According to a frontline Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. employee who wishes to remain anonymous, the phone rings every 10 seconds on average and on every fifth call the employee is either sworn at or called stupid or other names. No doubt many producers are in serious need of their crop insurance money, but employees working […] Read more
Author Archives
Muddled thinking mars climate change debate
If you ask most members of the general public about this year’s record heat and drought across the Prairies, they’ll accept the idea that it’s linked to climate change. After all, that’s what the scientists, activists and media say at every opportunity. However, there are many examples of muddled thinking on the whole climate change […] Read more
Beware those oft-cited technology predictions
Predictions abound on how agriculture will evolve in the years ahead. In my opinion, some-often cited predictions are out to lunch. Many future gazers have farmers of the future sitting in their offices controlling farm equipment virtually and while that is the direction technology is heading, driverless tractors will remain the anomaly rather than the […] Read more
Cash flow squeeze coming for many producers
Typically at the end of harvest, you can multiple your production by expected prices and match revenue to all the upcoming expenses as you prepare for the next growing season. This year, particularly for the large percentage of producers seriously affected by drought, it isn’t that simple. Grain prices have been highly volatile. The value […] Read more
Some producers may seed back-to-back pulses
Editor’s note: This column was written prior to BASF releasing its message to Growers found here. An array of unusual considerations will go into next year’s crop rotations and there will be some atypical choices. One big consideration for many growers will be herbicide residue. In a dry year, many herbicides with residual activity persist […] Read more
Crop return story has both good and bad sides
What will be your best paying crop this year? Here’s a look at how various crops compare based on average yields and current prices. For this analysis we’ll use the yields being reported by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture based on a network of crop reporters. Prices have been volatile with some continuing to increase […] Read more
We must swallow our pride and roll up our sleeves
COVID-19 vaccination rates lag in rural areas and among farm families. I’ve tried to understand this vaccine hesitancy, but I find none of the lame brain arguments viable. “Oh, I’m not around many people and the infection rate has been low around here.” Lots of rural people have had COVID and the delta variant is […] Read more
Correction likely to take place in grain markets
Cereal, oilseed, pulse and specialty crop prices can’t go up forever. What goes up rapidly often comes down even more quickly. Beware a big price correction. I’m no market analyst, but I’ve been around the block a few times; and I don’t really have a dog in this hunt. Almost all of my meagre production […] Read more
Abnormal decisions required for abnormal year
Do you combine a durum crop with an estimated yield of only five bushels an acre? The answer would usually be no, but on the one field we have in durum, this year’s abnormal conditions have changed intentions. Early in the growing season, the durum looked very good with even germination and good growth. Moisture […] Read more
Grain farmers must avoid ‘me too’ temptation
With AgriRecovery funding in place from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and a decision pending from British Columbia; and with federal cost-sharing of 60 percent now announced, cattle producers know they will have a bit of support to defray sky-high winter feeding costs. This has left some grain farmers pouting as they too hope for government […] Read more
