Farming For Tomorrow May June 2021

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May / June 2021

ENTREPRENEURS IN AGRICULTURE

Driven to Succeed

Saskatchewan farm family takes entrepreneurship to new heights with diversified operations

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16 07

A Farmer’s Viewpoint

Federal carbon credits are coming, but it won’t be easy money

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Many crops enjoy unbelievable highs

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by Scott Shiels

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Spraying 101

How the Optical Spot Spraying Revolution Will Change Spraying

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by Tom Wolf

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Swathing

Swath talk

by Jeff Melchior

By Trevor Bacque

Those Wily Weeds

Scouting 101 – Use the Future to Improve Now

by Tammy Jones

by Kevin Hursh

Grain Market Analysis

Driven to Succeed

Farming Your Money

And Then There Was Profit

by Paul Kuntz

Grain Handling

Movin’ on up

by Jaclyn Krymowski Land Value

Land values in 2021: the biggest increase since... ?

by Vincent Cloutier

KEVIN HURSH 4

TAMMY JONES

PAUL KUNTZ

SCOTT SHIELS

TOM WOLF

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FEDERAL CARBON CREDITS ARE COMING, BUT IT WON’T BE EASY MONEY | A FARMER’S VIEWPOINT

Federal carbon credits are coming, but it won’t be easy money If you’re expecting payments because you sequester carbon through direct seeding and minimum tillage, don’t hold your breath.

On March 5, the federal government announced its next step in creating a domestic carbon offset.

Yes, agriculture is part of this, but farmers won’t be paid for what they are already doing.

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 for a number of agricultural publications and serves as executive director for the Canary Seed Development Commission of Saskatchewan and the Inland Terminal Association of Canada (ITAC).

Twitter: @KevinHursh1

Everyone has heard the argument that with minimum soil disturbance, carbon is sequestered in the soil, leading to an increase in organic matter and that farmers should be paid for keeping this carbon out of the atmosphere.

Well, if it wasn’t clear before, it’s laid out quite clearly in the government’s carbon offset announcement. There are no payments for business as usual practices. Only activities leading to further reductions will be eligible.

Research seems to show that carbon continues to accumulate in the soil, albeit more slowly, even after many years of a zero-till regime. Some held out hope that this would therefore be eligible as an offset. Quite understandably, it is not.

The purpose is to adjust production practices to produce verifiable new carbon offsets that companies can buy as part of meeting their own greenhouse gas reduction requirements. The government doesn’t intend to get involved in the pricing or trading of carbon credits. However as the carbon tax, or the “price on pollution” as the Liberal government likes to call it, increases, companies will naturally pay more for carbon credits.

If farmers could create carbon credits for business as usual and companies could buy the credits in lieu of reducing their own emissions, how would that actually help to reduce overall emissions? As a farmer, it would be a heck of a deal to receive money for not doing anything different and that’s basically how certain programs currently work, but not this one.

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A FARMER’S VIEWPOINT | FEDERAL CARBON CREDITS ARE COMING, BUT IT WON’T BE EASY MONEY

Depending how protocols play out, there may indeed be an opportunity for a flow of carbon credit money to agriculture, but as usual the devil will be in the details.

“To be eligible to generate offset credits, all projects will be required to achieve real, additional, quantified, verified, unique and permanent GHG reductions or removals by following an approved federal GHG offset protocol,” says the background document accompanying the news release.

Here’s another gem from that backgrounder. “For projects that involve biological sequestration, monitoring and reporting must continue for 100 years after credits have been issued to ensure the permanence of GHG reductions.”

Protocols are now under development and are slated for completion by this fall. The first offset protocols being developed are for advanced refrigeration systems, improved forest management, landfill methane management and enhanced organic carbon.

The Enhanced Soil Organic Carbon protocol will apply to “the adoption of regenerative agriculture land management practices that go above and beyond business as usual.”

Regenerative agriculture is a vague term that means different

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things to different people. We’ll have to wait and see the protocol specifics. The government promised an opportunity to comment on the draft protocols before they are finalized.

Livestock Feed Management is another offset protocol under consideration. Beyond that, depending upon the results of further analysis and pilot projects, there might be protocols for Avoided Conversion of Grasslands, Reduced Nitrogen Oxide Emissions from Agriculture Fertilizer and Livestock Manure Management.

Depending how protocols play out, there may indeed be an opportunity for a flow of carbon credit money to agriculture, but as usual the devil will be in the details.

Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister MarieClaude Bibeau points out that the Federal Greenhouse Gas Offset System is part of a larger strategy, “which also includes over $350 million in new agro-environmental programs.” We’ll also have to wait and see what that entails.

Meanwhile, it appears the federal government is finally taking complaints seriously regarding the carbon tax on propane and natural gas for grain drying. There’s now a commitment for further rebates on farm fuels to go beyond existing exemptions.

Unfortunately, the impact of the carbon tax on everything from grain transportation to the manufacture of fertilizer will continue to have in impact on farmers, reducing competitiveness as compared to farmers in other countries.

With the Biden administration being a big proponent on climate action, it will be interesting to see how programs south of the border compare to what’s being developed here.

From one long line of hard workers to another.

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GRAIN SECTION MARKET | TITLE ANALYSIS | MANY CROPS ENJOY UNBELIEVABLE HIGHS

Many crops enjoy unbelievable highs Scott Shiels

Scott grew up in Killarney, Man., and has been in the grain industry for more than 25 years. He has been with Grain Millers Canada for five years, doing both conventional and organic grain procurement as well as marketing for their mills.

Scott lives in Yorkton, Sask., with his wife Jenn. www.grainmillers.com

It has been an absolutely wild ride in the grain markets since harvest. Realistically, it doesn’t look to end anytime soon. We have been moving steadily higher in both the cash and futures markets in nearly every commodity since the combines started rolling last fall. Let’s take a look and see if we can break down different factors putting a bullish spin on grain prices.

The three biggest factors overall are COVID-19 demand, export sales increases and weather. As we are well aware, there has definitely been an increase in grocery sales as consumer demand for pantry staples has been up for more than a year now. While we are not all in the toilet paper business, there are many other products people stocked up on, and that caused grocers to push orders ahead and, in many cases, increase orders to keep their shelves filled. Farmers and processors have benefited from this increase, and we in the oat industry have witnessed it very much first hand. Demand for oat products has been very strong as many consumers have been forced to spend more time at home. The increase in baking ingredients such as rolled oats and flours, as well as in ready-to-eat and hot cereals has been felt all the way back to the farmer, with oat prices on the Prairies rallying to equal all-time highs this winter.

This is not unique to oats, but it is likely near the top of crops that have benefited the most from the pandemic demand increase.

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On the export side, China has been a very aggressive buyer in many commodities, most noticeably in the barley market.

Rumours abound that China’s demand for Canadian barley will increase this year, and next year, to nearly double its previous annual average. This demand has caused feed barley prices, both for this year and next, to skyrocket. In certain cases it has even exceeded malt barley prices on the Prairies. With prices climbing to all time highs, farmers have been faced with many tough choices when it comes to seeding intentions. Industry experts posit we could see up to a 20 per cent increase in barley acreage in Canada, which leads to an obvious next question: Where do those acres come from? With all crop prices strengthened, it will be a very interesting spring once planting is complete. Exports have also increased for crops like canola, wheat and oats, and with the reduced production last year, these sales have pushed old crop prices much higher on these commodities. Wheat was a little later to the party, but heading into spring those prices have picked up, as well.

The final piece of this puzzle really is the weather. Mother Nature has been pretty tight with moisture, with much of Western Canada receiving very little snowfall this winter. Manitoba, most of Saskatchewan, and the southern half of Alberta are all in a very dry situation, and this lack of moisture to start the crop is absolutely being factored into new crop prices already. As much as we would love to see more snow cover, we really can make this up quite quickly with timely spring rains. April showers bring May flowers.

Until next time…

TD HELPS CANADIAN AG GROW FORWARD | ADVERTORIAL

TD Helps Canadian Ag Grow Forward

Sponsorship of Olds College ag tech program and a dedicated team of ag lenders at TD are supporting sustainable operation of Canadian agri-businesses

By Natalie Noble For Farming for Tomorrow

The business of farming across Canada looks different than it did a decade ago, and it’s expected to transform over the next 10 years. It’s an innovative business that demands farmers continuously grow production in order to feed the world, while also keeping their operations economically viable today, and for the future farming generations of tomorrow.

It’s an appreciation for the hard work those in the agriculture industry do each day that’s at the heart of Stelter’s work with TD’s dedicated agriculture department, serving producers from coast to coast. Whether she’s helping her husband on their 1,500 acre grain farm near Edmonton or enjoying her client visits at farms around Alberta, the fourth-generation farmer is passionate about seeing Canadian agriculture progress.

In that spirit of growth, as well as the collaborative nature of agriculture, TD Bank Group (TD) has committed $250,000 to an Olds College autonomous program this spring. The funding will support continued autonomous agriculture education and applied research on the Olds College Smart Farm.

In fact, you might say TD’s sponsorship of Olds College’s ag program is the perfect union of Stelter’s passions: agriculture, business and education. “The underlying passions in my careers are agriculture and my desire for knowledge,” she says. “I grew up in the industry and my educational background is in agriculture business at Olds College. Being on our farm and going out to see customers, hearing about their different operations, I’m constantly learning.”

“At TD, we appreciate how new technologies and equipment allow farmers to innovate,” says Nicole Stelter, TD Vice President of Agriculture Services in Alberta.

“Through our sponsorship we want to help farmers be more productive, more efficient and support them to improve their profitability.”

The funding meets TD’s priorities aimed towards advancing Canada’s ag industry by supporting two major initiatives at Olds College and is made possible through the TD Ready Commitment, the bank’s Global Corporate Citizenship platform. First, the DOT Autonomous Platform will enter its second season on the college’s Smart Farm this year, exploring the economic, financial and labourrelated advantages autonomous equipment delivers to broad acre production.

And second, the three-part Autonomous Agriculture Education Series at Olds College is taking producers through the virtual adoption process involved with bringing new technologies and practices to their own farms. It’s collaborative contribution like TD’s sponsorship that will continue high tech learning environments for Canada’s next ag generation as they develop cutting-edge technologies. It also sets the stage for practical application and adoption of new technology for students and producers.

Regardless of the sector within agriculture – supply management, a feedlot or a greenhouse – Stelter loves seeing the shared core values producers hold that are based around feeding the world and growing agriculture. In order for them to continue to do so, technology is essential. “We want our farms to be sustainable and there for future generations,” she says.

“We know that what a farm looks like today will be very different in the coming years. That includes the number of family farms that will potentially exist here and the number of ag workers who are skilled and trained to work in the ag industry. This is going to continue to change and evolve.”

TD’s dedicated agriculture team understands the challenges farmers face at any given stage very well. “At TD Agriculture Services, agriculture is what we do and what we focus on every day. We’re often working with producers to understand their operations or their business needs; we want to support them in their growth and expansion,” says Stelter. “We’re here to help them through their challenging times. And, we want to help them move the farm over to the next generation with solid succession planning.”

Please visit www.td.com for more.

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SPRAYING 101 | HOW THE OPTICAL SPOT SPRAYING REVOLUTION WILL CHANGE SPRAYING

How the Optical Spot Spraying Revolution Will Change Spraying Tom Wolf, PhD, P.Ag. Tom Wolf grew up on a grain farm in southern Manitoba.

He obtained his BSA and M.Sc. (Plant Science) at the University of Manitoba and his PhD (Agronomy) at Ohio State University. Tom was a research scientist with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada for 17 years before forming AgriMetrix, an agricultural research company that he now operates in Saskatoon. He specializes in spray drift, pesticide efficacy, and sprayer tank cleanout, and conducts research and training on these topics throughout Canada. Tom sits on the Board of the Saskatchewan Soil Conservation Association, is an active member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and is a member and past president of the Canadian Weed Science Society.

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Some years ago, a friend recommended that I read The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. In this book, Gladwell tries to understand why some things catch on, and others don’t. It’s a compelling read full of Gladwell’s trademark stories and his knack to deftly interpret scientific studies. He talks of connectors, mavens, and salesmen, as well as the “stickiness factor”, a measure of how memorable something is, as keys to success of products and ideas. I think of the book often as I ponder the many good ideas in agriculture, most of which never see widespread adoption.

One of these good ideas is spot spraying. Green-on-brown detection was first introduced in the early 1990s. Anyone remember the Concord DetectSpray? Green-on-brown grew to the WeedSeeker a few years later, and found widespread success in Australia with WEEDit. Spot spraying did not gain any traction in Canada during this time.

Australia is unique in many ways, not the least of which is their summer spraying practice.

Summer is the hot, dry season where land is fallow and weeds are kept in check with herbicide sprays. Making several passes over a field, combined with the need to control some larger and hardy plants, is expensive, and a spot spray saves much of the cost. The savings can be put to use with more effective herbicide tank mixes that delay the onset of herbicide resistance. Spot sprays pay for themselves in short order Down Under.

It’s more of a challenge in Canada where burnoff occurs in a short window before seeding and sometimes after harvest, and where herbicide resistance is not as widespread as in Australia. But nonetheless, spot sprays have a fit for many of the same reasons.

WEEDit is the first system to make any inroads here, with about a dozen systems having been retrofitted to high-clearance sprayers in Alberta and Saskatchewan. High detection accuracy and hardware reliability is proven in three seasons.

On March 2, 2021, John Deere entered the green-on-brown spot spray area with See & Spray Select and will compete with WEEDit. But more importantly, it provides validation of the concept like only a major manufacturer can. Yes, we’ve reached a tipping point.

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SPRAYING 101 | HOW THE OPTICAL SPOT SPRAYING REVOLUTION WILL CHANGE SPRAYING

While the first green-on-brown units are becoming established, green-on-green, the ability to detect weeds within a crop, continues to be developed around the world.

French startup Bilberry has made enough gains in Australia to bring its product to market with Agrifac, where it’s called AIC Plus. In farmer field trials, they have achieved 90 per cent detection accuracy of wild radish in Western Australia, and claim that they are ready for broadleaf weed identification in wheat, barley and oats. Bilberry’s technology will also be seen on Australia’s Goldacres and France’s Berthoud. Other startups, notably Israel’s Greeneye Technology, plan to introduce a green-on-green system in the U.S. in the near future. Amazone, partnering with Xarvio and Bosch, announced their plans at Agritechnica to have a commercial unit for sale by 2021.

This technology will have significant impact on sprayer design philosophy. At present, productivity is synonymous with capacity, and large tanks with commensurate heavy and powerful tractor units dominate. Spot spraying savings will depend on weed density and hardware resolution, but 50 per cent to 90 per cent reductions in spray volume can be expected. A 1,600-gallon tank would no longer be necessary.

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The savings in frame weight and horsepower would be significant, as would the time savings from less intense tendering demands. These savings would offset the lower driving speeds that accompany sensing technologies, and, overall, provide a lower bar for autonomous operation.

The savings in brute size will be countered by increased sophistication. Better boom height management is essential for spot spraying, not just for the sensor to properly see the target and estimate the time needed for the boom to reach that spot, but also for the spot spray itself to deliver the right dose. In any fan spray, band width at ground level changes with height, and that, of course, is related to dose. Trailed booms can address this issue. With growing utility of soil residual herbicides, dual tank sprayers—small tank for the spot spray, large tank for the broadcast residual—make sense.

Plant detection and identification bring other opportunities.

Plant size is one of the first, perhaps adjusting dose to cater for harder to control weeds.

Spot sprays rely on fast, precise response of the nozzle, and this provided by fast-reacting solenoids that are part of pulse-width modulation (PWM) systems. On a broadcast sprayer, these solenoids can change the emitted dose instantly, within a certain envelope, by altering the duty cycle of the pulse.

If a plant that needs a higher dose was identified, that would be an opportunity to deliver a custom rate. Multiple nozzle bodies that are able to spray one, two or more nozzles in the same spot simultaneously, may be needed.

This also brings direct injection into play. Current systems introduce the active ingredient into the boom upstream of the nozzles, affording it time to mix into the water. For true spot spray utility, though, direct injection needs to be at the nozzle. Only then can custom mixes and rates be applied on a spot basis.

Spot sprays have agronomic benefits. By recording the location sprayed, weed patches can be mapped. As plant identification becomes possible, is it conceivable to obtain plant species and stage distribution maps from the spray pass?

That would turn the sprayer into a high-resolution crop scouting tool. The agronomic value of such maps, especially if created over the course of the growing season, is immense. Of course, data density, handling, and storage will constrain this.

What will a future spot sprayer look like? Although it will have tanks and booms, the level of electronic sophistication will make it so much more versatile we can’t yet imagine all the ways in which it might be used. But it seems we’re accelerating toward that future.

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COVER STORY | DRIVEN TO SUCCEED

DRIVEN TO

SUCCEED Saskatchewan farm family takes entrepreneurship to new heights with diversified operations

By Trevor Bacque Photography by Holly Caseley Photography 16

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED | COVER STORY

Jeff Prosko can hardly recognize his family farm from two decades ago. In fact, it has changed in just about every way one could imagine. All for the better, too.

When Prosko surveyed post-secondary options in the early 2000s, his father Rick was busy making a calculated decision which would not only preserve the local history of their Rose Valley, Sask., farming community, but also serve as the catalyst for the family’s future. That decision was to buy a Saskatchewan Wheat Pool elevator which closed in 2001 and saved it from the wrecking ball.

From that point forward the family began to evolve their farm operation into a much more sophisticated business. Prosko himself did set out to post-secondary, earning an agriculture diploma from the University of Saskatchewan before coming home in 2005. He comes from a line of farmers and both his parents are passionate about the industry. His mom, Donna, split time between the local bank and the farm, created a farm safety colouring book for kids while Rick, an optimistic innovator, co-created, alongside Jim Sowa, a unique aftermarket retrofit for an air seeder, effectively turning a seeder into an air drill; it was dubbed the “On-Row Packer.”

“They were always looking for opportunities, their whole life was agriculture,” says Prosko of his parents.

After they bought the functioning wooden elevator, the family slowly, but surely, expanded acres due to having added a significant amount of bushels of storage overnight through the acquisition. By 2010, as producers car became a viable option, they began to ship more and more loaded up with their oats, which comprise about half their acres under production.

With their most recent row of bins completed last year—an additional eight 75,000-bushel Westeel bins—the family’s on-farm storage capacity now sits around 85 per cent of their projected production.

“That’s actually been the big thing we’ve invested in over the past 10 years,” he says. “The infrastructure has been very important.”

A primary reason the Proskos have moved all in with on-farm handling and storage has been primarily to remove weather from the equation, within reason. Marketing autonomy, less time spent trucking and driving back and forth around the yard both pluses, as well. The heated shop and office in recent years has also been a “major investment” that has paid off for Prosko and everyone at the farm.

From left to right: Reagen McDermid, Jeff Prosko and Joel Prosko at the family’s farm yard. Multiple families make up this diversified operation, which includes an ag retail.

His extremely wet region of Saskatchewan means ‘tillage’ is not a dirty word. Without it, his crops would not even be harvestable certain years, such as 2010, when there was such a deluge Prosko only managed to seed 20 per cent of his acres.

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COVER STORY | DRIVEN TO SUCCEED

We decided that we needed to grow the business as a whole and everyone has to be able to make a living. Is it feasible to double the acres? Maybe not. But is it feasible to start another business correlated to ag that benefits the area and farms and family?

Well yes, it is. - Jeff Prosko “Guys in the south laugh, but we get typically too much water and not enough heat,” he says. On average he dries 40 per cent of his crop each year. However, during his harvest 2019, Prosko started the dryer in September and it did not stop until the following July. “It was brutal.”

Levelling up In the yard, a slow piecemeal build over the years meant that Prosko’s overall structure is somewhat disjointed physically, forcing him to innovate. Too spaced out for legs and drags, in 2010 he discovered “a life-saving workaround” with a pneumatic blower. Sometimes thought of as the poor man’s answer to a leg system, a blower does just that, it blows grain through six-inch diameter tubes around his farmyard. Once grain is augered into his wet bins from the combine, he never handles the grain again, leaving the blower to do the rest of the work.

From the wet bins, it’s blown into storage and remains there until delivery day. The system has been “revolutionary” from Prosko’s perspective.

“The first time I heard about it, I didn’t believe it,” he admits.

Prosko spoke with a neighbour already using a blower that same year and after Prosko checked it out, he quickly resolved to buy the system himself. “I said, ‘That’s what were buying, no question.’ It’s an easy retrofit for an existing farmyard—no set up for legs and drags—it’s just a row of bins here or there. A blower can go here and there. It’s a super flexible system, super easy to expand. It was revolutionary for our drying.

“You spent all day driving semis 100 feet at a time around the yard augering grain. It’s the most mundane and irritating task.”

Prosko says a blower is the great equalizer, effective no matter what the yard’s state thanks to the pneumatic system operated by the flick of a switch.

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“With a blower you can handle seed, pedigreed seed … it’s a 100 per cent clean system,” he says, adding that nothing ever gets stuck in the wide tubes, which typically move at a 3,000 bushel per hour pace, depending on the crop.

“The whole goal, to be clear, is to reduce that labour component. Good help? There’s never enough, and there’s jobs people don’t want to do. Sticking your head in grain bins all day is one of them. When you handle grain, even if you’re a good operator, you’re still going to spill.”

To bolster the handling system, Prosko installed a second Brock SUPERB drying system, capable of drying 2,500 bushels per hour and decided to keep their existing dryer, too, which handles 1,000 bu/hr. He can also dry two crops at once now, which he finds advantageous.

With one-time handling movement post-harvest, his yard also stays a lot cleaner. In spring, while prep is going on for seeding, the yard often becomes sloppy, nearly undriveable for loading and dragging augers. All that is gone with his blower system, too, which he uses in tandem with the wooden elevators leg-and-drag system. Having experienced both, he does not prefer one over the other, but still loves the simplicity of the family’s elevator that runs with four simple electric motors. “The simplicity and engineering of it is amazing,” he says.

All of this work, however, was being done away from the family’s original farm site. Prosko made the decision to move the yard site immediately south of Rose Valley, about 10 minutes from the original family farmyard. Being right off primary Highway 35 south of town with three-phase power and a natural gas hookup already running parallel down the road, it was a logical choice.

Prior to this past summer when Prosko finished his row of bins, the family was still using grain bags. And while he admits a bag is “better than a pile,” it’s not that much better. In his area, which could be generously called “wild rural,” he deals with bears, deer, elk, moose, porcupines, coyotes, skunks and, worst of all, ravens.

“They would find the bags overnight, peck them open and even make nests,” he says with frustration. “They loved oats.”

Prosko is proud to say he hoisted his last grain bag last summer and hopes he never has to go back to the laborious storage medium.

“The increased storage lets you control the narrative,” he says.

“You can move grain when you need to move grain for payments or whatever it is. You’re not desperate to get a bag off the ground because the snow is melting or elk are getting at it. We can look further out; we can hold until July if it pays. It definitely makes us think differently about it.”

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED | COVER STORY

Jeff Prosko splits his time between the family’s farm and retail. The family diversified into the retail business in 2014 and serves a large area of farmers.

As a preferred supplier for PepsiCo’s Quaker Oats brand, Prosko’s on-farm handling, storage and drying facility gives his buyer peace of mind with the sophisticated operation.

“It was something that me and dad had talked about for a lot of years very casually, but had our hands very full,” he says. “There seemed to be a growing need over time.”

“We really pride our cars and shipping quality oats to the mills,” he says. “We do not want to take any chances in any way that could compromise that. They need oats over months and months. The mills don’t hold a lot of grain. They like that we can be flexible in our shipping, as well.”

In 2013, the need had become apparent and, after lots of chatter, they opened up their retail, ProSoils, by the next year. A full-service retail, they focus on anhydrous ammonia, still popular in the area, but unpopular by line companies which increasingly did not want to handle it.

And the family, headlong into direct marketing and the notion of marketing autonomy, they knew additional diversified ventures would still be necessary to sustain the four families— Jeff and wife Ebony, sister Giselle and her husband Reagen McDermid, brother Joel and his wife Meghan as well as Rick and Donna—for a long-term future in the area. Both Reagen and Joel are also involved in the farm.

“Our fill times are very quick and our services are built to keep up to the modern farm,” he says. “We know their costs of doing business, and we can nail that like nobody else.”

Diversified operation While certain retailers in the area struggled over the years to source and deliver products to farmers, Prosko thought it to be an opportunity for his family to step into the gap.

ProSoils also offers up fertilizer, chemical, seed, aerial application and other relevant services as it serves an area of 100-plus kilometres from Rose Valley.

“We decided that we needed to grow the business as a whole and everyone has to be able to make a living,” says Prosko. “Is it feasible to double the acres? Maybe not. But is it feasible to start another business correlated to ag that benefits the area and farms and family? Well yes, it is. That is what got us into the retail side.”

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COVER STORY | DRIVEN TO SUCCEED ProSoils, a brick and mortar retail, is about as traditional as it gets for agriculture, and Prosko isn’t much concerned about digital retails, which continue to increase market capture throughout Canada.

By virtue of being a full-time farmer himself who requires inputs like every other farmer, Prosko believes he is in tune with the needs of fellow farmers.

“You always have to look at your relevance in the market,” he says. “If your customer sees no value in the market and they just look at you as an order taker, that’s probably what you are.

If anything, that just drives us and pushes us harder to say we want to be that trusted partner for our customers. We want to identify those customers’ needs and wants. What’s cool about that is it pushes myself and my staff, and my family, frankly, to find those things that are going to help all of us.’’

Future considerations His progressive business mentality has positively complemented into his farming career, which is now more than 20 years in the making. In the broader context of Canada’s role as a breadbasket, Prosko has many questions about the country’s

trade future, regulations and sustainability from both financial and public trust perspectives.

“We have to tell our story and the things that we do right, but we are bad about explaining it,” he says. “You know who is the most interested in sustainability? It’s farmers—farmers don’t talk about retirement. They are people that have a timeline of hundreds of years and people say they’re not interested in sustainability?”

Prosko says he constantly seeks the best advice from his agronomists to ensure things are being done not only correctly, but also to the best possible degree, not only for the confidence of Canadian and international consumers, but for his own personal pride, as well.

“We try to improve anything we can, that’s very tangible and rewarding and a big source of pride,” he says. “The whole concept of what we have done and built as a family, it’s very exciting. Our family is very proud of our farm and that starts with our core staff and customers. We couldn’t do this without any of them. We are proud of the farm, how we manage the land and water, too. The best part is being able to do it all with my family.”

Prosko Farms in Rose Valley, Sask., is focused on sustainability from financial to environmental in order to make sure the farm stays operational for generations to come.

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Easing up now just goes against the grain.

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SWATHERS | SWATH TALK

SWATH TALK

Companies continue to invest in windrow tech despite continued straight cutting interest

The MacDon M1170 self propelled windrower and a D1XL draper header in action. The company considers the combo’s ability to swath particularly bushy crops a key selling point.

Photo courtesy of MacDon

By Jeff Melchior The question of whether to swath or straight cut at harvest time has probably become one of the biggest topics of coffee shop and Twitter talk among farmers in recent years. For many western Canadian farmers, the labour-saving edge of straight cutting—not to mention the advent of shatter-resistant canola—has proven irresistible.

Agronomists generally discourage an either/or approach to swathing or straight cutting in favour of basing harvesting decisions on individual farm and field conditions. For that reason and others, a significant percentage of western Canadian farmers continue to swath, with new innovations available to meet market needs.

MacDon, a leading manufacturer of harvesting equipment, says the two options are often a moving target. In some ways, the company’s array of options for either technique allow it to gauge the mood of western Canadian farmers towards both.

“I think people are always going to be going back and forth,” says Jeffrey Leachman, product manager for MacDon, which bases its Canadian operations out of Winnipeg, Man. 22

Jeffrey Leachman, product manager for MacDon, says farmers will probably continue to go back and forth between swathing and straight cutting depending on circumstances.

Photo courtesy of MacDon

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SWATHERS | SWATH TALK

“We looked at how crops are evolving. Canola is getting bushier and heavier and we needed to address that by creating this larger, deep-section draper header that can handle it.”

- Jeffrey Leachman “There have been a couple of bad years recently where people left their crop standing and some strong winds came through, laid the crop down to the ground and they couldn’t pick it up.

Whereas if they would have swathed it earlier, harvesting it could happen prior to the snow coming. And then you have a bunch of good years in a row where people might go back to straight cutting,” he says.

New MacDon windrower/draper header duo tackles bushy crops The company’s recently released M1 series of self-propelled windrowers (SPWs) and D1XL draper headers are being embraced by farmers.

Leachman points out a number of improvements over SPWs and draper headers the company has released in the past. For the M1, some of these include higher speeds, easier transportation and an attempt to increase operator comfort.

Easier control, greater width and draper size are among MacDon’s bragging points for the headers.

But perhaps the biggest bottom line feature is the swather– header’s dual suitability for swathing exceptionally bushy crops like canola, he says, as well as low-podding, downed, tangled or lodged crops.

“The D1XL header is an improvement over our D1X in that its cross-section is deeper,” he says. “That’s really good for when you’re swathing that heavy canola. We have 50-inch deep drapers … while the header sizes range from 30- to 45-feet wide. That gives it a lot of room to convey that crop from the header width right to the centre of your windrow and it’ll form a very nice compact windrow which is great for drying out.”

An optional swath compressor attachment which connects underneath the M1 can further compress canola swaths into stubble, he says.

“It keeps it from blowing away,” he says. “With our high prevailing winds on the Prairies it’s quite common for people to compress their windrows after swathing.”

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The M1 features one-touch-return control of the header from the operator’s air-ride seat, including precise control and customization of header lift, height, tilt, knives, reel and draper, he explains.

For farmers swathing late into the evening, the M1 features 360-degree night vision as a deluxe cab option; it’s essentially a series of high-powered LED lights surrounding the machine that allows operators a complete view of their surroundings.

“It virtually turns night into day,” says Leachman. “If you’re flagging you can look behind you, see the cut crop and make adjustments to address the problem. If there’s an obstacle in the field that you need to avoid, the lights can ensure the operator doesn’t have to squint. They can see everything around them.”

The development of the M1 and the D1XL was the result of close inspection of industry trends, he says.

“We looked at how crops are evolving. Canola is getting bushier and heavier and we needed to address that by creating this larger, deep-section draper header that can handle it.”

Adapter turns Honey Bee header into swather Honey Bee has built a reputation for header innovation since opening its doors nearly four decades ago. Greg and Glenn Honey got their start in manufacturing by designing a range of equipment for their own farm operation. Within a few years they moved into the retail arena where they became known for their grain belt header.

In recent years, the Frontier, Sask., company has made the harvesting needs of pea, lentil and soybean farmers a focus, culminating in its recent AirFLEX series of draper headers. One of Honey Bee’s key selling points of the AirFLEX platform is its fully flexible cutter bar which can be used in flex mode, considered ideal for harvesting the above-mentioned crops, or rigid mode, generally recommended for cereals. The two modes can be changed with the push of a button.

For the uninitiated, a clean cut close to the ground is key for both swathing and straight cutting many pulses because they tend to be shorter than other crops, says Greg Honey.

While AirFLEX series headers are primarily designed for straight cutting, there’s an adapter available which essentially turns your combine into a swather while using an AirFLEX combine header.

This adapter allows the harvested material to drop under the combine in windrows.

“What you do is take the combine adapter out and replace it with the swather adapter,” says Honey. “It takes probably three or four hours to do the conversion [to the swath adapter] but once you’ve done it you can go out and run it without putting any of [the crop] through the combine.”

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SWATHERS | SWATH TALK The AirFLEX header with the adapter is also a fit for organic farming, he says.

“We’ve been using it on our own farm for about six years because my brother farms organically. A lot of lentils and crops like that need to be swathed because you have weeds in them. You can actually swath them with that machine and do a very good job of it. “You’re able to cut very low without pushing dirt.”

Honey says the adapter, which, like most Honey Bee swathing equipment, is only available by order, can also be used to extend the lives of older combines when paired with an AirFLEX header.

“There are some combines sitting around that have kind of expired their usefulness as threshing units but still have good cabs and power trains and would make excellent swather tractors,” he says.

A question of chemicals Honey Bee also deals into Europe where it has enjoyed success with compact, three-point hitch-mounted swathers that have proven a good fit for transportation on narrow roads in some countries. Swather demand in Western Canada still has a place even with the rise of straight cutting.

A Honey Bee AirFLEX header outfitted with the company’s swather adapter. Note that there is no feeder deck or drum on the header when the adapter is connected; the drive shafts only drive the knife and the side drapers. Photo courtesy Honey Bee

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“There are some combines sitting around that have kind of expired their usefulness as threshing units but still have good cabs and power trains and would make excellent swather tractors.” - Greg Honey Although he’s heard vague scuttlebutt about farmers switching back to swathing, Honey says the future of swathing will most likely depend on future legislation, either domestically or among trade partners, regarding crop protection products. Straight cutting often requires glyphosate at some point during the production process, but that can cause issues among certain buyers, even if preharvest intervals are followed.

“Those kind of things nowadays are happening all over. It would be a huge problem immediately for farmers to deal with that but it’s happening in Europe in different places, so who knows?”

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THOSE WILY WEEDS | SCOUTING 101 – USE THE FUTURE TO IMPROVE NOW

Weeds are often present in patches rather than uniformly distributed across a field

Scouting 101 – Use the Future to Improve Now If I had a dream…

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.

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Future weed control consists of armies of drones being deployed to control specific weeds at specific growth stages optimizing herbicide efficacy, while heavily infested areas of weeds are controlled by patch management using inter-row tillage with advanced guidance systems and lasers or flamethrower systems to precisely target and burn weeds to a crisp. In this scenario, prescriptions would need to be built, just as we do with variable rate applications of fertilizer. Precisely defined areas would ensure weeds are sufficiently controlled while avoiding excess use of the drones (battery life) and maximizing the economic advantage. To implement this effective and efficient weed control, the most important tool is a “back to the basics” of accurate field scouting. Regardless of technology, one of the easiest ways to enhance weed control now is that same tool.

Patches of weeds exist in the field, either due to the nature of the weed and its seed dispersal; for example, wild oat seeds shed prior to harvest and tend to form heavy patches and many perennials proliferate in patches because of spreading root systems. Or, because of the adaptation of the weed to certain areas of the field—green foxtail prefers good drainage and heat—as an example. Other weeds are not as patchy, typically volunteers from the year before and can be found scattered across the field. In a document about “Site-Specific Management” of weeds, Sharon Clay of South Dakota State University and Gregg Johnson at the University of Minnesota have noted that current scouting is casual, with very little detail on weed densities or distributions mainly due to time constraints. They ask two questions that impact on the implementation of precision tools for future of weed control: Do weeds vary enough in the field to require different management techniques for different areas? and, can we use technology to improve weed management and profitability?

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THOSE WILY WEEDS | SCOUTING 101 – USE THE FUTURE TO IMPROVE NOW

They ask two questions that impact on the implementation of precision tools for future of weed control: Do weeds vary enough in the field to require different management techniques for different areas? and, can we use technology to improve weed management and profitability?

Can you answer those questions now? And how accurate is our assessment? Scouting a 160-acre field in a “W” or “V” pattern with 10 or 20 assessments across the field in a pseudo-random pattern is a typical scouting strategy. It is cost-efficient and requires minimal time investment. But 20 assessments of an area of perhaps 100 square feet in 160 acres is an assessment of less than 0.002 per cent of the total area. Further to that, if there is one weed in 100 square feet, that’s about 435 weeds in an acre. If we use five gallons of water and 350 grams of active ingredient, that’s 43 mLs, or an ounce-and-a-half, of water and less than a gram of active ingredient per weed—if the spray is targeted specifically to the weed. With a spray pattern that is constant over an area, the water volume applied to one square foot of field is under one mL and the active ingredient is less than 0.01 gram.

Making accurate assessments with little data, when relying on low treatment rates can lead to challenges. Clay and Johnson note that equipment is already developed that can match different chemical treatments and rates to different areas of the field, and the next step is to have accurate data collection to match the equipment with the field and get better weed control, lower herbicide costs and increased net returns.

What’s stopping us from doing that now? How do we improve our data collection strategy? Without changing equipment to variable rate and variable active ingredients, we can still improve scouting practices. Here’s how: 1. Minimize the time investment. Scouting while doing other operations—harvest is a great time to scout for post-harvest weed control. Drop a pin or mark the spot in the field with a flag where there is a patch of perennial weeds and address that issue easily after harvest.

Identifying key weeds and densities improves weed control decisions

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2. Collect more details. By marking and writing down locations for weeds is good but noting densities and growth stages will also help to ensure the best decisions are made, as well as help to assess how well that weed control tactic worked. Knowing that there are 20

SCOUTING 101 – USE THE FUTURE TO IMPROVE NOW | THOSE WILY WEEDS wild oats (or any weed) in a square foot and knowing the location, will give the opportunity to return to that spot after spraying, to assess the number of plants that have died, if the survivors are actively growing (larger growth stage than when they were sprayed) and help to decide if any further actions are required.

3. Increase scouting frequency. There are at least five times when scouting for weeds is important: Pre-seed (fast and easy to drive across the field and find any issues), before the first in-crop herbicide application (take great notes, and take the time to know the priority weeds), two weeks after the herbicide application (to make sure everything worked or assess opportunities to fix the issues), pre-harvest (so that harvest can be efficient without green weeds slowing things down) and post-harvest (the ultimate perennial control time).

The time investment may be reduced significantly by knowing where there are trouble spots, but it’s also important to look for new issues.

4. Employ technology. Drones or satellite imagery can be used in-crop to detect unusual crop densities to make investigations more effective. Record keeping can easily kept on a smartphone or tablet, which then provides more timely sharing and analysis, as well as a backup option that you don’t get with a paper record that might get wiped out with a cup of coffee.

Timely and thorough scouting helps to avoid problems in the field. Putting boots in the field or using other surveillance options to improve the level of detail can provide earlier detection of new weed problems or the lack of control of a weed signaling the need for a new strategy.

Timely and thorough scouting helps to avoid problems in the field. Putting boots in the field or using other surveillance options to improve the level of detail can provide earlier detection of new weed problems or the lack of control of a weed signaling the need for a new strategy. The level of detail provided with more scouting, will help avoid surprises in weed control now but it will also help to set up using these technologies in the future.

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ADVERTORIAL | CATCH UP WITH THE LATEST & GREATEST AT AGSMART 2021

Catch up with the latest & greatest at AgSmart 2021 In the past few years, a significant increase in ag tech adoption has incurred and so has the interest in learning about the new tech and data usage. AgSmart was created by Olds College and Agri-Trade specifically for this purpose. The educational expo’s main focus is demonstrating how to use the tech and data on farm to increase profitability and sustainability.

The expo’s first priority is health and safety, with COVID safety protocols in place. The outlook for the event is positive with the expo being completely outdoors, the summer timeframe and with the goal of 1,000 people onsite each day.

There will be continuous monitoring of the requirements and the plans will be adapted as the requirements change.

On August 10 & 11, 2021, farmers will have the opportunity to engage with the latest innovations in the industry via live demos, expert educational sessions and exhibits. The content will include both a livestock and crop focus, appealing to a multitude of producers. New organizations are set to engage in the event showcasing their newest initiatives including OneCup AI, a new AI-powered face ID for Livestock.

“We want to exhibit at AgSmart because we really wanted an opportunity to allow for producers to try our BETSY platform, 32

ask us questions and see how having the system on their ranch will enhance the management of their livestock,” says Mokah Shmigelsky of OneCup AI. “BETSY (Bovine, Expert, Tracking and Surveillance) allows producers, feedlot operators and farmers a way to monitor and track their livestock with ease. The system is plug and play, allowing those without a heavy background in technology to install and begin using BETSY immediately as their AI Ranch hand.”

Event producers, Olds College and Agri-Trade are expecting approximately 100 exhibitors connecting with the farmer of tomorrow.

“We are pleased to see so much uptake in the industry for AgSmart 2021,” says Stacy Felkar of AgSmart. “Since we hosted our inaugural event in 2019, there are quite a few new organizations in the ag tech space and it is exciting to see where the established companies are heading.”

Ag tech related companies can showcase their product or service at the expo through exhibits or partnership with the event. Attendee tickets will be on sale in May. For additional information, visit AgSmartOlds.ca or follow AgSmartOlds on social media for the latest updates.

AND THEN THERE WAS PROFIT | FARMING YOUR MONEY

And Then There Was Profit Holy smokes, the 2021 growing season is looking to be a great one for western Canadian farmers.

Seemingly out of nowhere, grain prices for new crop have taken off.

Paul Kuntz Paul Kuntz is the owner of Wheatland Financial. He offers financial consulting and debt broker services.

Kuntz is also an advisor with Global Ag Risk Solutions. He can be reached through wheatlandfinancial.ca.

We have all experienced old crop price runs. Every now and then we see a commodity price rally because supply is low. It happens in small acreage crops like yellow mustard and canary seed quite often. It normally does not happen in the large acre crops because the users have a reasonably good idea what is out there for crop and they act accordingly.

A new crop rally is a whole different ball game. Typically, a fresh harvest is a chance for merchants to steal some grain from farmers forced to sell. Paying a farmer a premium for their crop when it is the most convenient time to deliver, is rare.

Managing the financial aspect of your farm when grain prices are high is not really a problem, but it does have its challenges. Also, it might create opportunities to make changes that will pay dividends for years to come.

The first financial management tip is do not spend it before you have it. As farmers, we already risk a lot of dollars in the spring in hope of a crop. Do not count on this price windfall to expand long-term debt or any decision that will increase annual cash outflow. We do not have this crop in the bin yet, and we cannot expect these prices over the long-term.

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FARMING YOUR MONEY | AND THEN THERE WAS PROFIT

As entrepreneurs, you will earn a lot higher rate of return of you invest that cash into your operation. There always come a time and place when you can pay down debt, but it will be towards the end of your farming career and not the beginning.

The next financial management tip is to manage the income tax. If you are carrying in inventory into 2021, and if you need a lot of cash in the fall, speak with your accountant. If you need the money for direct writeoffs such as fertilizer or chemical, that may not be an issue. But if you need a big chunk of cash to pay off a cash advance or term operating, there could be trouble. You may end up with too much income in one year. There are many ways to correct this, but you need to plan for it.

I like to look at opportunities like this to make a long-term positive financial difference to your farm. The very first thing you need to do if your farm makes extra profit this year is to improve your working capital. Almost every farm I deal with struggles with working capital. We like to spend money, and that is great, but sometimes we need to hold a portion back.

Working capital is one those financial parameters that is all over the map with farmers. It depends on how long you have been farming, how good/bad the past five years been financially, and how well structured was your farm was when you started. It also has a lot to do with how much you spend beyond crop inputs.

Certain farms need operating credit to buy 100 per cent of their inputs for the upcoming year. Others only need a bit of credit to get the crop seeded. Some farms have all of their fertilizer, chemical and seed paid for before they start seeding.

Depending on where you are on that spectrum, you can find ways to improve your working capital with extra profit.

The great thing about taking a crop price windfall and improving your working capital is that it can have a lasting effect on the farm for years to come. If the next few years turn out to be average income years, or even a bit below, your farm will still be better off. Your farm will also see opportunities to buy inputs in the off season. You will also notice an air of confidence in your decision-making both in agronomy and marketing.

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AND THEN THERE WAS PROFIT | FARMING YOUR MONEY If you want a measurement of a healthy working capital, there is an equation for that. Your farm should have enough working capital to cover 50 per cent of your projected upcoming annual expenses. Your working capital is your calculated by subtracting your current liabilities from your current assets (do this at year-end). Then compare that number to what your farm spends each year. You want to get as close to 50 per cent as you can. That is a healthy working capital.

Alternatively, instead of improving your working capital, you could use extra profit as down payments to get newer equipment and bins. It will feel good for a while but in a couple years when income goes back down, those extra payments are going to bite.

If your farm is replacing equipment or buying bins, that is not necessarily bad. These are necessary items for a grain farm.

You just need to ensure that your farm can operate with more traditional grain prices.

Often when we think about getting extra profit, we think of paying down debt. Although this can seem like a great place for the money, you need to be careful of this. First off is the income tax implications of this. You are taking taxable income and using it to pay non-taxable principle. This could create a

large tax bill. Another reason this move needs additional consideration is the rate of interest we are currently paying.

Most likely you are experiencing lower borrowing rates on your farm. Your rate of interest on a loan is the rate of return you are getting when you put extra cash on it. For example, suppose you have a land mortgage that you pay 3.85 per cent on right now; if you take $50,000 and put that on your mortgage as a pre-payment, you will earn a 3.85 per cent rate of return on that cash. The same goes if you have a five per cent interest rate on some equipment. As entrepreneurs, you will earn a lot higher rate of return of you invest that cash into your operation. There always come a time and place when you can pay down debt, but it will be towards the end of your farming career and not the beginning.

If this growing season produces good yields and aboveaverage prices, be sure to treat the windfall as just that, a one-off event. Although rising markets often set a new higher bottom for that commodity, we must have expenditures that are within the means of the farm’s average income. If you happen to knock one out of the park financially, be sure to do something special with that success that pays dividends for years to come. Here’s hoping for an exceptional year.

35 2110-28340_SARRC_FarmForTmrw_Dog_HlfPg_7x4.75_OL.indd 1

2021-03-25 2:38 PM

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MOVIN’ ON UP | GRAIN HANDLING

MOVIN’ ON UP

Tech and equipment advances give farmers greater control, marketing autonomy

The Noreks’ simple bin layout makes it more efficient and economical for their grain leg to do its job. Photo courtesy of Dallas Norek

By Jaclyn Krymowski Nothing can replace the exact value of an on-farm grain storage and handling system. In a relatively short period of time, the technologies of dryers, unloaders and even grain bins themselves have come a long way to better serve farmers and their workers.

As yields and acreages of the average farm have increase, it’s essential that the tools used to move, process and hold all that grain be reliable, safe and efficient. Fortunately, the equipment industries have not only responded to that need, but continue to innovative and build on old systems.

“The larger dryer helps us out a lot in harvest with the ability to take grain at any moisture. We can continue to harvest no matter what conditions we’re fighting.” - Craig Cone

Farming for Tomorrow spoke with two Saskatchewan farmers who recently invested in their grain systems to enhance their farms’ efficiency and productivity.

pneumatic handling system in 2008, and two years later moved to a 510-bushel capacity dryer while expanding the handling yet again.

Craig Cone

In 2014 a 1,000-bushel dryer was added, followed by moving to a 1,500-bushel dryer in 2017.

Craig Cone farms near Englefeld, Sask., with 27,000 acres growing primarily wheat, barley and canola.

His story is relatable to many farmers. He started with a smaller dryer and storage system, grew significantly over the years and has had to update his grain handling and storage accordingly.

Cone’s first system was a 370-bushel dryer purchased in 2006, but it wasn’t long before he needed to upgrade. He added a

He says his two largest dryers, a Farm Fan and a GSI, are both made by AGCO as is the DMC pneumatic system.

“The larger dryer helps us out a lot in harvest with the ability to take grain at any moisture,” he says. “[We can] continue to harvest no matter what conditions we’re fighting.”

Twenty years ago, before he had his own dryer, Cone recalls how he relied on variation and supplemental heat, a real 37

GRAIN HANDLING | MOVIN’ ON UP

“If it sits out there too long, you can lose your quality in a hurry. A lot of years the price differential from malt to feed is substantial.

You can have a fairly big revenue log if you end up with feed barley most years.” - Craig Cone struggle given Western Canada’s temperatures as the days shorten during harvest.

It is also nice, he notes, to be able to go out and harvest when the crop is ready even when moisture levels aren’t ideal.

“We can still bring it in and dry it down,” he says. “That definitely helps us out a lot.”

This is especially true of growing malt barley, which Cone explains is very difficult to keep up to the quality.

“If it sits out there too long, you can lose your quality in a hurry,” he stresses. “A lot of years the price differential from malt to feed is substantial. You can have a fairly big revenue log if you end up with feed barley most years.”

On the horizon, he anticipates that they will continue to expand on their grain storage to keep up with their marketing plan.

Cone has 12 large bins that hold 73,000 bushels each, as well as several smaller ones. Currently, he has a 1.4-million-bushel capacity of on-farm storage.

“We’ve been adding bins over the years as we’ve required more storage,” he adds.

Investing in additional storage capabilities, he believes, is more efficient and economic than grain banks for his operation. Not to mention, snow and weather conditions can be a serious concern when trying to move grain long distances.

“You can never go wrong with grain bins,” he says. “In most operations, a good dryer and a good handling system can replace a combine or two because you can utilize your combine that much more.”

Dallas Norek Cone says their Farm Fan dryer, a CMS-1500, has been a major advantage, allowing them to continue their harvest despite less than ideal weather conditions without sacrificing quality.

38

Over in Gerald, Sask., Dallas Norek and Clayton Lomenda are the third generation on their family farm. In 1994, they incorporated to create Norenda Ag and have grown to more than 30,000 acres, seeding primarily wheat and canola.

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GRAIN HANDLING | MOVIN’ ON UP

Safety, peace of mind now standard dryer features

By Jaclyn Krymowski Grain dryers have come a long way to better serve the needs of ever-expanding farms. From small technological tweaks to advanced safety features, the past few decades have really given farmers an advantage each harvest.

“If we were to change anything, we would have increased the capacity of our leg. Even with the 11,000 bushel per hour capacity, it still takes a good 15 minutes to unload a Super-B. We have plans to add a second grain leg to double capacity and reliability.”

- Dallas Norek

Now and then “Grain dryers back then were pretty basic and had minimal safeties built into the dryers,” says Ken Pierson, sales and product manager for Meridian Manufacturing.

On the contrary, some of today’s mixed flow grain dryers have several safety features. The ones Meridian offers includes several safety valves designed to shut down the dryer in case of any issue, plus a temperature sensor to automatically react to overheating. The lack of direct flame being anywhere close to the grain also helps drastically reduce the risk of a fire. Even if there is an overheating event, temperature sensors are also capable of shutting down the power.

Other improvements include allowing farmers to set the parameters for how hot their system will run, something Pierson notes are included with most of their dryers.

“This [also] allows the farmer to monitor his dryer from his cellphone from the field well he is harvesting,” he says.

Maximizing new purchases A dryer system should give farmers uniform drying throughout, Pierson says, to avoid grain from being overdried causing low test weights or a lower grade.

“A grain dryer that has the ability to be expanded is important should the farmer decide a few years down the road he needs more capacity,” he adds. “[A] sign of a good grain dryer is often found in what the company offers for a warranty.

Additionally, he notes newly purchased dryer systems should have the capacity to be expanded down the road.

In the event of increasing yield or acres farms, the ability to add on to an existing system is greatly advantageous compared to making a new purchase.

42

With a growing farm, adequate bin storage became a challenge. The only solution was to build more bins. Wall Grain Handling Systems in Winnipeg, Man., provided the best option and a business relationship was forged. The first four 48-12 bins were built in 2006.

Norenda immediately put the bins to the test, by filling them with 70,000 plus bushels of malting barley at 25 per cent moisture. After turning it only once, they were able to market it as dry, a phenomenal feat that was aided by a perfect outside climate. Size, economy and aeration cemented the direction for the farm with the next several years spent expanding their bins and grain system.

“We realized then and there that we will never build anything but a full aeration, flat-bottom bin again,” says Norek, with the exception of their two 48-12s dedicated to fertilizer storage.

With several more additions, including a certified scale, load-out bin and automation, they have even been able to generate extra revenue by offering custom grain storage.

Their largest bins, all of which are 78-18s, are capable of holding nearly 300,000 bushels. Total grain on-farm storage is nearly four million bushels.

Something that has been a major tool in managing this scale of grain has been the GrainX system: a state-of-the-art monitoring system provided by GrainX and Wall Grain.

Norenda first installed GrainX in 2019 and has been using it ever since.

This setup detects the moisture, temperature and volume of each bin by a network of cables and submits them wirelessly to computers and mobile devices.

This has been extremely crucial when handling a touchy crop such as canola, Norek explains, which is 43 per cent oil, twice as high as that of soybeans. Damage to bins of their scale

INNOVATIVE HARVEST SOLUTIONS The iPaddock Typhoon aggressively grabs crop and pulls it through in a constant steady flow, allowing you to go faster and get the crop off quicker. Unique “quick set” retractable finger timing adjustment for optimized performance. Minimal moving parts, solid crankshaft, heavy plate internals. Solid steel fingers in a super aggressive pattern. Faster travel speed makes harvesting quicker.

The Copperhead Concave Systems utilizes notched bars for restricted flow. This allows more material in the concave area, increasing grain on grain threshing. As grain moves along the system, the concaves are progressively open, leading to increased unloading of grain as it’s threshed. With the Copperhead Concave System, you can thrash in any crop in any condition, have cleaner samples, decrease field time (resulting in less fuel cost), and stop rotor loss.

Whether you have constant problems with mice, rats or even birds, or if you just want to have peace of mind knowing your silage or grains have an extra protection against pests, Agrirepel® Bags are for you. The organic additive Combirepel®™, bonded to the highest grade of virgin LDPE during the extrusion process in our partner factory Rani Plast, is completely safe and non-toxic, for the bagger, the farmer, and your animals. This product is part of our exclusive Agrirepel® range of products.

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GRAIN HANDLING | MOVIN’ ON UP

could mean millions in lost revenue, making all proactive and preventative maintenance measures a very big deal.

“You get a hot spot in the bin and within an hour you can go from 20 C to 40 C,” he says. “When you have the alarms and sensors with GrainX watching, it’s a peace of mind.”

A challenge that remains, however, even with a top-notch system, is the process of loading and handling that many thousands of bushels. Norek appreciates their original decision to keep all of their bins in a straight row with their biggest ones sitting closely parallel to their original smaller ones which keeps the grain leg more economical. The current system has an unloading rate of 11,000 bushels per hour.

“If we were to change anything, we would have increased the capacity of our leg,” he says. “Even with the 11,000 bushel per hour capacity, it still takes a good 15 minutes to unload a Super-B. We have plans to add a second grain leg to double capacity and reliability.”

network would actually get. If they had any idea of the scope their operation would someday grow to, Norek says, they would have made some adjustments earlier on, such as building a pit unloading system that could move 25,000 bushels per hour instead.

In a similar way, he says having built greater capacity in their load-out bin would have been advantageous, as well. When you have eight to 10 Super-Bs arrive at once, Norek notes, all the precious minutes waiting for the overhead bin to reload add up quickly. To help with this, they supplement the system with pre-loaded grain carts to help fill the trucks on shipping day.

“As far as the physical structure of the bins, we’re thrilled,” he says, noting they have withstood the test of storing and sweeping out fertilizer without a problem.

Already, they are looking at prices and planning to continue adding on in the next few years.

Part of the struggle with this design was not knowing at the time of building exactly how big the expansion of their bin

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SECTION | TITLE

844-744-WALL (9255) www.wallgrain.com

GRAIN HANDLING DESIGN WITH THE FUTURE IN MIND

With over 100 years of combined experience Wall Grain Handling Systems will find an innovative solution that best fits your operation.

Tools like dry aeration bins with roof fans, larger wet bins, dryers, blowers, or leg systems are investments that pay for themselves in just a few years. All it takes is one wet year for a dryer to pay for itself. These tools require proper site planning to easily fit into your operation.

MONITORING MADE EASY

SO WHERE DO YOU START? Placing bins in the right location is the first step in designing a grain handling system. Since 1984, giving service has always been our number one priority. By catering to farmers’ long-term needs our innovative solutions help maximize profits on hard-earned crops. Building a lasting system that future generations will be able to use is the underlying goal of our designs.

GRAIN HANDLING IS AN INVESTMENT THAT PAYS FOR ITSELF AND INCREASES THE VALUE OF YOUR FARM. Walking alongside farmers who have grown from 5,000 to 30,000 acres over the years, has become the keystone of our business. For example, in the early 2000’s a grain producer with a 5,000 acre farm approached us to set up four 73,000 bushel bins. To this day we continue to help this customer develop their site. That’s close to 20 years of service. Planning the future of your site opens up opportunities for your system to grow over time.

We understand grain handling and management takes a lot of work. GrainX Command provides peace of mind, knowing that your grain is safe. By using the latest in automation technology the work needed to monitor all of your grain is greatly reduced. If your grain isn’t drying fast enough to get the best price at market we have solutions for that.

THE PROCESS IS SIMPLE By listening to a farmer’s needs and goals, we provide advice on what their current infrastructure can handle, then our design and implementation team sets up their system.

Conversations with farmers reveal each farm’s unique needs which helps to determine if techniques such as Fast Dry or use of a dryer is the right solution. Planning the use of these methods helps future generations make use of our innovative solutions. Our team will help you learn how to get the most out of your system.

BUILD RIGHT THE FIRST TIME Building a grain handling system while leaving room to grow helps avoid future headaches. Do you have long-term goals for your farm and want the reassurance someone will be available to provide advice every step along the way? Then give our team a call today. You and your future generations will be thankful you put your trust in Wall Grain Handling Systems.

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So regardless of disease pressure, in wet or dry weather, give your wheat and barley yields a big-time boost come harvest. Protect your cereals and your bottom line with Prosaro XTR. Source: 15 Bayer development trials with medium to high disease pressure (2014–2016). Your results may vary according to agronomic, environmental and disease pressure variables.

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It’s as simple as this: If an eligible Bayer fungicide has a lower return on investment (ROI) than an eligible competitor fungicide under the terms of the 2021 Bayer Fungicide ROI Guarantee Program, Bayer will rebate the ROI difference on up to 160 acres to eligible participants*.

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Always read and follow label directions. Bayer, Bayer Cross, It’sGrowTime™ and Prosaro® are trademarks of the Bayer Group.

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Baggers GTT

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• Patented hydraulic tray allows Features hopper lights, hydraulic bag lift, for easy bag loading. hydraulic tray and large tires.

AKRON features an exclusive, patented centerdiameter bottom gearbox location for • Electric winch. simple operation.

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• Can handle up to 10’x 400’ bags!

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Extractors

The hydrostatic ability to pull the machine into the bag by winding it up at the same time, allows you to control the speed that you can unload. Easy to use, simple to adjust.

With a couple quick pins, you can swing the EXG400 into field or transport position.

The EXG400 now features high flotation tires with a reinforced axle system to accommodate the extra weight when unloading in wet and soft ground conditions.

Greater ground clearance is a standard feature.

AKRON now offers a 16.5 foot wide roller to wind up the bag, which can roll up to a 500 foot bag, and up to 12 feet wide. The 27.5 inch bag deflectors ensure trouble free rolling.

AKRON features an exclusive, patented center bottom gearbox location for simple operation.

Unmatched performance. With its 16”dia. unloading auger the EXG 400 moves 10,300 bu/hr. (280 tons).

The hydrostatic ability to pull the machine into the bag by winding it up at the same time, allows you to control the speed that you can unload. Easy to use, simple to adjust.

With a couple quick pins, you can swing the EXG400 into field or transport position.

Featuring the patented center bottom gearbox and Grain Pusher that allows you to clean up the very AKRON now offers a 16.5 foot wide roller to wind up the bag, which can roll up to a 500 foot bag, and up to 12 feet wide. The 27.5 inch bag deflectors ensure trouble last bit of grain without shovels or free rolling. vacs!

This allows you to get more Unmatched performance, by moving 280 ton per hour, or 10,300 bushels per HOUR! done in less time, with less mess!

The EXG400 now features high flotation tires with a reinforced axle system to accommodate the extra weight when unloading in wet and soft ground conditions.

Greater ground clearance is a standard feature.

The EXG 300 model can unload 9, 10 and 12 foot bags with ease.

Optional heavy duty augers are available.

Unmatched performance, by moving 280 ton per hour, or 10,300 bushels per HOUR! Optional heavy duty augers are available.

Unloader

Our patented Grain Pusher feature cleans up the end of every bag, right down to the very last bit of grain.

Operating lights are a standard feature.

The EXG400 can unload over 10 THOUSAND bushels per hour!

The EXG400 can unload over 10 THOUSAND bushels per hour!

Bag Rollers

For bags of

10 feet

Unloading performance

10300 Bu/Hour (280 Ton/Hour)

Power requirement

90 HP minimum - 540 PTO

Hydraulic requirement

2600 PSI- 16 GPM (180 Bar - 60 LPM)

Tube / Auger Diameter

16 15/16 in (430 mm)

Horizontal Auger Diameter

9 27/32 in (250 mm)

High flotation tires

400 x 60 x 15.5”

may change specifications and product designs in this or other brochure at any time, without previous notice. Pictures shown are for illustration purposes only.

It fully winds up the grain bag.

DUO-LIFT

For bags of

10 feet

Unloading performance

10300 Bu/Hour (280 Ton/Hour)

Power requirement

90 HP minimum - 540 PTO

Hydraulic requirement

2600 PSI- 16 GPM (180 Bar - 60 LPM)

Tube / Auger Diameter

16 15/16 in (430 mm)

Horizontal Auger Diameter

9 27/32 in (250 mm)

High flotation tires

400 x 60 x 15.5”

• Designed for skid steer and front end loaders • Easily rolls a 10x300 grain bag • Fast and effective way to clean up your used grain bags and haul away to recycle • Government programs available to help reduce cost

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Patented Bottom Gearbox location.

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may change specifications and product designs in this or other brochure at any time, without previous notice. Pictures shown are for illustration purposes only.

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NEWS & INNOVATIONS

Kubota The future of farming brings great challenges and greater opportunities From soil prep, to crop work and more, Kubota always finds a way to stand on the sharper edge of farming technology. It’s a drive to improve that’s helped farmers around the world for more than 100 years. The very same spirit has empowered Canadian farmers since 1975. An innovative advantage enabling our farmers to seize the great farming opportunities of today and tomorrow.

Kubota tractors and implements are the result of expertise and innovation working as one. Every Kubota unit working today is built for purpose, versatility and lasting results.

If innovation is our lifeblood, reliability is our calling card. We know that to build something for Canadian farmers, you must know Canada itself. So, we live and work right here in the community. That’s why we know how to build Kubota equipment battle tested for harsh winters and the dog days of summer. Canadian farmers can get tough jobs done in any season, no matter what.

We also offer advanced farming products from the Kverneland Group, Great Plains Manufacturing and Land Pride available through our vast network of Canadian dealers. With more than 130 dealerships nationwide, there’s always a local dealer ready to help.

Kubota will work with you, from preparing your soil to harvesting your crops. After all, the future of farming is here and we are primed to power through it with you.

Find your holistic farming solutions at kubota.ca/ farmsolutions.

GIFS First-in-Canada engineering biology centre for ag innovation to open at the Global Institute for Food Security The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is investing $3.2 million in a new biomanufacturing facility at the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask). The centre will use cutting-edge engineering biology technologies to accelerate agri-food innovation and help address food security needs.

Engineering biology or biomanufacturing uses the biological machinery of cells to make useful tools and products. Combining the latest in automation, biology and computation the facility at GIFS will produce the reagents, peptides, enzymes and other materials the agri-food industry needs to deliver more nutritious and sustainable products on a large scale.

“This new facility at GIFS will support the agri-food industry by accelerating the delivery of more nutritious and sustainable crop varieties and food products,” said GIFS executive director and CEO Steve Webb, who is also a member of the National Engineering Biology Steering Committee. “Some examples of our biomanufacturing facility’s applications include developing canola 52

varieties more resistant to climate change, flavourings for the plant-based meat industry and non-animal enzyme alternatives for the dairy industry.”

A May 2020 report from the McKinsey Global Institute estimates engineering biology could have a global economic impact of up to $4 trillion in the next 10 to 20 years, with more than one-third of this direct annual impact in the agri-food area.

The facility will help make Saskatchewan the engineering biology focal point for agriculture in Canada, growing the province’s profile as the hub for delivering biomanufacturing services to support the agri-food and biotechnology sectors.

NEWS & INNOVATIONS

Liphatech Ground squirrels can cause financial headaches for farmers in Western Canada. Understanding the life cycle of this pest will help make pest management more effective.

Depending on weather and elevation, squirrel reproduction can begin as early as mid-March. Males typically emerge from hibernation two to three weeks before females. Peak mating season is March to May. Females produce one litter per year with a 23- to 28-day gestation period. Most landowners notice infestations only after the juveniles are born and out foraging, making control costlier.

Baiting tips to control squirrels First generation anticoagulants such as chlorophacinone is available as a treated winter wheat grain bait (Rozol RTU), or as a paraffinized pellet (GroundForce) for wetter conditions.

These can be applied via spot treatments, placed around burrow openings or placed in bait stations where they are protected from the elements and non-targets. Ground squirrels forage relatively close to their burrows within a 400-yard radius. Bait stations along a crop field perimeter of less than a quarter square mile have been effective at drawing squirrel populations out of the crop.

Landowners most commonly fail by not building and maintaining enough bait stations for the size of the crop they

are trying to protect or the level of the infestation. Maintaining a constant supply of bait from March through May and for three to five weeks minimum per field is key. Additional tips and suggested bait station density diagrams can be accessed on Liphatech’s website.

Rozol RTU is labeled for use on both ground squirrels and pocket gophers. GroundForce Pellets are labeled for use on voles and ground squirrels via broadcast or hand baiting in limited application areas.

Whether you are a loyal Rozol RTU user or a new customer, an eRebate is available online for end-users who provide proof of purchase and “Tell Their Rozol Story.”

Neeralta Manufacturing Neeralta Grain Storage System If you have rented more land, are short on help during harvest, or are trying to market your product at a better price, the Neeralta Grain Storage System can help you. Added benefits include the ability to harvest higher moisture crops, reduce transport costs, as well as easily choosing a different storage location from one year to the next.

Ease of use, low maintenance and minimal downtime continue to define Neeralta’s approach to product development. The Neeralta Grain Storage System offers the most robust construction and set of features, crafted from reliable parts that are specifically chosen to be readily available.

All of the features and benefits to the Neeralta Grain Bagging System are backed by an experienced team that brought you innovations like the first grain bagger on the market with an on-board swing auger and the first, and still the only, grain bag

unloader that has the ability to wrap the bag up into a truly recycle-ready bale: all 500 feet of bag, in one bale.

Have you been on the new website yet? If not, check it out today at neeralta.com.

53

LAND VALUE | LAND VALUES IN 2021: THE BIGGEST INCREASE SINCE... ?

Land values in 2021: the biggest increase since...?

After a few years of reasonable growth the table is set for a faster increase in land values in 2021.

Need proof? Grain prices, interest rates and the structural scarcity of milk and poultry quotas, depending on the area, will act as powerful accelerating factors.

Vincent Cloutier With nearly 20 years of experience in the Canadian agri-food industry, Cloutier is a member of National Bank’s Agriculture and Agri-Food team. Having served in recent years as Senior Economist at La Coop fédérée (now Sollio Groupe coopératif) and Director of Economic Affairs at Les Éleveurs de porcs du Québec, he specializes in international trade and agricultural policies.

A graduate in agronomy and agri-food management from Laval University and a four-time participant in the prestigious Harvard Agribusiness Seminar, Cloutier supports National Bank’s agricultural and agri-food financing teams with his expertise in business environment analysis.

Over the past 35 years, land values have increased faster in Quebec and Ontario compared to the Maritimes and Prairies. This included some dark periods in grain production, which many farmers prefer to forget. According to data compiled by FCC, over the last five years, it has been much more consistent: seven per cent annually.

An accelerating global context The price of grains was very high in March. It will be recalled that in the last period of such prices, around the turn of the 2010s, land values had increased in the double digits at an annual rate. It’s too early for such an amalgamation, but without fail the grain markets fill some people with joy and others with regret. Unless African Swine Flu strikes again in China, and it appears plausible, slowing the recovery of the hog herd, or abrupt weather changes in South America, 2021 may well be history in its own way. And one shall remember that land values have mostly evolved parallel to field crop profitability, not so much to interest rates.

Record high canola prices, the market positioning of Canadian beef, the expansion of potato production in Western Canada and the trend towards vegetable protein are all promising. On this last point: in the wake of Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods, the incursion of PepsiCo, Tyson, Marfrig (Brazil’s No. 2 beef packer to JBS) and Maple Leaf into vegetable proteins is a harbinger of a major trend. In short, this acceleration will inevitably increase interest in farmland.

Buying and financing farmland Financing agricultural land is both easy and complex. Easy, because our confidence in the fundamentals of the industry is unwavering. Complex, because the ratios linking the profitability of agriculture to land values differ from those observed in other sectors of the economy.

Beyond the powerful, often emotional and exhilarating, appeal that comes from the availability of accessible, sometimes contiguous land, some basic issues are inescapable. How do additional acreages fit into the company’s strategic planning and long-term goals? Does the existing machinery fleet allow for cultivation without additional investment assuming labour is available?

At the same time, farm profitability coupled with high asset values raises the inevitable issue of cash flow management. Given the uneven effectiveness of income security programs, maintaining sufficient flexibility to get through difficult years remains essential. On this point, it is surprising how much collective wisdom is being expressed. According to Statistics Canada’s Farm Financial Survey, the short-term financial structure of field crop and beef cattle farms is better than those under supply management. This is a natural and wise response to a volatile environment.

In the short-, medium- and long-term, land is an asset of undeniable quality. The markets eloquently reflect this, and it will be doubly so this year. Your humble servant shares this unwavering confidence.

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