it,
you will never get another chance to own it. You end up making a major real estate purchase you didn’t plan on.
The easiest way to correct the imbalance of money going out the door is to get the proper amount of acres. This can cause another problem with fixed costs. If all the farmers are looking to add land, rent becomes inflated. We desperately need those acres to get our cost per acre down. Land that should rent for $50/acre based on productivity ends up being rented for $100/acre because three farms want it. All of this becomes a race to the bottom.
I am seeing fixed costs for farms balloon. The reasons vary, but for the most part, it is equipment costs, land purchases and rising rental agreements. Another reason is really good crops and some great grain prices. They have made all the increased costs seem in line. The problem with that structure is great crops and high grain prices cannot be guaranteed, but the cash outflow is. Any hiccup in production or price will have negative effects.
In 2024, most of my clients on the east side of Saskatchewan suffered lower yields in canola. The other crops had strong yields but canola was down. The yields achieved by producers were not terrible; they were just off from other
With the cost of equipment and what we are willing to pay for land, we have squeezed every last penny out. Our farms now have to run on peak performance as well as peak marketing just to break even. This is not a sustainable business.
years. Producers who normally grow 45 bushels per acre only grew 36 bushels per acre. The yield of 36 bushels per acre is not a disaster, but when you build a budget around 45 bushels/acre, it can hurt. Most producers devote anywhere from 40 to 55 per cent of their total acres to canola. If you shave off 20 per cent of the yield on half your acres, there will be an impact. If you budgeted $14/bushel but the market drops to $12/bushel, you have lost another 14 per cent on the price side.
This type of event can put a farm in a negative cash position because more will go out than come in. If this happens only once every five years, you can build up working capital to absorb a cash loss. If this happens a few years in a row, you can have some permanent financial damage to the farm.
With the cost of equipment and what we are willing to pay for land, we have squeezed every last penny out. Our farms now have to run on peak performance as well as peak marketing just to break even. This is not a sustainable business.
We need to know what our cash outflow is beyond fertilizer, chemical and seed costs. We need to know the amount of our loan payments. We need to know what our bin leases cost. We need good estimates for machinery repair costs. We need to know how much it costs to run our farm, not just so we can try to plan the revenue accordingly, but also so we know when we are heading towards a wreck. In order to fix a wreck, we need to know how big it is.
There are insurances available to help shoulder the burden of these losses. AgriStability will most likely be the first to pay out as production and grain prices drop. Private insurance like GARS (which I am an advisor for) can also kick in if you have a high enough offer. Provincial crop insurances most likely will not be involved because, as you
This is an exercise that cannot be performed perfectly. We will always have inefficiencies on our farms. We do not need to strive for perfection, but we do need to challenge our thinking. We need to challenge how we have done things in the past. We need to be willing to change.
can see from the above example, the yield loss was only 20 per cent and you need a bigger drop than 20 per cent to begin collecting.
Regardless of the insurance product, there is most likely a scenario where you do not generate enough revenue to pay the bills, but you also do not trigger a claim from any available insurance.
The best mitigation strategy against this type of situation is to have lower fixed costs per acre. We need to look at the revenue our farms have generated per acre on a five- to 10-year average. If your farm has averaged $475/acre in revenue and your fertilizer, chemical and seed costs are $200, you need to make sure that your overall fixed costs are less than $275. This will insure your greatest chance at long-term success.
How you keep your fixed costs in line is up to you. There are many adjustments that can be made. The first is to take a deep dive into machinery costs. How much machinery do you have? Do you have a spare 4WD tractor? Is that necessary? Are you running an auger with a $300,000 Quadtrac tractor? Is that necessary? Do you need to replace machinery as often as you have been? Do you have to replace with new or can it be used? Can you focus more on repairs than replacing?
When it comes to land rent, can you negotiate a variable amount? When you do better as the tenant, you will pay more to the landlord. Conversely, though, if the revenue goes down, so does the rent. Perhaps we need to have a reasonable limit to pay. Once the landlord wants more than that, we walk away.
If we focus on the neighbour down the road, or the farm we follow on social media, we can be led down a path of misinformation. I am often asked, “How can ABC Farms Ltd. buy that new equipment? How can ABC Farms pay so much for land?” The answer is I do not know. I do not know their financial situation and how similar or different it is from your farm. What I do know is that if you want your farm to succeed, you need to focus on your farm. We do not need to be concerned about the next guy’s farm.
This is an exercise that cannot be performed perfectly. We will always have inefficiencies on our farms. We do not need to strive for perfection, but we do need to challenge our thinking. We need to challenge how we have done things in the past. We need to be willing to change.
I will make a prediction that I guarantee will come true: in the future, our farms will have some good times and we will have some bad times. That we know for sure. We need to celebrate the good times and be prepared for the rough patches. Having lower fixed costs helps us get through the tough times.
Jugs, drums & totes need to be rinsed ; bags* need to be empty . Please prepare them properly so they can be accepted. Keep
it up! You are making a difference.
Year a er year, Canadian farmers are keeping more ag plastics out of landfills.
Bring your empty and rinsed pesticide and fertilizer jugs, drums and totes for recycling; as well as seed, pesticide and inoculant bags for responsible disposal*.
*Bag collection program currently available in AB, SK, MB.
Most Alberta & Manitoba jug collections are now at retail; please use QR code to find out where.
2025 COLLECTION SITES OPEN APRIL 1
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Tammy Jones B.Sc., P.Ag
Tammy Jones completed her B.Sc. in crop protection at the University of Manitoba. She has more than 15 years of experience in the crops industry in Manitoba and Alberta, with a focus on agronomy. Tammy lives near Carman, Man., and spends her time scouting for weeds and working with cattle at the family farm in Napinka.
Building a Better Weed Scientist?
Integrated weed management (IWM) has long been recommended as the sustainable solution for effectively controlling weeds. Even before herbicide resistance was widespread, the recommendation was to utilize cultural, mechanical and biological strategies to enhance the impact of herbicides. How many times can it be said that crop rotation, varying seeding dates, optimizing seeding rates and row spacing, and utilizing tillage are important to a sustainable production system? Unfortunately, the weed scientists making these types of recommendations have rarely moved the needle without substantiated proof.
The limitations to providing proof have been considerable. Complex recommendations require complex investigations across many environments and involve more time, land and capital resources than most weed science research programs can afford. The base model of IWM recommendations focused on a single weed species’ biology, the impact of tillage systems or the long-term impact of crop rotation. For instance, the impact of weed density on yield has been observed for many important weeds, including wild oat, green foxtail and kochia. A summary of numerous kochia studies (as described by Friesen et al. in The Biology of Canadian Weeds) showed a range from 10 to 73 per cent yield loss of spring wheat depending on weed density, competitive ability of the population and other factors that were not quantified in the research. This demonstrated the need to control kochia, but didn’t account for other weeds in the field or how to enhance the competitiveness of the crop to minimize the weed’s impact.
A poster about a long-term crop rotation study at Lethbridge recently showed how weed and cropping system studies have gained a few bells and whistles. The poster, presented at the Canadian Weed Science Society meeting in Vancouver in February 2025, provided the conclusion that a complex crop rotation, involving both annual and perennial crops and using cattle manure to supply phosphorous, could ensure that none of the four weed species became prevalent.
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Which begs the question, is “cropping systems” research the best path forward for assessing the sustainability of an integrated weed management plan? And how can a weed scientist develop a robust set of experiments to measure the variables within a field and extrapolate to a whole farm or even a growing region?
Unpacking that, the non-replicated century-long study was modified in 1989 and divided into three replicates for better ability to determine treatment effects, allowing the authors to look at cropping systems that involved annual, perennial or a crop rotation including both life cycles along with a comparison of different phosphorus fertilizer sources. The poster focused on four weeds which were impacted by the cultural management interactions of crop rotation and fertilizer source: lamb’s-quarter, kochia, stinkweed (winter annual) and green foxtail. While lamb’s-quarter was favoured by annual crops and manure applications, kochia was surprisingly adapted to perennial rotations and green foxtail preferred to grow when there was no phosphorus fertilizer applied. The study demonstrated that farmers can impact a weed population by altering their fertility choices in a cropping system to favour the crop.
But was this integrated enough? The study does not account for every variable within a field to manage all weeds, and reducing phosphorus to manage green foxtail may not be sustainable. Which begs the question, is “cropping systems” research the best path forward for assessing the sustainability of an integrated weed management plan? And how can a weed scientist develop a robust set of experiments to measure the variables within a field and extrapolate to a whole farm or even a growing region?
With that in mind, weed scientists at the University of Manitoba and the University of Saskatchewan have collaborated to develop a framework to improve long-term weed management recommendations by bringing together four pillars of research. The framework, as outlined by
Finally, the framework suggests that future weed scientists will also need to understand the impact of time on weed populations. To say that this gets complicated would be a gargantuan understatement.
Benaragama et al. in the journal of Agricultural Systems (2024), strives to allow for cropping systems comparisons, while adding in the ability to generalize across different growing regions and predict future weed dynamics.
The first pillar proposed refers to cropping system functionality. This research includes everything previously studied in cropping systems: the impact of tillage, herbicides, crop sequences, various cultural practices and soil fertility, but adds in the concept of a “competition gradient” for resources like light, water or fertility; a ranking system for the importance of various components of the cropping system; and changes the focus of the statistical analysis to identify real differences.
The second pillar focuses on the weed traits as impacted by the
cropping system, using similar measures as would be used in crop phenotyping and acknowledging that current management plans do not anticipate the evolutionary processes that lead to weeds being able to survive the management strategy.
Weed persistence is the third focus of the framework, with a nod to the weed seedbank as an indicator, but also studying the impact of environment and weed management systems for short-term effects to the mother plant and the longterm evolution of the plant to survive and produce seeds that also survive.
Finally, the framework suggests that future weed scientists will also need to understand the impact of time on weed populations. To say that this gets complicated would be a gargantuan understatement.
What seems interesting and possibly deflating about this futuristic model of weed science is that the contemporary, influential weed scientists who developed the framework encouraged more research, more long-term studies and the incorporation of evolutionary biology, remote sensing and improved statistical knowledge into weed science curriculums to “produce better weed scientists for the future.” This desire to build a better weed scientist is commendable for the farmer of the future, but if we exhaust the tools available today waiting for the solutions, there will be no need to build a better weed scientist because we might have already built the better weed, which makes producing crops impossible. Imperfect recommendations and possible solutions seem much more desirable than perfect and impossible.
ALWAYS IN CONTROL
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To learn more about how Ace PWM pumps can keep you in control, visit www.acepumps.com or call 800-843-2293.
LUBRICATION FOR THE NATION - BY NOT MAINTAINING THE BOUNDARY CONDITION
By “Farm Boy” Warren Coates
This isn’t a political column, but it got your attention to discuss lubrication. The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE), which I greatly admire, emphasizes that modern mechanical design has significantly improved efficiency, making even minor wear a critical concern. Lubrication remains one of the few areas where improvements can yield significant cost savings. The STLE will talk about the boundary condition, which is metal-to-metal contact in the presence of a lubricant. Can we still improve oil’s ability to work in the boundary condition? ABSOLUTELY.
What’s in a Name?
High-performance oil and fuel additives reduce friction with extreme-pressure ingredients while stabilizing oil, preventing rust & corrosion, and keeping the system clean. Alberta-based PowerSUM tips its cowboy hat to the STLE by naming its leading oil additive HDL90, which stands for Hydro-Dynamic Lubrication 90, representing the transition point on a graph where boundary lubrication shifts to hydrodynamic lubrication, the ideal state with minimal friction. HDL90 was developed to reduce this wear by forming a sacrificial protective film.
For PWR4 Diesel AG...the PWR speaks to the CETANE improvement. CETANE is a measure of diesel ignition quality, and the rating is like octane ratings in gasoline - the higher the cetane number, the faster ignition is for easier cold starts, reduced engine vibrations, and improved fuel consumption. The AG is an anti-gellant designed to ensure optimal fuel flow in cold weather, built for Canada’s toughest conditions.
Why HDL90 & PWR4 Diesel AG?
HDL90 is designed for diesel (low ash) & gas engines and gearboxes. It simplifies farm operations by eliminating the need for multiple additives. Complementing it, PWR4 Diesel AG is an all-season diesel additive that enhances fuel efficiency. The universal nature of both products saves farmers money, time, and confusion, especially during peak farming seasons.
PowerSUM’s website contains performance specifications backing the technology, but to illustrate, consider the example of a John Deere S680 combine, which runs on a PowerTech PSS 13.5L diesel engine using about 80 litres of diesel per hour and assumes 400 hours of work in a harvest. Using HDL90 and PWR4 Diesel AG can reduce fuel usage by over 10-15% based on testimonials and case studies— we will assume only 6% as a conservative estimate.
Farm
Beyond fuel savings, these additives lower maintenance costs by reducing wear and tear, extending the lifespan of components like injector heads and rotor bearings, and preventing costly downtime during seeding or harvest. Who wouldn’t want to save three thousand canuck- bucks on fuel? And for fun imagine that nearly 2,000 litres diesel can take you and yours well beyond another BOUNDARY, protecting you from winter, in style with the money saved?
STLE engineers inspire innovation, but an old-timer’s wisdom remains: preventative maintenance is key. Not all additives are equal, and the numbers speak for themselves. Try HDL90 and PWR4 Diesel AG by Alberta’s PowerSUM- in times of uncertainty, they are proudly Western Canadian working hard just like you.
Always confirm that the additives you use meet your manufacturer’s specifications; pay close attention to the language, as regulations cannot unfairly discourage products that extend the life of your equipment.
Boy Math – Fuel Usage & Savings Summary - By Warren Coates, CA, CPA
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For hydraulic systems and automatic transmissions with appropriate ISO viscosity specified by the OEM; Synthetic or conventional. added with each oil change / fill for full benefits.
Pour les systèmes hydrauliques et les transmissions automatiques avec ISO appropriée spécifiée par l'OEM ; Synthétique ou conventionnel. ajouté avec chaque vidange/changement d'huile pour bénéficier avantages.
Shane Strydhorst on his 1,500-acre, third-generation grain farm in Neerlandia, Alberta.
ALBERTA FARM REAPS THE MANY BENEFITS OF PULSES
BY ANGELA LOVELL
Nobody has to sell Shane and Sheri Strydhorst on the value of pulses to their farm. They have been growing the edible seeds as part of their rotation for more than 15 years, and in two of the last six years, faba beans have been their most profitable crop, even outshining canola.
But there are many other benefits that pulses provide to this 1,500-acre, third-generation grain farm in Neerlandia, Alberta (an hour-and-a-half northwest of Edmonton), such as helping to manage risk, lower input costs and reduce the carbon footprint.
The Styrdhorsts have always had a huge interest in crop science and research. Sheri, who studied pulses for her PhD program, has extensive experience with small plot research in pulses and cereals and was executive director of the Alberta Pulse Growers for three years. Combined with Shane’s chemistry and agricultural science degrees, their backgrounds provided the impetus to start growing pulses on the farm around the same time they decided to get out of beef production. Their goal: to expand and diversify their grain crop rotation, and improve the efficiency and productivity of the farm.
“We focus on getting the big things right on the farm, like using the newer varieties of seed, soil testing, rotating crop chemistries to reduce resistance issues, and never using
unproven products,” Shane Strydhorst says. “We do some variable rate fertilization on some variable fields that go from sandy soils to peat soils. We direct seed all our crops and apply all of our fertilizer at seeding with the drill. We are not doing any anhydrous applications.”
Four-year rotation spreads out weather risk
A typical four-year crop rotation for the farm is now faba beans, spring wheat, canola and barley.
“Having a diversity of crops helps us spread out our weather risk, and in a wet year, faba beans are a pulse crop of choice; they work extremely well under wetter conditions,”
Strydhorst says. “For marketing, barley or wheat might be undervalued one year but canola or faba beans might be a relatively higher price because they are influenced by different markets.”
Canada exports faba beans mainly to countries in the Mediterranean and Middle East including Egypt, United
Arab Emirates and Turkey. Canadian farmers grow both tannin and low tannin varieties that are in demand in worldwide food markets. Canning, sauces and falafel are common uses for both types of faba bean for human consumption, and low-tannin varieties are used in animal feed for a variety of livestock including hogs, beef and dairy cattle, lamb and poultry. Faba bean fractions are also being explored as niche markets continue to grow for nongenetically modified, high-protein and gluten-free foods rich in micronutrients.
Faba beans are a prolific fixer of nitrogen, which makes them a great fit in the rotation.
“About 20 to 25 per cent of our rotation every year is faba bean, which means 20 to 25 per cent of the farm doesn’t need any nitrogen fertilizer, so it reduces our fertilizer costs across the farm, and also the carbon footprint associated with the fertilizer,” Strydhorst says.
Plus, the nitrogen that pulses fix is available for the following year’s crop. “We grow a wheat crop the year after a faba bean crop, and use less nitrogen fertilizer than we normally would without any yield penalty,” Strydhorst says. “I am also getting higher protein than a wheat crop that followed a canola crop the year before. Plus, we farm in an area where clubroot is a significant risk in canola, so faba bean helps stretch our rotation to reduce disease pressure in the canola crops.”
Strydhorst says the biggest challenge with growing faba beans occurs at seeding time. “Faba beans are quite large, so you need to be patient and travel slowly with the seed drill to do a good job and to avoid plugging,” he says. “Faba beans need to be planted early because they are a long season crop, but that can be a benefit at harvest most years, since it helps to spread out the workload. Barley is harvested first, and faba beans are usually harvested last.”
While faba beans work well for his farm because he generally tends to get adequate moisture – at least 10 to 15 inches over the growing season – Strydhorst acknowledges they wouldn’t be a good fit for drier areas. But the good news about pulse crops is there is always one type or another that suit any growing area.
“In drier areas, there is a good opportunity to grow peas, lentils and dry beans,” he says. “And in areas where there are higher heat units, soybean is an option too.”
Getting involved in the industry
Alberta grows just under two million acres of pulses (and soybean) each year, compared to Saskatchewan’s 7.5 million acres of pulses in 2024 (mainly lentils and field peas), and Manitoba’s 1.3 acres (mostly soybean). But when it comes to faba beans, Alberta farmers seed more than half of the 95,000 acres grown in Canada annually, and the future for
Shane and Sheri Strydhorst with their daughter, Sarina.
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“About 20 to 25 per cent of our rotation every year is faba bean, which means 20 to 25 per cent of the farm doesn’t need any nitrogen fertilizer, so it reduces our fertilizer costs across the farm, and also the carbon footprint associated with the fertilizer.”
- Shane Strydhorst
the crop is promising as the development of new varieties suitable for both human consumption and animal feed open up expanded market opportunities.
Strydhorst would like to see more farmers reap the benefits of adding pulses to their rotation, and it’s one of the reasons he has become involved in the pulse industry at a higher level, as chair of Alberta Pulse Growers and vice chair of Pulse Canada.
“Involvement with the commissions is a great opportunity,” he says. “I have learned a lot [and] met a lot of great people. It gives a peek behind the curtains to know more about what’s going on and helps you to tie everything together in terms of how it affects things at the farm level.”
He believes it’s important for farmers to get involved at an industry level because it not only provides insight into some complex issues that affect farms but also helps direct research funding to where it will have the most benefit.
“I wouldn’t have known how intricate some issues are in terms of things like trade, market diversity and transportation,” Strydhorst says. “And it’s important to help direct research money to where it makes sense for growers, because if somebody else is making those decisions on our behalf, it might not be applicable to the farm.”
Mentoring local farmers
Strydhorst also acts as an informal mentor for a couple of local, young farmers who help him out during the busy seasons on his farm and are now just beginning to get into crop farming for themselves.
“They look to me for advice on things like crop varieties, crop rotation or spraying,” he says. “Then there are other farmers who are curious about some of the things we are doing on our farm. They will come over, call or text with questions because they know that when we are doing something it’s based on research and knowledge. If other farmers in the community can benefit from our work and knowledge, and enjoy success, it helps the whole farming community.”
Strydhorst also participates in more formal farmer panels and research plot tours organized by the Alberta Pulse Growers to help get information out to farmers.
“I am always curious myself. One of the other things that got me involved in pulse production in the first place was seeing small plots and wanting to try some of the things they were doing on my farm,” he says. “Our goal is always to increase efficiency and productivity and try to get more food off the same piece of land using fewer inputs.”
Diversity may help weather geopolitical storms
The impact of the current complex and uncertain tariff situation with the United States and China is hard to predict, but Strydhorst has heard some farmers are switching up their crop plans to try to mitigate the potential impact.
“I’ve heard some people are switching pea acres to cereals or lentils,” he says. “Others are switching some canola acres to peas or faba beans, because of how the tariffs are impacting canola markets. We are not changing our cropping plans for this year, partly because of the benefits that pulses provide to our crop rotation [and] partly because other crops [canola in particular] are similarly impacted by the tariffs.”
As farmers start the growing season in the midst of great uncertainty, exploring new and different crops such as pulses may offer a little insulation against the winds of market instability.
“I think that especially today, and going forward, it is going to be even more important for farmers to think about diversifying crops into things that have other markets,” Strydhorst concludes. “There is a lot of excitement with plant-based foods and it’s a steadily growing sector. Pulses have a great story when you consider their low carbon footprint because of their nitrogen fixation, and the health benefits of being a high-fibre, high-protein crop. We are focusing on getting this story out to consumers and policymakers so farmers can take full advantage of the opportunities that pulses provide.”
Shane Strydhorst, who also serves as chair of Alberta Pulse Growers and vice chair of Pulse Canada, is always willing to share his knowledge with others.
Grain Handling and Storage: What to Know
Building a system that accommodates both present and potential needs is crucial
By Lisa Kopochinski
The importance of grain quality and the impact it has on a grower’s profit cannot be understated. Investing in highquality grain storage and handling infrastructure is a must.
CORR Grain Systems – located less than 20 kilometres northwest of Regina – offers high-quality grain storage, handling systems and technology to a diverse clientele across Western Canada. The company provides services for small family operations, large producers, pulse and seed plants, and major companies in the export industry.
“The past year has been quite strong for our company,” says Brett Schmidt, president and CEO of CORR Grain Systems Inc. “We have seen another year of significant growth in our grain storage and handling business. Going into the 2025 season, our focus has been on maximizing our customer experience and ensuring that our product and construction services are ready for the upcoming build year.”
Over the past year, he notes the company has not seen many big changes. “We are closely monitoring the tariff conversation south of the border and we continue to enhance our product offerings and services as Canadian farm demands evolve.”
CORR Grain’s regional sales managers assist customers in determining their grain storage and handling needs by providing product information and tailored ideas. This assistance can be dispensed over the phone or through on-site farm visits, particularly for larger and more complex projects to help lay out comprehensive handling and dryer systems.
“Our focus is on understanding our customers’ needs and ensuring product and construction services are ready for the upcoming season,” explains Schmidt. “This process is managed from our central ordering and distribution centre near Regina. Our selling season begins towards the end of harvest and continues throughout the winter. Construction typically begins in early April and slows down during winter months. We offer a range of products, from 10,000-bushel hopper bins and dryers to large flats with terminal-type handling and dryer systems. Orders for larger and more complex systems need to be placed earlier to ensure timely delivery.”
As for the most popular storage and handling options for farmers, Schmidt says the company’s bestselling product is its flat bottom bins ranging from 30,000 to 45,000 bushels.
“We offer a product mix and construction services
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Science-Based Standards of Quality
The Canadian Grain Commission regulates grain handling in Canada and establishes and maintains science-based standards of quality.
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The commission works to deliver grain quality and quantity assurance programs for exports of Canadian grain; carries out scientific research to understand all aspects of grain quality and grain safety; establishes and maintains Canada’s sciencebased grain grading system; and ensures farmers receive fair compensation for their grain.
The Official Grain Grading Guide is a complete reference on the grading of grains, oilseeds and pulses. For more information about the guide, contact the Canadian Grain Commission at (800) 853-6705 or by email contact@grainscanada.gc.ca.
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“Customers need to consider their current and future requirements when planning grain handling systems. Building a system that accommodates both present and potential future needs is crucial.”
- Brett Schmidt
perfectly suited to meet the needs of western Canadian producers. In terms of handling, the most common system we see involves hopper bin wet storage in front of a dryer, followed by delivery from the dryer to large flats using a pneumatic system.”
The company has also installed farm systems that rival the size and complexity of grain handling terminals. Some of these farms handle significantly more grain than the old wooden elevators that once dotted the Prairies.
Schmidt notes it can be challenging for farmers to decide what grain storage and handling options to choose since this can vary greatly depending on the size of the farm.
“Customers need to consider their current and future requirements when planning grain handling systems. Building a system that accommodates both present and potential future needs is crucial. Providing ample space for expansion is advisable, as farm sizes and equipment continue to grow. Most farms prioritize systems that minimize stress and manpower, while balancing costs. This consideration initiates the planning process for grain management solutions.”
Considerations for Various Farm Sizes
As one of the largest independent grain bin and grain dryer dealers in Western Canada, Wall Grain brings new and innovative ideas to grain management. Located in all three Prairie provinces – with the head office in Winnipeg – the company is celebrating 41 years in business this year.
“We design grain bins and grain dryers, putting packages together for better return on the dollar,” explains owner Dave Wall. “We strive to make grain management less labourintensive with grain monitoring systems and efficient grain drying techniques.”
He says there are different considerations for farms of varying sizes, and implementing three or four different ways to dry grain is a better way to get returns on investments.
“Things will definitely be different on a 25,000-acre farm versus a 5,000-acre farm. The first thing you do on a larger farm is refine a proper drying site. It needs to be set up with three-phase power. If the site does not already have threephase power, then it can be set up with a genset.”
One of the company’s most popular options, the GrainX Command Automated AI, can cut power usage by more than 50 per cent and reduces shrink by at least one per cent by incorporating fan automation with grain management services.
“In terms of handling, the most common system we see involves hopper bin wet storage in front of a dryer, followed by delivery from the dryer to large flats using a pneumatic system,” says Wall. “We are seeing trends toward full grain handling sites which we can design to be built out gradually or all at once. A well-designed grain handling system with a grain dryer can reduce the need for extra combining and manpower.”
“Things will definitely be different on a 25,000-acre farm versus a 5,000-acre farm. The first thing you do on a larger farm is refine a proper drying site. It needs to be set up with three-phase power. If the site does not already have three-phase power, then it can be set up with a genset.”
- Dave Wall
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Knowing What You Want from a Grain Handling System
By Angela Lovell
Harvest time in northern Alberta’s Athabasca County can be challenging, especially in the area near the village of Boyle, where third-generation farmer Joe Rosich tends to approximately 3,000 acres of grains and oilseeds. While most Prairie farmers have been worrying about a lack of moisture over the past few years, Rosich has had the opposite problem.
“In four out of the last 10 years, we have had extreme amounts of rainfall that really impacted the crops, and in many of the other years, we have had wet falls with challenging conditions,” Rosich says.
But it was after a particularly gruelling harvest in 2016 –when he had to fight to get his crops off, then struggled to push the grain through a rickety old dryer, and augered each batch up to seven times in and out of the wet and dry bins and back into storage – that he made up his mind. He needed an upgrade to his grain handling system to be more efficient and make harvest less stressful.
Knowing what he wanted
Factoring in that decision was the farm’s expansion. It had doubled in size, and Rosich knew what he needed – a drying and handling system that could keep up with the increased production coming off the combine, similar to something he had seen at a neighbour’s yard a few years earlier.
“His system was set up with an auger on a swivel so it could reach a number of bins and he told me that he could pretty much finish drying about the same day he finished
combining,” Rosich says. “It was completely different to how we were set up at the time. We would combine a whole bunch of grain, and then once we were done, we started drying and would end up with grain heating in the bins, and by then it was November and cold, and it got hard to dry. Having a system that would efficiently keep up with combines sounded like a dream, and from that point, meeting that goal of being able to shut down the dryer about the same time we shut down the combines was the inspiration for this whole system.”
Deciding on a pneumatic conveying system
After comparing different systems, including expensive overhead leg conveyors, Rosich toured a few farms that had installed pneumatic conveying systems, and he finally decided on one manufactured by Walinga called the UltraVeyor with Smart-Flo.
“We chose the Walinga system because I was impressed with the type of control they have that adjusts the speed of the system up or down based on the volume of grains,” Rosich says. “It’s a relatively cost-effective system that has gone a long way to solving some of the problems we have on the farm with tough grain. It’s not a big, elaborate system, but it still does the things that we want it to do for us on our farm and it’s easy to service.”
The system that connects to the grain dryer has three major components. First, a blower that compresses the air and forces it through the line at a certain rate of cubic feet per metre (CFM), depending on the size of the line, the distance
it is moving and the type of grain. Second, an air lock meters the grain into the line at controlled speeds. Third, the Smart-Flo controller (the brain of the system) uses sensor technology to measure how much grain is going in and automatically varies the speed of the air flow to cause the least damage to the grain while using the least amount of energy. All the bins in the yard are connected by piping to the dryer and managed by the Ultra-Veyor Smart-Flo system.
The system can be configured in two ways, says Walinga representative Aren Vreugdenhil. It can either take the grain straight off the dryer (like Rosich’s system) or it can direct the grain into a surge bin, then blow it to wherever the farmer wants it to end up. It can be designed to work with any type or size of dryer.
“A farmer can start anywhere, but if they start with which dryer they want to buy, we can match our air system to it,” says Vreugdenhil. “It’s always easier to plan like that but we often get yards where they already have a dryer and we can work with whatever the farmer has.”
Designed to meet the needs of the farm
As each system can be customized to the needs of the farm, it can be reconfigured to fit any farmyard and can be added to over time to accommodate expansion. Rosich installed the system in 2019 on three bins, adding another couple in 2021 and two more last fall, so that he now has around 100,000 bushels of dry bin space connected to the dryer.
Rosich easily installed the Walinga system himself, but if he has one piece of advice for anyone considering a similar system, it’s to budget a portable telescopic boom lift into the overall cost.
“A farmer with a boom can basically install the system themselves and most importantly service it as well, and in a
cost-effective manner, for pennies on the dollar compared to a big leg conveyor system,” Rosich says. “It would be hard to install the system on a bigger bin without something like that, and it’s handy to have it around the farm. It’s been a good addition and is useful for so many jobs.”
According to Rosich, it’s been a good investment overall. “Having the whole system – the dryer and the handling system – and using it aggressively as we have, has made the difference between being able to sleep at night during harvest,” he says. “It is the difference between having a plan and an effective way of getting the job done as opposed to hoping you just get dry weather, and if you don’t you are hooped. We have expanded significantly over the last few years, and to make the payments we need to be able to get that crop off. It has allowed us to stabilize and dramatically improve the chances of getting through harvest without too much drama.”
Although Rosich hasn’t worked out the return on investment of the system, he knows it has paid for itself in many ways.
“In my area, where we have a lot of moisture, the peace of mind it gives is priceless,” he says. “It has probably paid for itself several times over in terms of crop that we could get off. I have no problem justifying the investment. The cost of the components are not that expensive compared to a lot of other things we do on the farm and it just increases the capacity of everything else so much. Without the handling system, it would take almost one more full-time employee at harvest just trucking and managing that grain back and forth so we can look at it that way, too.”
Vreugdenhil says farmers tell him that they like the system because it’s user friendly and easy to maintain, and they don’t have to worry about physically moving grain anymore because the system does it all for them.
The Importance of Crop Hail Insurance
Having insurance to offset potential losses can provide financial peace of mind moving into the growing season
By Lisa Kopochinski
Ask any farmer in the three Prairie provinces about crop hail insurance and many will tell you it’s very important to provide protection for crops. Farming For Tomorrow recently sat down with experts from three insurance firms to get their take on what can be expected for 2025.
“Crop hail claims and losses across the Prairies in recent years have aligned with long-term expectations,” says Bruce Lowe, executive vice president of AG Direct Hail Insurance Ltd. in Leduc, Alberta. “While certain regions experienced severe hail events with significant losses, it is anticipated that some townships may experience upward pressure on hail insurance costs. However, overall, the cost of hail insurance coverage is expected to remain relatively stable year over year.”
Jesse Cole, manager, insurance products and product innovation for Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) in Lacombe, Alberta, says he’s happy to report there have been no changes to the company’s hail insurance program for the 2025 growing year. “Fewer claims than the long-term average mean that premiums will tend to remain the same or decrease on average across the province.”
Greg Barrows, president of Cameron Agencies & C.A. Shaw
Insurance Brokers – with offices in Melita and Pierson, Manitoba and Gainsborough and Carnduff, Saskatchewan –says most commodities saw volatility during the year but closed off year over year (January to January) with May being the slightly highest in 2024. “Recently, there has been significant volatility and downward pressure with the tariff situation. Significant political instability is adding to economic uncertainty and pressuring commodity pricing for Canadian producers.”
The importance of hail insurance cannot be overstated in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Hail is common, with the highest incidence occurring in Alberta.
“Depending on where a producer lives and what types of crops they are growing, a hailstorm can be devastating,” says Cole. “Having insurance to offset the losses provides financial peace of mind moving into the growing season.”
Lowe agrees and says for the vast majority of Prairie farmers, crop hail insurance is crucial to safeguarding the long-term viability of their operations. “For example, consider a scenario where a farmer invests $200 to $300 per acre in seeding costs, with the expectation of a return at harvest, only to have hail devastate their crop.”
Lowe has had many late-night telephone conversations with farmers who – after a catastrophic hailstorm – reached out to his company’s toll-free number seeking calm and reassurance. “In these moments, I have been able to provide them with the assurance that we will promptly assess the loss and work to get a payment into their hands as quickly as possible.”
2024 Hail Season
When asked to describe 2024 from an overall hail perspective, Barrows says it was a fairly odd year with storms earlier than normal. “The traditional storm season in July didn’t happen in many areas. However, there were much later storms than usual into late August that caused significant damage in many areas. Depending on where a producer lives and what types of crops they are growing, a hailstorm can be devastating.”
Cole notes AFSC actually received the lowest number of hail claims since 2003. “Hail activity and moisture are typically related and 2024 was drier than normal in a lot of areas. Cool conditions in May and June were also not conducive to hail formation. July was hot but dry. Overall, we had a great year in regard to hail damage, but as we’ve come to expect in Alberta, it’s always hailing somewhere.”
Lowe says the 2024 hail season followed a typical pattern, acknowledging the inherent unpredictability of hail events. The number of claims and associated losses across the Prairie provinces were in line with long-term expectations, as informed by decades of data.
“However, the location and severity of individual hail events will always remain uncertain. The positive news for Prairie farmers is that crop hail insurance is available with coverage options that can be tailored to meet their specific risk tolerance.”
He says, in general, commodity prices have remained relatively stable year over year. However, the geopolitical landscape has introduced significant uncertainty for Canadian farmers. In March, the fluctuating threat of tariffs created volatility in commodity prices.
“Additionally, farmers continue to navigate a range of challenges, including variable moisture levels, rising input costs, inflation, increased borrowing costs and labour shortages. These ongoing pressures underscore the difficulties faced by hard-working Prairie farmers. Fortunately, securing the right crop hail insurance coverage can help alleviate one major concern, providing them with greater peace of mind.”
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One Prairie Crop Hail Insurer Clearly Stands Above The Rest
AG Direct Hail consistently delivers on rates, customer service and claims handling
Going into its 12th season, AG Direct Hail Insurance has distinguished itself as a top crop hail insurance provider and one that is committed to being everything to everyone. Their relentless focus on providing hard-working Prairie farm families with exceptional rates, superior customer service and professional claims handling has made AG Direct one of the largest and fastest growing hail insurance companies. We caught up with Executive Vice-President Bruce Lowe to discover what makes AG Direct Hail Insurance such a trusted partner for farmers.
FFT: Bruce, AG Direct was launched in 2014 with the goal of being the best crop hail insurance provider on the Prairies. That was quite ambitious.
Bruce: I guess on the surface, it would appear that way. In our opinion, the crop hail industry was lacking innovation and had become complacent. We felt bullish that if we could start with an easy, online application process designed to save farmers money on their premiums and exceed their expectations on all other equally important facets of their experience with AG Direct - then farmers would support us.
FFT: And are farmers trusting their crop hail coverage to AG Direct?
Bruce: Yes, we are one of the largest insurers on the Prairies with double digit growth again last year. I am certainly proud of how far we have come. It’s important to realize that aggressive rates might get business for one year, but you must back that up with an unmatched level of customer service and in the event of hail, having the claim attended by a professional adjuster. I also have to mention our loyalty discount of up to 5% and our liability guarantee for returning customers… innovations that set us apart from our competition.
We often tell our customers that we must earn their business year after year. That’s our mission.
FFT: How can farmers check your rates and apply?
Bruce: They can visit agdirecthail.com or call us toll free at 1-855-686-5596.
FFT: On behalf of Prairie farmers Bruce, we thank you and your team for all you do for our communities.
“Due to low hail activity provincewide in 2024, producers should expect hail rates to hold the line or even decrease. Hail rates are based on the history of hail claims in townships, so the individual experience may differ from the provincial average.” - Jesse Cole
Hail Insurance Considerations
When purchasing hail insurance, Lowe says the level and type of crop insurance a farmer chooses is highly personal and depends on various factors, including the financial health and liquidity of the farm, as well as the farmer’s risk tolerance.
Typically, he sees crop hail insurance coverage per acre fall into one of three categories:
• A coverage level that reflects the input costs (all expenses associated with seeding the crop), essentially providing protection for the farmer’s sunk costs.
• A coverage level that includes both input costs and additional short-term financial obligations, ensuring the farm’s continued viability for future years.
• A coverage level that aligns with or approximates the market (harvest) value of the crop.
“Hail continues to be the leading peril facing Prairie farmers,” says Lowe. “We incorporate fire damage coverage as part of our hail policy. Other perils, such as drought, disease, insect damage or excessive moisture, can be addressed through a multi-peril policy.”
As for what kind of hail insurance rates can be expected for 2025, Barrows says they may be similar to last year or, perhaps, up slightly in some areas.
Adds Cole, “Due to low hail activity provincewide in 2024, producers should expect hail rates to hold the line or even decrease. Hail rates are based on the history of hail claims in townships, so the individual experience may differ from the provincial average.”
Stay tuned, as only time will tell.
Prioritize Safety for a Successful Seeding Sprint
By Braden Hursh
Whether it is the last bit of snow melting, the flocks of geese returning or exchanging our favourite toque for our favourite hat, the first signs of spring are like the blast of a starting gun for farmers. All the planning and patience of the winter months abruptly comes to a halt as the new growing season has finally begun. After the slow, cold months, the excitement of getting back into the fields can truly be overwhelming for farmers, their employees and their families.
The nature of farming is its endless unpredictability. We cannot accurately predict the price of grain, the weather, the cost of fertilizer and fuel, or the reliability of hired labour. At the end of the day, the main thing a producer can rely on is their own effort and commitment to the profession of farming. This is a blessing and a curse for many farmers as they push themselves to the edge of exhaustion and burnout on a yearly basis, taking personal risks for the sake of speed.
Before we jump headfirst into the seeding sprint, this is the perfect time to remember that accidents happen when we are in a hurry. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Safety on a farm starts and ends with the farmer.
A Paramedic Perspective
I have worked on my family farm in Cabri, Saskatchewan, since I was a child. Now that I am a high school teacher, I use my Easter break, summer holiday and “earned days off” to head back to the farm and help out. But before I became a writer and high school teacher, I worked as a paramedic in Spiritwood and Big River, Saskatchewan. During the busy seasons of
seeding and harvest, there would consistently be a spike in accidents and injuries. As always, prevention and preparation are key to reducing accidents, but when something goes wrong, your team needs to know which steps to take.
You can easily Google “How to Stay Safe on the Farm” and find endless lists that essentially remind farmers of things they already know, steps they already take or regulations they intentionally ignore. I will not waste your time with making another similar list. Instead, I’d like to share some of my experiences and the experiences of my paramedic friends to give you real action items to consider.
1. Check your surroundings
The first lesson of every first aid class is to be aware of your surroundings and potential hazards. During seeding season, we are operating huge pieces of machinery such as tractors, sprayers, rollers and seed drills in both transport and work positions. The number one cause of farm fatalities is rollovers and runovers, but we also need to keep ourselves safe when operating on highways, near power lines and around other machinery. With runovers being such a hazard, it is essential that you bring your cellphone with you when you are out of machinery doing in-field repairs and checks in case you become trapped or pinned.
2. Know where you are and communicate
It seems like a strange thing to say, but if you do not know your exact location, help will not be able to find you. At my farm, we
have names for quarters and sections of land such as “The Peterson Quarter” or “Harvey’s Quarter” or “The Gopher Section.” If you have an emergency, an ambulance cannot type these descriptions into GPS. Know the land location of the field you are working on, and if you ever call 911, send a pilot vehicle to guide EMS to where they are needed. Most smartphones also have location sharing settings or you can drop a PIN on Google Maps. Keep in touch with your workers through quick text message updates.
3. First aid kits
A first aid kit and the knowledge of basic injuries and medical emergencies is essential. As per safety and health legislation, you are responsible for ensuring that anyone working alone on your farm has immediate access to a personal first aid kit. It may be helpful to keep kits and farmland descriptions in the same spot in your farm equipment. Based on Manitoba’s guidelines, personal first aid kits must contain the following items:
a) 10 sterile adhesive dressings, assorted sizes, individually packaged;
b) 5 10x10-cm sterile gauze pads, individually packaged;
c) A 10x10-cm sterile compress dressing, with ties;
d) 5 antiseptic cleansing towelettes, individually packaged;
e) A cotton triangular bandage;
f) A waterproof waste bag;
g) A pair of impervious disposable gloves;
h) A roll of 2.5-cm adhesive bandage tape.
(I would also include several bottles of saline solution or artificial tears for eye cleaning emergencies.)
Many first aid courses are now offered online or as a hybrid of in-person and online. Getting certified as a first aid care provider is easy and provides important skills for any workplace or home.
By the Numbers
Despite some improvements over the last decade, farming has consistently ranked in the top 10 most dangerous jobs in Canada. Approximately 85 people die each year in Canada
Safety on the farm begins and ends with the farmer.
How you run your operation, the precautions that you take and your attitude towards risks trickles down to your employees and your family members.
because of farm-related incidents. According to the Workers’ Compensation Board of Canada, “The most common cause of fatal injuries are machine-related (66 per cent), with nearly 30 per cent of these being due to machine rollovers and runovers.” One thing that the statistics cannot show is the staggering number of close calls and near misses that happen daily on farms across Canada.
In 2023, Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting (CAIR) released a comprehensive report with data on agriculture-related fatalities between 1990 and 2020, with a particular focus on 2011 to 2020. CAIR is a national surveillance program funded by the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association and coordinated by the Injury Prevention Centre at the University of Alberta. The report has shown a decrease in fatalities on a yearly basis, but the report makes it clear that agriculture still has a long way to go when it comes to safety.
It is essential to note that despite the decrease in fatalities on farms across Canada every year, the number of child fatalities has not gone down. CAIR data shows that there have been 435 agriculture-related child fatalities between 1990 and 2021, with nearly two-thirds of those incidents occurring while the child was not working.
It All Starts with You
Safety on the farm begins and ends with the farmer. How you run your operation, the precautions that you take and your attitude towards risks trickles down to your employees and your family members.
When you take a break, your workers will know that taking a break is encouraged. When you take the extra time to do something safely or put on personal protective equipment (PPE), you are setting the example for everyone else.
Take care of yourself and all the people on your farm.
Happy seeding!
How Much is Your Farm and Business Worth?
Welcome to part one of a seven-part series, designed to help every farmer with affordable, easy, hassle-free continuity planning
By Nerissa McNaughton
Farm succession planning is no small task. It’s an emotional, financial and logistical challenge that can leave families feeling overwhelmed and stuck. That’s where 33seven steps in.
Specializing in farm continuity planning, 33seven guides farmers and their families through the process of passing their legacy to the next generation. Their tag line, ASK A FARMER WHO KNOWS ®, speaks volumes. Founder and farmer Derryn Shrosbree launched the company after seeing firsthand the perils of his family ignoring the importance of continuity planning. To help others avoid a fate that impacts farms and families, he created this seven-part series that breaks down the process step by step so you and your farm can thrive now and for generations to come. It all starts with knowing the value of your farm – and what affects the numbers.
“As you prepare for continuity planning, valuating the farm is the first step. For that, it is important to recognize the difference between a sole proprietorship/partnership model, and a farm that is run as a corporation,” he says. “Corporately owned farms require the involvement of accountants and tax professionals to prepare financial statements along with personal and corporate tax returns.”
The differences extend to liabilities
“With a personally owned farm, all assets can garner legal or
creditor claims. While there is a cost in setting up a corporation, it separates the farm into its own legal entity, which provides some protection of personal assets against claims and creditors. Another layer of protection can be added by creating a separate holding corporation.”
How taxes are handled also differs between sole proprietorship/partnership and corporate models. In fact, one of the driving reasons to make the switch to a corporate model is to save on taxes.
Shrosbree explains, “Outside of a corporation, taxes are driven higher as income increases. Successful farms could be taxed above 50 per cent in some provinces. This limits after-tax dollars that could be used to invest in the farm and that could be used for continuity planning. While sole props or partnerships can help defray high taxes with investment strategies, the more efficient model is to convert to corporate.”
Corporations have low or even flat tax rates. In Alberta, it is around 11 per cent. Other provinces vary between 9.5 and 27 per cent. Since the corporation is considered a separate entity, the tax advantages do not stop when the founder or main shareholder(s) pass or retire.
“Low taxes free up cash for debt repayment and investments such as capital assets,” says Shrosbree. “Cash is not always
“As you prepare for continuity planning, valuating the farm is the first step. For that, it is important to recognize the difference between a sole proprietorship/partnership model, and a farm that is run as a corporation.”
- Derryn Shrosbree
directly generated through the farm. No matter the business model, a valuation can include social benefits such as personal GST or HST credits, employment insurance, maternity/paternity leave benefits, CCB [Canada child benefit] and OAS [old age security]. Note, however, that income generated from personally owned farmland must be reported on the personal tax return regardless of whether it is needed for personal expenditures and this could limit or eliminate these benefits. Alternatively, structuring as a corporation allows farmers to strategically manage wages and dividends, aligning them with personal expenditure needs, which can improve eligibility for certain benefits.”
The final piece of the puzzle to consider is the capital gains exemption
“Farmers can unlock up to $1 million in capital gains exemptions per individual by owning eligible farm property. While incorporating offers benefits, keeping some assets personally owned simplifies claiming this exemption and allows for easier gifting to family. Strategic ownership maximizes tax advantages for current and future generations.”
How much a farm is worth is a combination of many factors, and it all starts with the business model – sole proprietorship/partnership or corporation. This drives the value of all the other numbers involved and the amount of liability that can be considered. When doing continuity planning, it is important to work with a firm that valuates the farm from all angles.
What is your farm worth? Why not ASK A FARMER WHO KNOWS®?
Succession planning can feel like an overwhelming task,
FROM FACE TO FACE TO DIGITAL, FATHER/SON REAL
ESTATE DUO USE ALL TOOLS AT THEIR DISPOSAL
BY BECKY ZIMMER
PHOTOS BY TIRZAH MAY PHOTOGRAPHY
Darren Sander is ranked 9th in Canada for Commercial Agent for REMAX and 30th in the World for 2024.
In the many years Darren Sander has been involved in agriculture, one thing has not changed during that time; connections in the farming industry will always be best face to face.
For the last 14 years, Darren has been selling farm real estate in Saskatchewan, with his son, Tyler, joining Darren Sander in 2021, the fourth generation to be part of the Canadian agriculture industry.
Especially as more and more people choose digital communication; like texting, over phone calls or in-person meetings, Darren said they are always trying to ensure they are physically present with their clients across the table.
They keep it old-fashioned, said Tyler, the phone crackling a little as the two drove four and a half hours for a coffee meet up with one of their farmer clients.
“We always like to do one on one chats, no matter how far. We will drive as far as need be for an in-person meeting. We keep it original,” said Tyler. Darren grew up on the family farm near
Wilkie, Sask, and took on custom harvesting contracts across Canada and the United States. He got to see how small the farming industry is, he said, and that community continues to amalgamate, which has its positives, he said. Everybody knows everybody.“Through those connections is how we started off selling farmland. And really it’s still evolving from some of those connections. Whereas I may have met the father of the operation 25 years ago, now we’re dealing with the sons of the operation in this business.”
Darren and Tyler deal with farm sales in two different scenarios; either as operations expand or as farmers transition off the farm.
When a realtor is helping a family sell generations of worth, the farmer needs to feel they are being represented by someone they are comfortable with, said Darren.
“It’s still about one on one connections and people being comfortable with you.”
For those times when face to face is more difficult, Darren and Tyler are seeing the benefits of digital space and tools.
Using the Sanders’ farmland website, farmers can send valuable information to get the process of evaluating the farm started, said Tyler. This is something they’ve never had before, but simplifies some aspects of the sale and evaluation process, said Darren.
“We wanted to have a mechanism where a farmer could simply email our website with his land locations, and we can do our research on all the sales values, and the data from his area, give him an accurate valuation on what his farm might be valued on today’s market.” This is always followed by an in person meeting, he said.
Darren was also one of the first to offer aerial drone services to his clients. Born of necessity, Darren said it started when potential buyers from Alberta were interested in land in Saskatchewan.
“Taking footage of this farm really was the key to get those people to come out and look at the farm. But they were sold before they came out, because they saw the drone footage of this productive farm in seed. Acre after acre of great land.”
All in all, providing drone footage to their clients has created more opportunities to get people out to view the land they’re interested in, said Darren. Buyers and sellers get a new perspective of the farm compared to just driving down the road, he said. Even back in 2012, the quality has always been fantastic, but the types of information drones capture is becoming more and more sophisticated, he said.
“Drones are used now in every sector of agriculture, whether it involves spraying, locating weeds, finding what’s in the field during the growing season. It’s really evolved in the last 10 to 15 years,” he said, and he is proud to be among some of the first to use that technology in the farmland industry.
If you have a listing and somebody wants to get a sense for the farm or get comfortable with what they’re looking at, topography to the land, you’ve got this mechanism out of this tool that really helps people get comfortable with what they’re looking at.
Moving into the 2025 growing season, some of Sanders’ clients have expressed concerns on a variety of topics that look to impact the season, said Darren. However, he is optimistic about the future of agriculture in Saskatchewan and the future of farmland real estate. But no matter where someone is farming from, Darren and Tyler will gladly talk about the family farm and these farming challenges at the kitchen table over a cup of coffee.
DARREN SANDER
Farm Land Sales Specialist
REMAX Saskatoon
P: (306) 291 8944
E: darrensander@remax.net
W: darrensanderrealty.ca
TYLER SANDER
Realtor
REMAX Saskatoon
P: (306) 291 2788
E: tylersander@remax.net
W: darrensanderrealty.ca
SUMMER EVENTS
“At 33seven, we bring clarity, control and an insider’s understanding to every farm transition we guide. Take the first step today and start building a secure future for generations to come.”
- Derryn Shrosbree
especially when the costs and complexities start piling up. Many farmers struggle to get through the process because there’s a lack of clarity and control, leading to frustration and delays. This is where 33seven can help.
“At 33seven, we specialize in farm transitions, completing one every month. You might only go through this once or twice in your life, but for us, it’s our focus,” says Shrosbree. “That experience gives us a unique understanding of the challenges farmers face – challenges I’ve experienced myself as a Canadian farmer.
“Like you, I’ve felt the exhaustion of invoice fatigue, with accountants, lawyers, insurance agents and financiers all adding complexity and costs. What we all want is pretty simple. We want clarity and control. We want to reduce taxes, lower risks, protect our families and secure our legacies. That’s why I created the 33seven Blue Sky Continuity Plan, a solution designed to give Canadian farmers exactly that. By eliminating invoice fatigue and cutting through the confusion, we help you take charge of your future.”
The first step on this journey is valuating the business. Understanding where you stand sets the foundation for everything else. From there, 33seven can work with you to build a transition plan that not only aligns with your goals but also protects what matters most – your family, your farm and your legacy.
He concludes, “At 33seven, we bring clarity, control and an insider’s understanding to every farm transition we guide. Take the first step today and start building a secure future for generations to come.”
This is part one of a seven-part series that will provide the tools and information needed for a smooth continuity plan for your farm and your family – a plan that keeps your legacy intact and your family from feuding. Stay tuned for part two and learn more online at www.33seven.ca.
Spot Spraying Down Under
By Tom Wolf, PhD, P.Ag.
Calling Australia the world’s driest continent is a bit like saying the average farm size in Canada is 1,500 acres. Though accurate, such statements completely ignore the variation that underlies these averages. And in that variation lives all the interesting information.
I recently visited Australia and I was surprised by what I learned. Fact is that large agricultural areas of Australia receive more rainfall than most parts of Western Canada. Yes, they have droughts, as do we. And, of course, the central and large parts of Australia’s western regions are very dry. Despite that, receiving 400 to 800 millimetres of annual rainfall in the main agricultural regions is not out of the ordinary in Australia. But even that is not the interesting part.
The spatial and seasonal variation of this rainfall is the foundation of its agricultural and weed-control practices. Let’s look at the spatial variation. In the eastern states (South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland), coastal rainfall is highest, tapering as one ventures inland. The Great Dividing Range is a key geographic feature that prevents the highest rainfall areas from being agricultural, and large-scale ag begins west of the range. As one travels north from Victoria, rainfall both increases and also shifts from being predominantly in the winter months in the Mediterranean climate of Victoria and southern New South Wales, to being predominantly summer rainfall in subtropical Queensland. In areas where winter rainfall dominates, cropping is done in that season with land in the summer being fallow. Where summer rains become prominent, the traditional winter crops of wheat, canola and pulses are still grown in the winter, but cropping an additional warm season crop such as cotton or sorghum becomes a possibility.
A summer fallow season is an agronomic necessity when low rainfall is accompanied by temperatures commonly in the mid 30 C range. It is also a challenge to maintain control over weeds that emerge after small showers. Tillage is out of the question for obvious reasons related to soil and water conservation. Chem fallow is the only solution, but the expense of multiple broadcast treatments on difficult to control weeds can be prohibitive.
Enter the spot sprayer. First invented in Queensland by Warwick Felton, who in the 1980s proposed that NDVI signals could be used to differentiate plants from soil and stubble, it is
perfectly suited to Australian cropping systems. Although NDVI-based spot sprayers became established in the 1990s, they really flourished with the introduction of the more modern WEED-IT systems in 2009.
A summer weed control program graduates to higher savings on each use of a spot sprayer. By late summer, savings of 99 per cent can be achieved. Producers are depleting the seedbank of summer-germinating weeds to a degree that the pressure on winter in-crop sprays can be reduced.
Local equipment sales reflect this utility. WEED-IT and Trimble’s WeedSeeker aren’t the only spot spray tools that are selling. SenseSpray, a Queensland company, is equipping Case sprayers with their cameras and software. John Deere has made significant sales of See & Spray Select. And several other local companies such as Single Agriculture and InFarm both offer drone-to-tractor solutions where drone-developed maps become prescriptions for the ground sprayer.
But the story isn’t all rosy. Herbicide resistance continues to plague Australian producers, and in the absence of new mode of action discoveries, the existing suite of products is stretched. One way to maintain control of weeds such as milk thistle (Sonchus oleraceus, similar to our annual sowthistle) that are resistant to Groups 2 and 9, is to boost rates of products that are weaker, but still work. Glufosinate is registered for chem fallow in Australia, and using a 200 g/L formulation, they are applying rates as high as 10 L/ha of product. That’s 5.4 L/acre of a 150 g/L formulation, about fourfold the highest label rate of glufosinate here. That can only be economical with a spot spray system. Note that the registration of these rates limits the user to applying sprays on 30 per cent of the area, in order to maintain the lower broadcast rate equivalent. Whether it’s wise to use such high rates is a different question.
The introduction of autonomous sprayers has changed the nature of spot sprays even further. While attending research update meetings in Australia, I met farmers who were monitoring their SwarmFarm robot sprayers while listening to scientists. Through the SwarmFarm app, they can monitor their sprayer’s location and status, its fuel load and its spray tank level.
The onboard weather station also provides wind speed and
We have much in common with our Aussie friends. We grow the same crops using the same equipment, and we compete for the same markets. We struggle with precipitation. We adapt constantly to remain competitive.
direction, temperature and relative humidity. Delta T. criteria can be set for when the robot suspends spraying and enters standby mode. For example, if the wind gusts are too high, the robot will stop and resume once the situation calms down.
This system makes it possible to basically spray continuously through the summer, moving from field to field and never letting a weed situation get out of control. Because the robots are physically small and light, they don’t consume much fuel. And because they don’t travel very fast, the quality of the job is good. One interesting observation from an owner was that the robot probably does a better job than a human operator. He said that he can program the robot to stop when conditions are too poor to continue. A human would power through, he felt. Another observation was the weed threshold that triggers a decision to spray a field is much lower with a robot. Because the costs to run it are so low, farmers are initiating a spray with just the slightest weed pressure.
It was interesting to see the large-scale adoption of controlled traffic farming. The farms I saw were all on three-metre wide permanent tramlines spaced 12 metres apart. No heavy wheels will touch the ground outside of these lines. Spray booms are 24 or 36 metres. It’s a small problem for U.S. made sprayers whose 120-foot booms have 72 nozzles on 20-inch spacing. That makes them 36.6 metres wide and removing a nozzle makes them non-symmetrical.
My trip to Australia was amazing. We have much in common with our Aussie friends. We grow the same crops using the same equipment, and we compete for the same markets. We struggle with precipitation. We adapt constantly to remain competitive. And we admire innovative solutions to specific problems. The uptake of spot spraying has not been as high in Canada as first expected. Part of the reason might be that the opportunities for using spot sprays are lower compared to Australia. But it’s great to see the success of this Australian innovation in person and bring the news back to Canada in the hope we can learn from it.
Figure 4: Jeremy Jones of Darling Downs Spray Tech showing a SwarmFarm robot with a trailed Croplands sprayer equipped with WEED-IT.
Figure 3: SwarmFarm app reporting the sprayer status and detailed weather information.
Figure 1: Precipitation map of Australia.
Figure 2: Spot spraying summer fallow has allowed for reductions in weed abundance. The permanent tramlines in this controlled traffic field have just received their occasional levelling.
