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The revolutionary TL1346 is our largest Truck Load Auger, and features the new Meridian Hydraulic Drive. Equipped with a 74HP diesel, suspended flighting with hanger bearings, and a hydraulic drive, this is our fastest, quietest, and safest auger yet.
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ANGELA LOVELL
Kevin Hursh
KEVIN HURSH
TOM WOLF
SCOTT SHIELS
PAUL KUNTZ
HERE FOR SEED AND SO MUCH MORE.
If you want a free hat, we have those too. We work with you to secure the right seed for your operation’s success, supported by personalized agronomic solutions at every stage of the season.
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Scan the QR code or contact us to start elevating your soil today. sales@blackearth.com www.blackearth.com
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Weed Wicking Can Be Effective
By Kevin Hursh
With the battle against weeds more difficult than ever, perhaps it’s time to reconsider the strategic use of weed wick systems. While weed wicking has been around for a long time, it tends to be underappreciated and overlooked.
A half-dozen years ago, I bought a used Vogels Wick Weeder to address a terrible infestation of wild mustard within a chickpea crop. The previous owner of the machine had only used it a few times and it had been sitting for years. After I used it, it again sat until this year.
This time, the problem was narrow-leaved hawk’s-beard in some edges and patches within lentil fields. I regret not doing a fall post-harvest spray operation in 2024. That made weed control much tougher this spring and hawk’s-beard emerged as a significant problem in some fields.
Compared to a regular sprayer, wick weeders are slow and fiddly. However, when no in-crop herbicide option exists, wick weeders can wipe chemical on weeds taller than the crop canopy.
I used glyphosate mixed with two parts of water plus a dash of carfentrazone (AIM) for kochia that might be glyphosate resistant. Being tall with a stiff stem, the rope wicks successfully placed enough chemical on the hawk’s-beard to provide impressive control. Good control was also achieved on some wild oat patches.
Kochia showed less sign of chemical damage, so at the time of this writing, the jury is still out on that level of control. Some of the hawk’s-beard wasn’t yet above the crop canopy and it, of course, was not controlled.
By the time you can apply, most of the yield damage to the crop has already been done. However, hopefully seed set can be avoided. As well, weed pressure might be less of a problem at harvest time.
The Vogels Wick Weeder was designed by Paul Vogels in Ontario back in 1978. The manufacturing company remains in Ontario.
Ralph Wasylyniuk, through his company Farmagro Sales at Raymore, Saskatchewan, has been a Prairie distributor of the Vogels Wick Weeder for 30 years. The standard 40-foot machine now comes with six wheels and an electronic solenoid for opening and closing the valve at the small product tank. These weeders have sometimes sold cheaply at auction sales. A new one is $7,800.
The weeders can be custom-built to mount on ATVs or front-end loaders. They’ve even been fitted to high-clearance sprayers. However, the application speed is only four to six miles per hour. One of Wasylyniuk’s favourite custom mounts is an old Flexi-Coil or Bourgault field sprayer that spans 100 or even 120 feet.
The principle is the same on all mounts. The tubes are filled with chemical. The chemical soaks out of the tubes onto the rope wicks. A small product tank keeps the tubes full and helps push the chemical onto the wicks. The height of the wicks needs to be adjusted to be above the crop while still contacting weeds above the crop canopy.
Wasylyniuk uses a wick weeder to control weeds in his pastureland. It can also be useful for weed control when establishing a new hay stand. Some organic growers are using industrial strength vinegar (acetic acid) in wick weeders.
I know of growers who have used a wick weeder, vowed they wouldn’t use it again, but then changed their mind after they came across a weed issue that couldn’t be addressed in any other manner.
Weed wicking may not be high-tech, but it can be a useful option.
Ag producers are the backbone of Alberta’s food production. ATB has stood with producers since 1938—helping them survive hard times and thrive in the good times. Let’s work together to see how ATB can support your operation for generations to come. Put our agribusiness expertise to work on your operation.
On the Global Stage
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.
I recently had the amazing opportunity to spend a day with overseas buyers brought in by STEP, the Saskatchewan Trade & Export Partnership. While you likely know I am in charge of procurement for Grain Millers, I have done a few of these incoming buyer missions when our sales team has had me fill in for them on a few occasions. The opportunity to spend time with people from around the world, looking to buy (or in some cases already buying) products made from the crops we grow, has a value that is tough to put into words.
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.
The agriculture industry in Western Canada – from producers to processors – has a pretty positive opinion of itself and the products we produce. Products that originate from our part of the country can be found all around the globe, and that is especially evident in the agriculture sector. From equipment to food ingredients, Canadian Prairie farmers have put their faces on the global stage for decades. Now, with conflicts around the globe threatening supply chains for food ingredients, we are starting to see an increase in inquiries for the commodities we grow and process. STEP has done an amazing job in putting incoming buyer missions together, as well as making sure the right customers from our end attend these meetings.
I guess where I am going with this is just to reinforce the fact that while prices and production may not always be where we want them to be, Canada (and that is YOU) has a reputation around the globe as a supplier of some of the best quality products. While the oat industry especially has relied almost exclusively on the U.S. for exports, we have been receiving a large number of inquiries from Central and South America, as well as from Europe, Asia and the Middle East. With the uncertainty surrounding our neighbours to the south and tariff threats, these customer inquiries couldn’t come at a better time. Not to say that we can replace the U.S. as a customer for all the agricultural products we produce here on the Prairies, but it sure will be nice to have some diversity in our sales portfolios in place in the event of any kind of tariff implementation going south of the border.
What does all this mean to you, the producer? Well, for some commodities, there is not a lot of change. Crops like canola and wheat are already being marketed around the globe by the big grain companies, but for crops like oats and flax, and to a lesser extent the specialty crops, these markets are largely untapped. In fact, most of the time, Canada and the U.S. import these crops to fill in our domestic shortages, especially on the organic side. Having had the chance to visit with representatives from these companies and to hear how, for example, the demand for oat products is growing in the Middle East – an area of the world that cannot grow them – I can say with certainty that our Prairie-produced grains have a lot of opportunity for market growth around the globe.
Scott Shiels
WE’LL STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER.
Farming can be challenging, but like a true community, we pull together, supporting one another and growing stronger together. The path forward becomes easier to navigate when you have someone walking with you.
PROUD TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURE IN ALBERTA
FINANCING THE FUTURE OF ALBERTA AGRICULTURE
The future of agriculture is being written right now — with smarter tools, evolving practices and bold decisions made around kitchen tables. Producers across Alberta are embracing innovation so they can do more with less, and they need a financial partner who understands what’s changing, why it matters, and most importantly, how these changes impact their operations.
With less available farmland and rising global demand for food, sustainable practices and smart technology are no longer optional. Innovations like agrivoltaics, rotational grazing, and precision irrigation help producers maximize every acre. These aren’t just trends. They’re strategic shifts defining the future of agriculture.
Take David and Ladi Flundra from Cattle Creek Ranching Ltd., forward-thinking Servus Credit Union members proving that environmental stewardship and innovation go hand in hand.
Their practical, conservation-focused approach to ranching touches every part of their operation. By using planned rotational grazing and minimizing synthetic fertilizer use, they improve soil health, sequester carbon, and make the most of their native grasslands.
They also developed STOCKBOSS, an energy-free, in-ground livestock watering system that helps ranchers save water, reduce energy use, and protect their herds. By eliminating direct livestock access to streams and dugouts, it improves riparian area management and supports modern rotational grazing practices.
For David and Ladi, the decision to move their banking to Servus came down to one thing: the people.
“You can tell someone about your operation, but it’s different when they come out and see it,” said David.
That’s exactly what happened during their first meeting with Ag Advisor Aline Dupuis. She toured the ranch, walked the land and got keen insights into their business.
“You really need someone to look you in the eye and understand the complexities of what you do. Aline does that,” said David.
For the past 18 years, Aline has earned the trust of her members by providing more than just traditional banking services.
“I don’t see this as transactional. It’s personal,” said Aline. “You’re invited into people’s homes and into their lives, and with that comes a real responsibility. You’re there through the tough seasons, but you also get to be part of the wins. That kind of trust is humbling, and it’s what makes this work so meaningful.”
Since joining the credit union in 2017, the Flundras have built a strong relationship with Servus, one grounded in mutual respect and understanding. From financing the creation of a reservoir to supporting the early development of STOCKBOSS with a line of credit, Servus has backed their big ideas and helped turn them into reality.
“Servus believed in us. We had big plans, and each time they came to fruition because the credit union stood behind us,” said David.
Today, Aline remains closely connected to the business, regularly checking in, offering advice, and staying in the loop on everything from herd management to broader operational goals.
“Sometimes it’s not even about finances — she just understands what’s going on so if things ever get tough, nothing’s a surprise. She’s more than an advisor. She’s a partner.”
Servus’s agribusiness team brings decades of agricultural experience to every conversation. Many of their Ag Advisors and Relationship Managers come from farming backgrounds themselves. They understand the pressures of a dry season, the value of the right equipment and the need for succession planning before the next generation is ready to lead. Supporting the full agricultural value chain – from family farms and large-scale operations to agribusinesses and service providers – the credit union works closely with members to develop tailored financial solutions that reflect the realities of their business.
Life on the farm doesn’t stop at the gate, which is why Servus also provides a full suite of personal banking solutions. As Canada’s largest credit union, Servus has supported Alberta’s rural communities for more than 80 years, helping producers grow and adapt while reinvesting profits back into the members and communities they serve every day.
From farm to table and everything in between, Servus proudly supports the future of agriculture in Alberta and the people who make it possible.
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 Afford New Machinery?
The most common question I am asked: “How will I be able to upgrade equipment?” It is a real problem with very few good answers.
We are in a spot right now where earning enough revenue to cover input costs, fixed costs and loan payments is not possible. When we cannot generate enough income to cover cash outflow, adding another loan payment only makes it worse.
As I drive around, I see an abundance of combines on dealer lots. Some are new, but most are used. Someone has traded a unit to buy another one. Someone is buying machinery, but we need a lot of farms to buy combines to empty these lots. Based on the clients I deal with, there will be no combine upgrades this year.
As a financial analyst, I wanted to determine how the equipment industry is staying alive and how our producers are contributing. I went to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers to gather some data. Their website, www.aem.org, has reports available, and I was able to locate year-todate information up to June 2025 on tractors and combines for Canada. It also showed the same time frame for 2024.
Tractor sales have increased and combine sales have stayed close to the same. This seemed odd to me because I thought sales would be down. Since I have no other years for comparison, I wanted to dig a bit deeper. I also wanted to see what the data showed in the U.S. Following are the same implements and time frames from the United States:
The first thing I noticed is that the U.S. buys a lot more equipment than Canada does. In 2024, from January to June, U.S. farmers bought 4,592 4WD tractors and combines, whereas Canada bought 1,469 4WD tractors and combines. U.S. numbers also showed a similar comparison for 2024.
Paul Kuntz
In 2025, there was a shift. U.S. producers purchased a lot less equipment. The total between 4WD tractors and combines was 2,694 sold, whereas in Canada, the units sold totalled 1,537. Regardless of the shift, the U.S. still buys more 4WD tractors and combines than we do in Canada.
The next metric I wanted to examine was the difference in farming economics between the two countries. I looked at the Crop Planning Guide (black soil zone) from the Government of Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture and compared it to Iowa State University’s Estimated Costs of Crop Production for 2025.
The Crop Planning Guide for Saskatchewan is extremely thorough and can be misleading. I adjusted some of the numbers. For example, the cost for spray on wheat is listed at $125.31/acre. I think they look at every possible weed to be sprayed, every possible insect that may need to be sprayed and an aggressive fungicide program. Based on the clients I deal with, I adjusted that number to $79.94.
The Iowa State University document is very straightforward. They look at the basics of inputs, fuel, labour, land cost and machinery. This report is in U.S. dollars and I did not convert the numbers. I assumed the revenue to be in U.S. dollars and left the expenses in U.S. dollars. What the Iowa farmer has left over will be in U.S. dollars, which will be an advantage.
The two reports look at machinery differently, so I decided to create a report that determines how much each region
could spend on equipment. We will look at estimated revenue and all costs except machinery. Whatever is left over is what a producer can spend on machinery.
Here are the results:
There were a number of expenses that I found interesting. The biggest one is the cost of land in Iowa being $286/acre versus the $70.78/acre in Saskatchewan. The total cost to grow corn and soybeans in Iowa is staggering at $949.50 and $621.00 respectively.
For revenue in Iowa, I used their average yields in 2024 being 211 bushels/acre on corn and 60 bushels/acre on soybeans. The price of grain in Iowa is an average price in the past six months from the Chicago Board of Trade.
For Saskatchewan numbers, the primary source was the Crop Planning Guide. As I mentioned, I adjusted the chemical number. For revenue, I used StatCan average yields for 2024 for Saskatchewan. For grain prices, I used average grain prices that have been available in the past six months.
Based on all that data, it is easy to see that a Saskatchewan farmer has $17.06/acre to spend on equipment and a producer in Iowa can spend US$123.25/acre on machinery.
I am not sure the equipment manufacturers care about the overall affordability of their equipment. If they do look at this aspect, we might be in a bit of trouble in Canada because the
Iowa farmer has the ability to purchase that equipment, and the U.S. buys much more equipment than we do in Canada. That being said, I did cherry-pick Iowa because it is one of the more profitable states to farm in. Montana producers are probably close to Saskatchewan and Alberta when it comes to farm economics.
You can put your own numbers of machinery ownership into this chart. Most of my clients would have machinery loan payments that range from $50/acre to $115/acre. It appears that the average farm has less than $20/acre to spend on equipment and has payments well over that amount, hence the continuous question of, “How can I afford to replace my machinery?”
There are a few things missing from this study such as the other crops we grow. Our friends in western Saskatchewan and eastern Alberta grow lentils, chickpeas and durum. These crops will have different numbers. We have many producers in Western Canada that grow well above 43 bushels/acre of wheat and more than 36 bushels/acre of canola. Our friends in Manitoba grow the same crops as the Iowa growers do, with many acres of corn and soybeans.
This exercise illustrates the financial difficulty in trying to pay
for equipment. The road ahead does not look to be getting better. The cost of fertilizer for 2026 is starting off high. I am using $8/bushel for wheat, and that price is nowhere to be found, and the cost of machinery keeps getting higher.
There is no silver bullet to get this fixed. I am often asked about leasing versus buying, but that is not going to help. It has a place on a farm, but leases are just loans with a different name. At the end of the day, a $1 million combine is hard to afford whether you want to finance it, lease it or pay cash.
As I often preach, you need to know your farm numbers. You need to gather these each year so you can build a trend line. If you want to finance a piece of machinery over seven years, do not take one year of your farm’s financial results to determine the feasibility. You need to take several years to determine a fair average. I also think it is unwise to assume things will get better. I often hear sentiments like, “The price of grain has to go up otherwise no one can afford this equipment.” No, the price of grain does not have to go up to accommodate a cash flow loss on your farm.
Be accurate with your historical financial numbers and be realistic with the financial projections. From these numbers, determine how much can be allocated to machinery.
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More Than Machinery: Agri-Trade Cultivates the Future of Agriculture
This November, the agriculture industry will converge in the heart of Central Alberta as Agri-Trade Equipment Expo returns to Westerner Park in Red Deer, November 5–7.
For over 40 years, Agri-Trade has been a powerhouse of innovation, connection, and opportunity— delivering a look at the latest and greatest equipment and services from over 500 exhibitors.
We are all set to continue showcasing the best of the industry and we expect the show to be one of our biggest yet,”
says Krissy Fiddler, Agri-Trade Show Manager. “We’ve sold out every square inch of space indoors and our outdoor exhibits continue to grow. You won’t want to miss it!”
More than 32,000 visitors pass through the gates each year, generating over $300 million in sales. But the heart of Agri-Trade is more than numbers—it’s community, innovation, and opportunity.
This year’s show will have some crowd favorite features that attendees won’t want to miss.
A farmer favorite at the show is the Ag Innovations Competition on November 6, where new technologies compete for $25,000 in prizes—and the attention of farmers and industry. From autonomous systems to livestock care, these cutting-edge ideas represent the future of Canadian farming and showcase real solutions for today’s farmers.
Agri-Trade is deeply committed to the next generation of agricultural leaders. The Youth Program invites students to explore ag careers, innovation, and education through a variety of partner and show programs. Area schools can book high school tickets for students to take in the show and connect with industry. Be sure to support the youth by purchasing a
50/50 ticket onsite with the proceeds supporting rural youth initiatives across Alberta. Agri-Trade has given out over $345,000 in post-secondary agricultural focused scholarships since 1996.
This year’s Kid’s Area is a family-friendly zone packed with activities for our next generation of farmers. The little ones will enjoy checking out the games, activities and a few special surprises when your family is at the show!
Take a break from the show and have a visit at Billy Bob’s Bar in Agri-Centre East. With live music, great food, and a lively social atmosphere, it’s the go-to spot for exhibitors and attendees to relax and connect.
Agri-Trade is proudly global. Through its International Program, the expo connects international buyers and exhibitors with Canadian companies. Dedicated meeting rooms, matchmaking services, and VIP support help turn introductions into trade opportunities.
“We are excited to showcase our international exhibitors from our German Pavillion to new exhibitors from Bulgaria, China and Northern Ireland,”
says Stacy Felkar with Agri-Trade’s International Program. “As well, we are expecting great representation for international buyers from multiple countries as they take part in a custom itinerary and meetings. It is great to see the strong growth in the International Program this year!”
Agri-trade looks forward to welcoming you at the show! Tickets go on sale October 1. Keep up to date on all show information at agri-trade.com
For show updates, @agri-trade.com
2026 Canola Lineup
Stronger yields, better disease resistance
By Teresa Zimmer
LibertyLink canola continues to dominate Western Canada, with about 70 per cent of acres planted to this trait. In response, most of next year’s new canola hybrid releases will fall into this category, offering growers higher yield potential, advanced disease resistance, improved standability and enhanced pod shatter tolerance.
While LibertyLink remains in high demand, seed companies are also rolling out new TruFlex canola hybrids to give growers more options.
Nutrien Ag Solutions
Nutrien Ag Solutions is launching four new Proven Seed canola hybrids in both LibertyLink and TruFlex systems. Jennifer Dale, product line manager for Proven Seed, says they’re excited to launch PV 662 LCM, PV 663 LCN, PV 664 LCN and PV 784 TCN. “Each of these bring a different strength to the table. Some have clubroot protection, some have harvest management and some have early maturity,” says Dale.
PV 662 LCM is a LibertyLink hybrid with durable multigenic disease resistance and harvest management. “It’s ideal for managing disease, especially in the northern and central Alberta marketplace where they have high disease pressure,” she says, adding that it can either be swathed late or straight cut without sacrificing yield.
Another new LibertyLink hybrid, PV 663 LCN, has clubroot resistance and NTACT pod integrity technology to help protect yields and harvest timing, strong standability and the flexibility to straight cut or delay swath.
In comparison, PV 664 LCN is a full-season LibertyLink hybrid with clubroot and blackleg resistance and NTACT Technology, along with strong standability.
Rounding out the new offering is PV 784 TCN, a TruFlex hybrid with clubroot resistance and NTACT Technology. “It’s a strong fit for growers looking for the TruFlex system option with solid agronomics and pod shatter protection,” says Dale. These new hybrids have been put through the wringer and proven in over 100 plots across Western Canada. “We have our own R&D team, so these varieties spent two to three years being tested with the R&D team and then go out to our full
field-size trials,” adds Dale.
With different soil types, growing conditions and disease needs across Western Canada, Proven Seed does extensive trialing of all its new hybrids.
“Our focus is matching the traits, maturity and disease needs of growers in all the different zones across Western Canada to help them find the right fit and make sure there’s the agronomic support and testing to ensure that there’s no guessing left for growers,” says Dale.
With the broadest canola portfolio in the industry, Proven Seed covers all the bases. “Though we’re not launching an Optimum GLY or Clearfield variety this year, we do have Optimum GLY, Clearfield, LibertyLink and TruFlex as part of our portfolio. So, it really fills the need of whatever a grower may need on his or her farm.”
BrettYoung Seeds
BrettYoung Seeds in Manitoba is also focused on launching new canola hybrids in the LibertyLink space. “We’re busy building out our LibertyLink portfolio. That’s a herbicide tolerance segment that we only entered about three years ago,” notes Eric Gregory, director of marketing for BrettYoung Seeds.
Coming in 2026 are two new LibertyLink hybrids: BY 7202LL and BY 7206LL. BY 7202LL is slightly earlier than BY 7204LL, while BY 7206LL is a bit later.
“All three hybrids have what we call Pod DefendR, which means a robust level of pod shatter tolerance, so that is a specific trait in those hybrids which would be equivalent to what farmers would experience with InVigor or the other brands in terms of pod shatter tolerance,” says Gregory.
Both hybrids are also DefendR clubroot rated, which means they have robust resistance to both the first generation of clubroot pathotypes and newer pathotypes.
BY 7206LL also has blackleg DefendR rating, which means it has good adult plant resistance to blackleg.
DL Seeds is the primary canola germplasm supplier for BrettYoung Seeds. “They’ve been breeding in the LibertyLink space for several years, but it takes time to ingress those
herbicide resistance traits into the parents and to put products in the marketplace that are competitive with what growers are used to. We’re at the point now where we’re getting some really great hybrids coming out of the DL Seeds breeding program in LibertyLink,” says Gregory.
DL Seeds has access to a large library of genetics to breed within the LibertyLink, TruFlex and Clearfield segments. BrettYoung Seeds will be launching a new TruFlex hybrid next year as well: BY 6223TF.
Together with DL Seeds, BrettYoung’s goal is to offer differentiated products that aren’t available elsewhere. “We have a relationship going back many years with DL Seeds. BrettYoung gets first choice of all the hybrids coming out of each of the different herbicide segments every year. So, we can pick the best of the best,” says Gregory. “We know that what we’re putting in a canola bag is going to be unique and have its own special benefits. And we’re comfortable putting our products up against all the other brands in terms of what farmers are looking for, yield being number one, disease tolerance, pod shatter and standability.”
Canterra Seeds
After launching their first pod shatter tolerant product in the LibertyLink space this year, Canterra Seeds is hoping to build on that success in 2026. The mid-maturity hybrid, CS4100 LL, hit the market this year and boasts high yield potential and consistent performance across broad acres.
“It has a seven or higher rating on the Canola Council shatter scale, putting it on par with the leading competitor pod shatter products on the market so that’s a really exciting addition into our portfolio,” says Courtney Welch, canola product manager for Canterra Seeds. “This is an excellent start into that part of the market.”
Canterra Seeds is testing seven new LibertyLink hybrids with the hopes of bringing two to market next year. “All seven of them have the seven-plus rating on the pod shatter scale. We know that the majority of canola growers want to have that extra pod integrity for peace of mind around harvest,” says Welch, adding that all of them are excellent yielding with first- and secondgeneration clubroot protection and blackleg resistance.
Also new this year was CS3300 TF, a TruFlex hybrid that strikes a balance between early maturing and consistent high yield, and features multigenic blackleg resistance and first-generation clubroot protection. Canterra Seeds is hoping to launch a new TruFlex hybrid next year that would be early to mid-maturing and have second-generation clubroot protection, adds Welch.
Canterra Seeds runs about 170 third-party trials across Western Canada to get local data in the grower’s backyard.
New LibertyLink canola hybrid, BY 7206LL, from BrettYoung Seeds in central Alberta. Photo: BrettYoung Seeds.
New DEKALB TruFlex canola hybrid, DK904TF. Photo: Bayer.
During the busy harvest season, you need an equipment partner that you can trust to get the job done. Parker grain handling equipment has built the reputation of being the trusted name in moving grain. The 54-Series double-auger grain carts provide large carrying capacities with lightning-fast unloading speeds that get you back to the combine faster. The 42-Series and 24-Series single, corner-auger grain carts feature the greatest auger reach and height and use a sump design in the tank for enhanced cleanout. For an introductory model, the 1150 delivers an economical design and convenience.
New Verticillium Stripe Rating Scale Launched
With verticillium stripe spreading across Western Canada and becoming a growing concern, the Canola Council of Canada recently launched a new disease severity scale to help agronomists assess the damage caused by the disease.
Verticillium stripe is a late season soil-borne disease affecting canola. It moves through the root system and into the stem, choking the plant of nutrients. The plant will dry down prematurely and shred. It can be misdiagnosed as sclerotinia or blackleg and thrives in hot, dry conditions.
Justine Cornelsen, agronomic and regulatory services manager for BrettYoung Seeds, has been studying verticillium stripe in canola for over 10 years. She says a rating scale has been tossed around since the disease was first identified on a Manitoba research farm in 2014.
The Canola Council of Canada brought together a disease steering committee comprised of various industry members to create the disease severity scale. The scale ranges from 0 to 5 and includes microsclerotia and stem/plant symptom descriptions and photos. The recommended time of surveying is close to harvest, with 80 to 90 per cent seed colour change.
This is a voluntary scale, and breeding companies will use modified versions of it, says Cornelsen. Verticillium stripe is now a focus for many canola breeding programs and there’s no industry standard for resistance or tolerance in hybrids and no good commercial check, she adds.
The next step is to build on the disease severity scale and develop a yield loss scale. “Then we could really show the grower the damage that’s done in the field,” she says.
For more information, visit https://www. canolacouncil.org/canola-encyclopedia/diseases/ verticillium-stripe/.
“We have a vast trialing network where we put our products up against some of the toughest leading competitors and we’re seeing consistent results out of those,” says Welch.
With a dedicated team focused on the canola seed portfolio, Canterra Seeds feels their hybrids are the complete package and a strong player in the market. “We are offering an excellent balance of that new pod protect trait, providing that level of pod shatter tolerance that is expected now, along with excellent consistent yields and something that may be more unique to our program is having that excellent disease resistance.”
Bayer
Bayer is bucking the trend and focusing on the TruFlex segment next year with the launch of its DK904TF canola hybrid. After launching an initial group of products in the 900 series, this new hybrid is the next evolution in the class and combines the best traits into one product, says Tim Darragh, canola technical strategy lead with Bayer.
The mid-maturity hybrid comes with Straight Cut Plus genetics with enhanced pod shatter protection, an R rating for blackleg and Clubroot Resistance Plus (CR+), which provides the broadest protection against the most frequently found pathotypes in Western Canada. It also has exceptional dry down like all DEKALB hybrids.
“In terms of thinking about harvest timing, we have the pod shatter that will allow it to be more robust but also dry it out quicker than some products in the marketplace,” he says.
But the biggest benefit of DK904TF, according to Darragh, is the outstanding yield. “We wanted to make sure that if we were going to bring something out in the TruFlex category that it has high yield, so this will be the highest yielding TruFlex product in our lineup and I would argue probably the highest yielding TruFlex product in the marketplace.”
Pushing the yield envelope is a priority for Bayer. Darragh notes that with every new canola hybrid release, they want an incremental yield increase, adding that DK904TF is about six per cent higher yielding than DK900TF in the class. “When growers are thinking about tight margins, being able to get yield and be profitable is really important,” he says. “We feel like we’ve positioned ourselves with the tools and strategies to really be able to push that yield.”
Consistent performance across all geographies in Western Canada is also important to Bayer, which is why they trial all new hybrids in multiple locations.
And all DEKALB canola seed comes with the complete package, says Darragh, including BUTEO start seed treatment and the DEKALB Reseed Program.
“LOYAL TO THE SOIL“ PAYS BACK FOR AXTEN FARMS
BY ANGELA LOVELL
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JP MEDIA WORKS INC
“Loyal to the soil” is not just the farm motto on Axten Farms near Minton, Saskatchewan, it’s the foundation of Derek and Tannis Axten’s management system. For the last 20 years, that has meant a focus on building and maintaining soil health using regenerative practices.
When they took over the fourth-generation family farm from Derek’s dad, Herb, in the early 2000s, it was a struggle to retain precious moisture in their fragile soils.
“When we did get rain, it would often come fast in large thunderstorms, and would hit the ground and run away,” says Tannis Axten. “The farm had been no till for years, but we knew there was more we could be doing, so we decided we’d go to direct seeding and bought a disc drill so that we could disturb the soil as little as possible.”
After heading to South Dakota to visit Dr. Dwayne Beck at the Dakota Lakes Research Farm, and the farm of Gabe Brown, a pioneer in regenerative agriculture, they started to better understand the importance of soil health and how healthy soil functions.
“We had been so focused on everything above the ground, we really knew very little of what goes on below the ground, and how important it was to keep the soil biology and soil aggregation more intact,” Axten says.
Developing a healthy soil system
From there, things snowballed. In 2016, Axten took Dr. Elaine Ingham’s “Life in Soils” class to learn more about actual soil biology and the importance of diversity in supporting healthy soil life.
“We had been so focused on everything above the ground, we really knew very little of what goes on below the ground, and how important it was to keep the soil biology and soil aggregation more intact.”
- Tannis Axten
Today, the Axtens grow around 14 different crops each year, have planted pollinator boundaries around some fields, and also do cover crops and intercropping with the goal to add diversity to feed the soil life – and keep the soil covered to maintain moisture and prevent erosion. They also use a stripper header on the combine that harvests just the grain, leaving tall standing stubble behind to catch as much snow as possible in winter.
“The goal is to maximize moisture and with everything we do, we try to keep the soil in mind because we are an agricultural system. We do some damage, but we always think about what we can do to repair or do as little damage as possible to our soil biology so that we can cycle the nutrients and create that healthy balance,” Axten says.
Another big part of the system is monitoring the health not just of the soils, but of the plants in-season to make sure they
“LOYAL
Derek and Tannis Axten with their farmhand, Brock, on Axten Farms near Minton, SK.
can tailor their fertilizer plan and crop rotations to provide the maximum nutrition to their crops.
“We don’t do as much soil testing anymore because we want to make sure that what is going into the soil is getting into the plant,” Axten says. “We do a lot of sap testing, which is something like a tissue test that we send off to a lab and it tells us exactly what the plant is taking up. If it has any deficiencies, then we can add a foliar feeding. Then we build those nutrients into our nutrient program for the next spring because we know which ones are lacking.”
The Axtens, who were named Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers in 2017, have learned that making sure crops get adequate nutrition to maximize yield and quality is a delicate balancing act.
“There are some nutrients that will tie up other nutrients in the soil, so we are always trying to find that balance and make sure that what we’re doing is actually working,” Axten says.
Taking the plunge into value-added
After putting so much work and care into their soils and producing higher-quality crops, the Axtens found it hard to just dump their crops into the commodity market, which wasn’t paying them a premium for all their efforts. That’s when they decided to take the plunge into the value-added market. They built their own food grade seed cleaning plant and an on-farm flour mill to produce their own flours from the grain they were growing.
“We farm 10,000 acres, so we grow a lot of grain, and we have eight different crops that we mill into flour,” Axten says. “All the grains mill a little differently, but for spring wheat, we can mill about a ton of flour in two hours.”
The robotic bagging line sorts the flour into one-, 10- or 20-kilogram bags that are sold to retailers, bakeries and direct to customers via their online store. The system was deliberately built large scale to allow for growth in sales, something they are now turning their attention to, but admit it is a challenging part of the business.
“Marketing isn’t our strong suit, and a lot of people don’t know we exist, but we are unique because there aren’t many farms that grow their own grain, clean it and mill it all on site,” Axten says. “We are working on creating awareness and promoting the importance of whole grain flour and nutrition.”
They have help from their daughter, Kate, 21, who has just finished her third year at Dalhousie University where she is taking a degree in international food business. She keeps the website and social media up to date for the farm. Their son, Brock, 19, is back for the summer after completing an agricultural equipment technician course in Saskatoon, and
Tannis Axten understands the importance of diversity in supporting healthy soil life.
Derek Axten monitors the health of not just the soil, but also the plants in-season.
plans to get some more mechanical training over the winter before he comes back to farm full time.
Building community along with the soil
Besides wanting to add value to the grain they grow, another big incentive for diversification was to create employment and opportunities for their community, and also to pass on their knowledge and experience to others interested in their farming approach.
“We were tired of watching our rural towns die, and thought if we can provide some employment opportunities it would bring more people into our community,” Axten says.
Besides the Axtens, the farm now employs three full-time people, and hosts three interns a year who come as part of their educational programs to learn about the Axten’s farming methods. This year they have interns from Quebec, Manitoba and France.
“There is no better way to learn than to come and see, and be part of the farm and the conversations,” Axten says, “It is
farm and made it work for us. We’re always still learning, making changes and trying to figure things out.”
Building value over time
Building soil health using regenerative methods is a long game. Changes don’t happen overnight, and the overall return on investment can be hard to quantify, but the Axtens know their system has brought value in many different ways.
“We grow different crops than we used to, and we are doing more value-add, so it’s kind of comparing apples and oranges because we’ve made so many changes,” Axten says. “We have invested a lot back into the farm, building this facility and trying to take a different route. A lot of what we are building is resilience, so that the farm is around for many more years.”
That said, they know their yields and quality have improved dramatically, something that became very clear to them after purchasing another farm a couple of years ago.
“The soil is becoming more productive,” Axten says. “Last year, after our second year of drought, we saw that our yields
Looking to the future
So now the process begins again on their new land as they begin to prepare for the next generation on the farm.
“There are so many things that change, we constantly need to be adapting in order to stay current,” Axten says. “We are excited that our son is interested in mechanics because that is something that is a full-time job, and our daughter is passionate about marketing and food systems. We are trying to diversify and think about what we can all bring back to the farm to make it better.”
For the short-term, though, the goal is to concentrate on the marketing side of the business and identify markets and partners that appreciate what the farm does and everything that goes into producing their products.
“We are looking for people who are really interested in the nutrition and the flavour, and care about where their ingredients come from,” Axten says. She acknowledges that is a challenge, and although the current ‘Buy Canadian’ movement, prompted by tariff threats from the United States, should be providing a lot of opportunity, Axten says that doesn’t always translate into action from consumers to buy locally produced products.
“Although people are feeling stronger as Canadians all the time and want to support other Canadian companies, it’s been a little disheartening that people talk, and have plans to buy local, but when it comes to actually making that change, and switching to a different supplier, people struggle,” she says. “It’s sometimes easier to keep doing what you’re already doing even though you’d like to make a change, because it’s risk and hard work. I think it will come, but it is like anything. It’s easier to talk about it, but it’s a lot harder to actually do it.”
What the Axtens believe will make a difference in the long term to change people’s buying habits is assurances, through certification processes, that food producers are doing what they say they are doing. They are certified with a U.S. body called Regenified that audits the farm annually to verify they are using regenerative practices.
“What we like about the certification is they have different tiers, and you need to be constantly improving,” Axten says. “For us, on the marketing side, when people see the Regenified label on a bag, there’s substance to that. I think we are going to see more of these programs in Canada in the future.”
Axten Farms encompasses 10,000 acres with eight different crops milled into flour, making them one of the few farms that grow, clean and mill their own grain on site.
Derek and Tannis Axten are building the farm’s resilience to ensure its longevity in the future.
Monitoring Harvest Loss
A game-changer for farm profitability
In today’s high-cost, low-margin environment, grain and row crop farmers can’t afford to leave yield and profit in the field. Whether it’s canola, wheat, soybeans or other crops harvested with a combine, harvest optimization expert Marcel Kringe is urging farmers to focus on one of the most overlooked, yet impactful, management practices: measuring harvest loss to fine-tune combine calibration.
“Combine grain loss is one of the biggest invisible threats to profitability,” says Kringe, CEO of Bushel Plus. “Most farmers assume their machines are performing efficiently, but without measuring actual loss, they’re often losing more than they realize.”
Combines are powerful and complex machines, but they’re not “set-it-and-forget-it” systems. When key settings are not properly dialed in, grain can be damaged or lost. And because loss happens behind the machine, Kringe says it’s easy to miss.
“If the rotor is spinning too fast, it can damage kernels or push material through too aggressively. If fan speed is off, it will influence the separation and retention of the grain,” explains Kringe. “It’s all about balance, and even small calibration errors can lead to significant losses. It may not be something the driver is doing wrong, but rather a problem with the combine itself.”
The numbers tell a powerful story when it comes to the financial impact of harvest loss. For example, if a farmer is harvesting canola at 45 bushels per acre and losing three bushels per acre, that amounts to 6.67 per cent of the crop left in the field. At a market price of $14.87 per bushel, that loss
equals $44.61 per acre (CAD). Multiplied across 1,000 acres, that’s $44,610 in lost revenue (CAD).
The numbers for wheat are just as striking. A three-bushel loss in a 55-bushel-per-acre Canada Western Red Spring wheat (CWRS) crop equals 5.45 per cent of the yield left behind. At $7.66 per bushel, that’s a loss of $22.98 per acre, or $22,980 in lost income over 1,000 acres.
“These aren’t theoretical numbers,” says Kringe. “They’re real dollars that could be in your pocket – but only if you’re measuring what’s being left behind.”
When it comes to measuring, most growers rely solely on factory combine presets or in-cab loss sensors, which Kringe says aren’t enough.
“Factory settings are a starting point, not a precision solution. And built-in sensors often can’t account for key variables like terrain, machine wear or crop type,” he explains. “If you want accurate data, you need to get out behind the combine and measure actual loss in the field to calibrate those loss sensors properly. In other words, the loss sensor display needs a measured benchmark from what’s going out the back to provide useful information to the operator.”
That’s where drop pans come in: a simple but powerful tool for capturing a real-time snapshot of what the combine is losing.
“Drop pans collect real data, not estimates,” says Kringe. “Depending on your machine, they tell you where loss is
“This system gives growers everything they need to take quick, corrective action. In just a few minutes, you go from guessing to knowing, and from losing money to saving it.” - Marcel Kringe
occurring – from the header, rotor or cleaning shoe – and give you the confidence to make targeted adjustments that immediately protect yield and profit.”
To make harvest loss measurement faster, safer and more precise, Bushel Plus developed the SmartPan System™, the most advanced remote drop pan solution on the market.
Using a remote magnetic release, the SmartPan mounts within seconds underneath any combine and collects a grain loss sample during normal field operation. That sample is then processed using the air separator, which removes chaff and debris to isolate
clean grain. The grain is weighed with a digital scale, and the results are logged instantly into a mobile app, providing clear, actionable insights on loss within a couple of minutes.
“This system gives growers everything they need to take quick, corrective action,” says Kringe. “In just a few minutes, you go from guessing to knowing, and from losing money to saving it.”
Compatible with all major crops harvested by a combine like corn, soybeans, wheat, canola, barley, rice and milo, the SmartPan System is endorsed and used by leading equipment manufacturers, including John Deere, Case IH, New Holland, CLAAS and Fendt. Kringe says growers using the system have reduced losses from as high as eight per cent down to under one per cent.
Improving harvest profitability starts with knowing exactly how much grain you’re losing – and why. In today’s economic climate, every bushel counts. And in 2025, precision isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity.
“You’ve already invested in seed, fertilizer, crop protection, fuel and labour,” says Kringe. “Don’t let all that effort and expense go to waste because of outdated combine settings. With the right tool and just a few quick checks, you can turn lost yield into recovered revenue and real profit.”
IN THE
DRIVER’S SEAT.
Who is in the Tent?
By Nerissa McNaughton
Welcome to part four of seven. This series is designed to help every farmer with affordable, easy, hassle-free continuity planning.
“Not my circus, not my monkeys,” so the cheeky saying goes. While this can be used to brush off a great many things, such as spicy office gossip and the neighbour’s refusal to remove dandelions from their lawn, it is a saying that doesn’t hold any water when it comes to continuity planning. This is your circus. Those are your monkeys – and the more you ignore them, the more havoc you get under the big top.
Derryn Shrosbree, a longtime farmer, a father and the founder of 33seven, set his tag line (ASK A FARMER WHO KNOWS®) for a good reason. He lived through the “circus” quite unwillingly when his father passed without a continuity plan in place. What occurred next tore the family apart and upended the estate with tax debt. Why? His father’s refusal to gather the right people in the tent – or any people at all.
Determined to save others from the same fate, Shrosbree launched 33seven. Now he helps entrepreneurs, mainly farmers, see how just a few steps today can save the farm millions in tax and ensure a smooth succession that keeps acreage and families together.
“Who is in the tent?” Shrosbree muses. “It’s my family; the people I love. Fill your tent with the family members who will be involved in continuity planning. From there, find a specialist firm that focuses on continuity planning. Find one firm that
takes care of all the aspects for you – where you have one point of contact pulling in resources like insurance, financing, legal and investment planning. Find that one-stop shop that provides the expertise.”
He knows there is a twist.
“Some people have different seats in the tent and everyone’s tent will look different. Some siblings have been working on the farm for decades; others have not set foot on the property for years. It’s not a matter of the on-farm kids in the tent, while the off-farm kids are not.”
And what is your role? You are the ringmaster. Take charge.
That role may seem overwhelming at first but remember, each person in that tent has a part to play. Once assembled, the whole act comes together and everyone does their part – but you have to get them there first. You cannot expect the show to go on by simply wishing and hoping. 33seven offers some very unique options.
“One option is a trust,” says Shrosbree. “There are two different kinds of trusts. One is the 21-year trust, which is standard in Canada. Then there’s another one, which is not standard, but way more interesting, and it’s called a continuity trust. You can take capital assets and put those into the 21-year reset trust, but the continuity trust can take any asset that is not a capital asset, such as life insurance and leverage.”
He explains, “With the explosion in farmland values, there’s a
“With
the explosion in farmland values,
there’s
a lot more at stake now. For example, let’s say you have four kids and a farm worth $10 million. You love all your kids equally, so each would inherit $2.5 million. Sounds simple, right? But here’s where it gets tricky. Statistically, in Canada, two out of these four kids are likely to get divorced. That’s where protecting the estate becomes a challenge.”
- Derryn Shrosbree
lot more at stake now. For example, let’s say you have four kids and a farm worth $10 million. You love all your kids equally, so each would inherit $2.5 million. Sounds simple, right? But here’s where it gets tricky. Statistically, in Canada, two out of these four kids are likely to get divorced. That’s where protecting the estate becomes a challenge.
“One of the easiest ways to address this is through life insurance. For instance, Mom and Dad could take out a $2-million life insurance policy, with each child receiving $1 million upon their passing. This way, Rob and Ron get $1 million each, and Mary gets the farm. Everyone’s happy, and the estate is equalized.
“But here’s the catch: life insurance isn’t cheap. Farmers often tell me, ‘The premium is $100,000 a year; that’s a big number.’ They would rather choose something that makes more sense in the immediate future, like a header for their combine.”
Shrosbree urges farmers to shift their thinking to opportunity versus cost.
“Let’s say the life insurance premium is $100,000. You send that to the life insurance company, but here’s the strategy: you then go to a bank or credit union and borrow back that $100,000. With that borrowed money, you can buy the header
for your combine. Now, not only do you have the new header – allowing you to increase productivity and make more money on your canola or other crops – but you can also write off the interest expense on the loan.
“This approach means you’ve essentially used the same dollar twice. You’ve funded your continuity plan, ensuring the farm transitions smoothly to Mary while Rob and Ron receive cash, keeping everyone happy and the family dynamic intact. At the same time, you’ve maintained the liquidity of your farm because the $100,000 is back in your hands for productive use. It’s an elegant solution that addresses continuity planning and estate equalization while allowing the farming operation to continue without financial strain. No opportunity cost, no compromise – just a smart way to keep the farm running and the family together.”
How can you as a farmer do this? Get everyone in the tent. The solution is there. The goal is attainable. As the ringmaster, it is up to you to assemble the players. Then the grand act can begin. And the finale? Something everyone can enjoy.
Learn more at www.33seven.ca.
The Importance of Tile Drainage
Agronomic, environmental and economic benefits
By Lisa Kopochinski
Beneath the ground of the three Prairie provinces, thousands of acres of fields are being maintained in excellent condition due to the implementation of tile drainage.
Considered a proven technology widely used by farmers in crops such as fruit, vegetables and edible beans for more than a century, the benefits of tiling are being utilized by grain, soy and canola growers across Western Canada.
So, what exactly is tile drainage? Essentially, it is an agricultural drainage system that removes excess subsurface water from fields to allow sufficient airspace within the soil, proper cultivation and access by heavy machinery to tend and harvest crops. It is considered by many to be the most effective means of draining subsurface water.
Types and Benefits
There are two types of drainage systems used by farmers. These include:
• Surface drainage: facilitated by ditches and by maintaining natural channels to allow water to move downward by the force of gravity.
• Subsurface drainage: built by burying pipes underground to remove excess water from the soil profile.
Environmental benefits: reduced soil erosion, reduced nutrient losses, improved water quality, reduced peak water flows, improved water infiltration and long-term improved water retention due to higher crop water usage.
Economic benefits: increased yields due to agronomic and environmental benefits, reduced production risk, capture of unproductive acres, increased land value and a one-time
expense with little to no operating costs.
Precision Drainage Solutions is a Saskatchewan-based full-service tile drainage company that provides complete tile drainage services including system design, elevation mapping, permitting and planning, installation and post-install support.
“Our team uses RTK technology to create precise drainage layouts tailored to each field’s topography,” says owner Olaf Boettcher. “This allows oxygen back into the soil profile, which is essential for healthy root development and microbial activity. A host of agronomic and environmental benefits translate into increased yields, greater machine efficiency and reduced production risk.”
He says another big driver behind tile drainage is to address salinity challenges in the Prairie provinces by managing the water tables to reduce soil water evaporation and instead, allow downward movement of water in the soil profile, creating an environment for healthy crop growth and crop water usage.
“We also offer lift stations, outlet management and surface water control integration where needed. Every job is approached with the goal of maximizing both agronomic and economic return for the client.”
NextGen Drainage Solutions was founded in Pilot Mound, Manitoba in 2012 by Brett Sheffield, in an effort to continue to expand the farm operation with his father, Lyn.
“It seemed hard to find more land and it seemed expensive to buy more land,” recalls Lyn Sheffield. “So, we looked into tile drainage and thought, ‘Why do we not just improve what we have?’ That winter, Brett and I enrolled in the Guelph tile drainage program in Ontario.
“We started tiling our own farmland that fall. Since then, we have installed tile drainage projects in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Currently, we are running two tile plows and installing tile on 3,500 to 4,000 acres per year.”
The company provides a variety of drainage systems and
services, which include full permitting services for the installation of tile drainage systems; tile drainage designs that are unique to each field’s water management requirements and soil types; the installation of controlled drainage systems that manage the soil moisture in different zones in the field to ensure healthy root development for crops at different stages of growth; and more.
“Our drainage systems are designed to control and manage the water in a root zone to ensure the perfect healthy soil of 25 per cent water, 25 per cent oxygen and 50 per cent soil. The drainage only removes the excess water that the soil cannot hold,” says Sheffield.
“Our tile is installed at a minimum depth with two feet of cover on top of the pipe to ensure that heavy machinery can not crush it. We also backfill our tile scars and help educate our clients on the best way to manage the field after the project is completed.”
Marlen Bergen, owner of KOMB Ag Services in Altona, Manitoba, can certainly relate. Over the past eight years, his team has provided a solution further expanding the services and knowledge to subsurface drainage with the mole plow.
“Many refer to this as the poor man’s tile or tileless tile,” he says. “It has been used since the early 1800s. This is not a new concept, but the approach – machine and what we know today – is leaving great results with creating the open channels in the soil.”
In 2018, as tile became more prevalent in his business, Bergen wanted to reach out to new customers who had heavy soils on
their farms, which was limiting them from thinking of tile.
“The challenge got me to find a solution,” he recalls. “More common in Australia and Europe, the mole plow is a very effective tool in many of our soils and conditions.”
He adds that in the last few years of new mole plow customers, salinity areas are growing crops where nothing grew before. “Wet areas that weren’t seeded can now seed and fields are farmed corner-to-corner after only one season of mole application.”
Today, the company offers tile consulting, installation, tile pipe and tile plow sales, and assists farmers tackling their own projects.
“We also offer our KOMB 40 Caliber Mole Plow installation injunction to the tile projects to further increase the effectiveness and ROI on tile. We fly with a winged drone over the land to collect highly accurate elevation data to plan the project to apply for the application.”
Industry Challenges
When asked about some of the industry challenges involved with tile drainage and how these issues can be overcome, Bergen says lift structure costs add a lot to the project if there is not power nearby or many acres to spread the cost over.
“A solution to better handle these scenarios is by offering remote diesel pumps where it now becomes feasible to pump water where power is out of reach. These pumps are simple to service and can be utilized in more than one location. They have pumps shown to be a great solution to our business in growing the area in which we are installing subsurface drainage.”
Boettcher adds that some of the key challenges include up-front costs, navigating permitting, and designing systems that account for unpredictable weather events.
“To overcome these, we work closely with farmers to create phased approaches that suit their budgets and timelines. Proper planning, site assessments and using modern tools like LiDAR and RTK mapping help us design systems that are resilient and future-proof. Education is also a big part of what we do. Helping farmers understand long-term benefits often outweighs the initial investment concerns.”
Sheffield stresses that the public should be educated on the benefits of tile drainage as it is a controlled drainage practice that manages the water in the soil.
“Tile drainage systems can reduce peak water flow, reducing downstream flooding and also reduce soil erosion and phosphate loss. Tile drainage can also reduce government payments due to ‘too wet’ to seed, crop insurance payout for crop loss due to ‘too wet,’ and it also allows farmers to seed earlier and at the optimum time to achieve a great crop.”
Regions
Peace Region – Alberta & BC
Northern Alberta
Manitoba
Collection events are coming to Peace Region, Northern Alberta and Manitoba in Fall 2025!
Please store unwanted materials until a Cleanfarms collection event is held near you.
We accept:
• Unwanted agricultural pesticides including seed treatment
• Commercial pesticides and pest control products
• Livestock/equine medications
When October 6 to October 10
October 6 to October 10
October 27 to October 31
Check cleanfarms.ca to find the full list of collection events for Peace Region, Northern Alberta and Manitoba from October 6 to October 31, 2025.
Brave New Tenders
By Tom Wolf
When I attend trade shows, I usually ask vendors what’s new in their product line. At this year’s Ag in Motion, held in Langham, Saskatchewan from July 15-17, that was hardly necessary. On entering the grounds, I immediately noticed various trailers near the drone retailers. These were the tendering units designed specifically for drones.
First some background. We know that to maximize time efficiency in any agricultural operation, we need to manage downtime. In spraying, non-spray time comprises ferrying to the fill station, time spent filling, cleaning, maintenance, etc. Any task done on a spray day that is not spraying is lost spraying time, resulting in acres left undone.
The proportion of time spent on spraying is critical. The longer we can spray before filling is important, as is the time
spent filling. And this becomes important for a drone operation where the time spent spraying is less than five minutes. For a DJI T50, with a capacity of 40 litres or 10.5 U.S. gallons, a tank lasts for an application of around three gallons per acre at a swath width of 26 feet for a single back-andforth pass on a quarter section. This takes about four minutes of flying time at 16 miles per hour. Add one minute for takeoff, landing, ferrying and minor delays; that is five minutes per tank as a best-case scenario.
It should be clear that filling, swapping or charging batteries needs to be fast. If that operation were to take five minutes, for example, it would represent 130 per cent of spraying time. Spray productivity including fills would be 19 acres/hour, but if it could be done in one minute, filling would be 26 per cent of spraying time, allowing for a productivity of 32 acres/hour, a 68 per cent improvement.
At this time, a reminder is necessary. As of July 2025, there are still no agricultural pesticides registered for drone application in Canada. Industrial weed control using Garlon XRT is allowed, but only on rights-of-way, not pastures or rangeland. Drones may be used to apply fertilizer and seed in agricultural areas.
Nonetheless, the industry has responded with a number of commercially available tender systems. The most noticeable at Ag in Motion was the bright orange PhiBer DASH Carrier.
Figure 1: The PhiBer DASH Carrier is a robust and full-featured tender system for drones, manufactured in Crystal City, MB.
This unit, the winner of an AgTech Innovation Award, is heavily built and fully featured. The flight deck (landing platform) is built onto the roof of a 32-foot gooseneck tender trailer, with tanks, generators and pumps all at ground level. The landing platform is extended to either side, tripling the area available for drone landing, with generous space for four drones.
The area over the hitch is dedicated to a control tower. The enclosed space features two seats, desks and drawers with AC and USB outlets. Shading and air-conditioning are available on the control deck.
The flight deck is covered in a plastic material that keeps it cool in bright sunlight and has a central gutter that drains any spills, rinses or cooling water from battery charging. There are tie-downs for drones to be stored on the central deck, with the two wing decks folding over top to cover the drones for transport or storage.
The mixing centre features options for a 1,100-to-1,300-gallon bulk water tank, two 250-gallon cone tanks with agitation, a DASH-1 mixing unit (Praxidyn Mixmate is optional) and room for totes or cases of jugs in front.
Generators are in the back, featuring Tier 4 DEUTZ diesel power units delivering either 40 or 70 kW. These quiet generators also drive an air compressor that allows all pumps to be air driven.
PhiBer now has an online store, PhiBer.Shop, where customers can configure a trailer or purchase components or parts.
Farm & Sky Tech of Neepawa, Manitoba also had a drone tender trailer at the show. This unit mounts on a purchasersupplied 26-foot trailer and also features a folding flight deck that expands to triple the area of the trailer roof to 22 feet wide.
The main deck contains a water tank that sits over the axles, as well as a Handler IV for mixing chemical. In addition to a venturi induction system, the Handler IV has a 230-gallon holding tank for the mixed pesticide. The rear is available for storing one or two generators and/or drones.
There is a comfortable set of stairs at the front for accessing the spacious flight deck. These stairs lead to a control deck from which the drones would be piloted. The floor material is shiny steel with non-slip strips placed at intervals. The two flight deck wings have perforations that double as slipproofing. Unlike the Dash Drone Carrier, the Farm & Sky Tech tender’s flight deck folds down to enclose the floor space for storage or transport.
Elev8 Drone Service is producing a pickup truck-mounted tendering system called Sky Rig. Mounted on a heavier-duty
Figure 2: The DASH control tower with seating and desk space can be climate controlled as an option.
Figure 3: The DASH Carrier has a cushioned flight deck with space for four drones.
Figure 4: Enclosed space housing the diesel generator for the DASH Carrier.
Figure 5: The Farm & Sky Tech tender system is compact and light.
Figure 6: Space for four drones on a metal surface - of the Farm & Sky Tech tender system
truck, it offers a very compact solution suitable for one drone landing at a time.
Access to the top is via a side-mounted ladder. On top, the flight deck has a separate space for the control tower, which contains an inductor, sourced from PhiBer, as well as a compartment for drone storage, battery charging and the hose reel. The control tower is on scissor jacks and can be lowered to the pickup bed for easier loading of supplies via a small access hatch. This part of the control tower has a lid for transport.
On the front of the pickup bed is room for a tote containing water and a generator, although it looks tight. I forgot to ask if the drone fits in the control tower but that’s the only logical place to transport it.
Overall, this compact solution strikes me as a very cool idea for work where a separate drone trailer is less practical. Not everyone will have multiple drones and require full-day capacity. Particularly in industrial vegetation management, where drones may need to be in difficult to access locations, the simplicity of this design has merit.
One concern with all these systems is pilot safety, with eight to ten feet of elevation on the flight deck that may or may not be secured with an approved railing. This surface will likely get wet and slippery during operation. Operators will need to pay heed to the associated dangers.
These new trailer ideas join existing systems that originated in the U.S., such as the Top Notch Drone Trailer we saw at last year’s show. As with any tendering system, there are a lot of good ideas that allow for custom configuration to suit individual needs.
The regulatory hurdles to registration of agricultural products for drone application remain in place for now. In the short term, we will see expansion of drone labels for industrial products, led by Corteva’s strong portfolio. We will be seeing the first agricultural pesticides in the form of fungicides for the 2026 season, led by Bayer. It’s worth noting that some pesticide manufacturers have opted to stay out of the drone space for now, possibly waiting to see how successful the first products will be, and whether the regulatory process will change.
We are still at the early stage of drone use for spray application, and the technical and legal hurdles are legitimate. It will be important for any participant in spray drone distribution, retail or application to be vigilant, safe and informed about the legal aspects of pesticide use as well as the proper operation of these heavy drones in uncontrolled airspace. As with so many aspects of spray application, we are relying on the goodwill of everyone to avoid illegal and dangerous use of these new tools.
Figure 7: There is ample room on the deck of the Farm & Sky Tech tender for water, an induction system with a hot tank and generators.
Figure 8: The Sky Rig is remarkably full-featured for such a compact design.
Figure 9: The Sky Rig control tower contains the inductor, room for the pilot, as well as storage space when not in use.
Figure 10: Scissor jacks allow the Sky Rig control tower to be lowered for transport or loading.
Figure 11: The Top Notch Drone Trailer was last year’s sole drone tender at Ag in Motion.
