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FEBRUARY 17, 2011 | WWW.PRODUCER.COM | THE WESTERN PRODUCER
FARM LIVING
ON THE FARM | THE WILFING FAMILY
Couple returns home to seed a successful farm Growing a business | Pedigreed seed business expands to seed cleaning for a Meadow Lake couple BY KAREN BRIERE REGINA BUREAU
MEADOW LAKE, Sask. — Ryan Wilfing’s grandfather could still get a homestead in 1926, provided he went to northern Saskatchewan. So he did, clearing his quarter and helping other immigrants do the same. Agriculture and forestry have co-existed in the region ever since. Tucked along the forest fringe northeast of Meadow Lake, Wilfing Farms is mostly black loam soil with some grey woodland. It sits a few kilometres from a large pulp mill and Ryan said some of the land still has sand ridges from glaciation. Ryan grew up on the farm, leaving to study agricultural engineering and working at Morris Industries and Flexi-Coil Industries before returning with wife, Jennifer, in 2000 to farm. They lived in Meadow Lake for five years before moving into the farm home, vacated by Ryan’s retiring parents. It wasn’t the ideal time to get into farming. “I was scared to come back,� said Jennifer, who also has a university degree in psychology and worked in early childhood development. The 2002 drought left them with no crop and frost hit twice in the first four years, resulting in small crops. Ryan and Jennifer took on four quarters of their own, and Ryan’s dad paid him a salary to work his acres. There are also two other brothers who work off the farm but retain an interest in it. “In 2004, we incorporated because it was tough to keep things separate,� access=subscriber section=farmliving,none,none
Ryan and Jennifer Wilfing, with daughters, Emma and Aubrie, and their dog, Wally, stand on the scale at the seed cleaning plant on their farm east of Meadow Lake, Sask. | KAREN BRIERE PHOTO Ryan said. They also had to figure out how to support two families. The Wilfings already produced two varieties of pedigreed seed — barley
and peas — and decided that expanding that business could generate more dollars per acre. Using Ryan’s engineering expertise, construction of the seed clean-
ing plant began in the fall of 2002 and finished the following April. “We cleaned the whole crop in that month,� Ryan said. But things have changed since then, turning the plant into an income generator. Today, all the wheat, barley, oats and peas they grow are for pedigreed seed. They grow canola commercially. The acreage expanded from 1,700 to 3,500 acres, most of that rented. Next year, they intend to direct seed 4,300 acres. Calls have been coming in this winter from as far as southern Alberta as farmers decimated by last year’s flooding look for seed. The Wilfings are already sold out of some varieties. Fortunately, their plans always include a few bins of carryover. Ryan said they focus on short-season varieties given their location. “On the first of May, there is still snow in the fence lines most years,� he said. Last year looked promising, with an early melt and the crop going in by May 22. Still, they didn’t seed everything they intended and lost between five and eight percent of what did go in. “We tried lentils last year,� said Ryan. “That was not so good.� Yield was good but the quality was not, leading him to stick with peas as a better choice for the area. Two employees and seasonal help from his dad keep the farm and plant operating. The employees are also kept busy hauling in the farm’s semi. The closest elevators are at North Battleford, more than 150 kilometres away. There were once about 10 small elevators in Meadow Lake, said Ryan, but not one of them stands today. That long haul and the short growing season are the two main challenges with farming so far north. Ryan also lists short harvesting days as a concern. “We usually can’t combine until
noon,� he said. They use three combines and try to go as late as possible but that in itself can be a challenge with the 12 to 14 varieties they grow. Harvest has to be timed so that the combines can be cleaned at a time that doesn’t cause evening delays. Jennifer said finding employees can also be an issue. “We have to compete with the mills and the (log) truckers,� she said. On a January day, semis are in and out of the yard hauling seed to Viking, Alta., and bringing the Wilfings fertilizer. About half of their seed sales are into Alberta, where customers are looking for low fusarium, and orders come in early. “We are almost going to be sold out for next year,� said Ryan. A niche market that came up a few years ago involves sales to deer and bear outfitters. Outfitters must use clean grain in the forest bait stations, Ryan said. They clean, bag and sell alfalfa and chickpeas for their customers, selling between 3,000 and 3,500 bags each year. This also spreads out their cash flow. “November is busy with outfitters and hunters,� said Jennifer, who looks after the farm books. She also said that last year they saw demand for clean oats with no dust for chuck wagon horses, which are mostly retired thoroughbreds. “We’re not going to get rich out of it,� said Ryan, but it keeps them in touch with customers and others in agriculture. They host a field day each summer to showcase their varieties. The Wilfings are members of FP Genetics and SeCan, as well as the Saskatchewan Seed Growers Association. They also keep busy with their two young daughters, Emma, eight, and Aubrie, six.
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