January 2011 Archives
I took over as editor of Grainews nearly a year ago. Just as I was getting into the swing of things, the endless seeding season of 2010 reared its ugly head and I could focus on little else. Of course, I live near Regina — not everyone faced such a dire growing season, but many did. Now, we've passed the half way point of winter (according to me) and the snow outside my door looks more like winter in the Red River Valley than "bone-dry Saskatchewan." (I was told last summer not to complain about the rain or it would stop for three years. Should I still be so careful? Maybe.) I'm hoping that my second year at the helm of this pub isn't nearly as exciting as the first. Really.
Difficult growing conditions here and abroad have done what they should for crop prices. Many farmers who missed out on production are taking some solace in price run ups of nearly every commodity (thank goodness). But wet weather leads to heavy disease pressure and low levels of quality seed stock. The farmer who fails to plan their crop selection early may find themselves short on their first choice or highest quality of seed.
While booking canola seed largely wrapped up in the late fall, many of you are still hammering out crop rotations or, to put it bluntly, returning to them.(I've said it before and I'll say it again, one in two is not a rotation.) The good news is many of the tried and true staples of western Canadian farming should be profitable this year at current pricing levels, the bad news is much of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are going to need perfect spring drying weather to get crops in on time.
Even timely seeding can't entirely make up for the dangers of seeding into wet conditions with (potentially) high levels of disease inoculum in the soil. It'd be prudent to pencil in a seed treatment, if you don't already, to this year's budget, I'd say.
Then there are those of you anticipating really wet conditions. In upcoming issues of Grainews, we'll be tackling the success rate of scratching in canola as well as highlighting cropping options that either don't mind wet feet, use a lot of water or will at least offer some ground cover and water use for 2011. For many, this cycle of wet weather is set to continue for a bit yet. Longer-term planning outside of your comfort zone, such as with winter wheat, forage and cover crops or big water users, may prove a wise move.
Of course, I say all of this and plan all these articles in the hopes that most of you don't need to employ these tactics. But the reality is, you may.
Happy planning!
Difficult growing conditions here and abroad have done what they should for crop prices. Many farmers who missed out on production are taking some solace in price run ups of nearly every commodity (thank goodness). But wet weather leads to heavy disease pressure and low levels of quality seed stock. The farmer who fails to plan their crop selection early may find themselves short on their first choice or highest quality of seed.
While booking canola seed largely wrapped up in the late fall, many of you are still hammering out crop rotations or, to put it bluntly, returning to them.(I've said it before and I'll say it again, one in two is not a rotation.) The good news is many of the tried and true staples of western Canadian farming should be profitable this year at current pricing levels, the bad news is much of Manitoba and Saskatchewan are going to need perfect spring drying weather to get crops in on time.
Even timely seeding can't entirely make up for the dangers of seeding into wet conditions with (potentially) high levels of disease inoculum in the soil. It'd be prudent to pencil in a seed treatment, if you don't already, to this year's budget, I'd say.
Then there are those of you anticipating really wet conditions. In upcoming issues of Grainews, we'll be tackling the success rate of scratching in canola as well as highlighting cropping options that either don't mind wet feet, use a lot of water or will at least offer some ground cover and water use for 2011. For many, this cycle of wet weather is set to continue for a bit yet. Longer-term planning outside of your comfort zone, such as with winter wheat, forage and cover crops or big water users, may prove a wise move.
Of course, I say all of this and plan all these articles in the hopes that most of you don't need to employ these tactics. But the reality is, you may.
Happy planning!
There are few things I like more in a sentence than "young" and "agriculture". I regret that I can't make it to the Saskatchewan Young Ag-Entrepreneurs conference set to go this week in Saskatoon, but I hope some of you will go and let me know the highlights. Check out the agenda here.
I anticipate that anyone who attends is going to be blown out of the water by Grant Dyck's account of what they've done on their farm and associated businesses. I was lucky enough to meet Grant a few years ago for a feature I did on him and his farming operation. He's young, ambitious, intelligent and genuinely a nice guy. I remember vividly riding around in his truck, talking farming, and Grant always coming back to "There's got to be a way to (fill problem in here)." Talk about a problem solver!
Also on the agenda are Ryan and Lauren Maurer, Canada's current Outstanding Young Farmers, and a thought-provoking discussion on land ownership (or rather, lack thereof) by Brad Farquhar's Assiniboia Farmland LP.
For more information on the event, visit www.saskyoungag.ca.
I anticipate that anyone who attends is going to be blown out of the water by Grant Dyck's account of what they've done on their farm and associated businesses. I was lucky enough to meet Grant a few years ago for a feature I did on him and his farming operation. He's young, ambitious, intelligent and genuinely a nice guy. I remember vividly riding around in his truck, talking farming, and Grant always coming back to "There's got to be a way to (fill problem in here)." Talk about a problem solver!
Also on the agenda are Ryan and Lauren Maurer, Canada's current Outstanding Young Farmers, and a thought-provoking discussion on land ownership (or rather, lack thereof) by Brad Farquhar's Assiniboia Farmland LP.
For more information on the event, visit www.saskyoungag.ca.
I've just returned from a week in Saskatoon taking in the sights and sounds of Crop Production Week. As always, each day featured lively discussions about everything from agronomy, to policy and trade issues, to market outlooks.
By far, the most popular and well-attended meetings at the show involved one of two things — markets or weather.
The bad news? According to Drew Lerner of World Weather Inc., most of the Prairies is still going to be wetter and cooler than average this summer. The good news is he doesn't think it'll be as bad as 2010, and we might even get a break from moisture in April.
Maybe the better news, however, was found in the market outlooks. As it stands, (and yes, we're a ways out from extensive new-crop price discovery) all but maybe peas and mustard sound downright profitable.
Now, if we can just get a crop in the ground in a timely manner.
Here's hoping.
By far, the most popular and well-attended meetings at the show involved one of two things — markets or weather.
The bad news? According to Drew Lerner of World Weather Inc., most of the Prairies is still going to be wetter and cooler than average this summer. The good news is he doesn't think it'll be as bad as 2010, and we might even get a break from moisture in April.
Maybe the better news, however, was found in the market outlooks. As it stands, (and yes, we're a ways out from extensive new-crop price discovery) all but maybe peas and mustard sound downright profitable.
Now, if we can just get a crop in the ground in a timely manner.
Here's hoping.
Former Grainews editor and current Off-Farm Investing columnist Andy Sirski is slated to speak at the MAFRI farm meeting at Selkirk, Man., next week, January 13. Andy will offer his insights into investments and what's on the horizon. Grainews machinery editor Scott Garvey is also speaking at the same meeting and will cover the latest and greatest in new seeding equipment and combines.
The meeting will be held at the Selkirk rec centre, 180 Easton Street. The cost of $10 includes coffee and lunch. Call 204-467-4700 to register.
Profile
Grainews editor Lyndsey Smith answers readers' questions, asks her own and, now and then, discusses what's new and interesting in western Canadian production agriculture.
