ELMA, Man. – Isolation feeds the independent spirit of farmers like Gerald Toews.
The 33-year-old runs a hog and grain operation in the eastern-most agricultural area of the Prairies, nestled between the “moose pasture” of a dense provincial forest and Whiteshell Provincial Park.
“We have no dealerships here, we have nothing,” Toews said. “Everything is our way. Everything.”
It’s about an hour’s drive to get parts or haul grain. But Toews has found some shortcuts. He shares a large machine shop with family members where they fix, modify and build farm equipment, such as a high-clearance sprayer.
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As well, he grinds his own hog feed with a computerized feed mill he shares with his father and brother’s poultry operation.
He’s also considering getting high-tech help from a global positioning system. “Three years ago, I thought (GPS) would never be in my range, but I sort of think a little different already.”
Seeks independence
Toews started his 130-sow operation about 13 years ago. “My priority would have been poultry, but it’s very expensive getting into.”
He said he plans to become more independent from his father and brother in the next 10 years: He wants to build a hog barn on his own land, and maybe add some more sows.
But the most immediate change in his operation will take place this summer, when Manitoba Pork loses its monopoly on selling hogs in the province. “It’s not going to be quite as easy to market your hogs,” he said, adding he’ll have to pay more attention to the markets.
Toews said he still wants to sell his hogs through the agency and would be cautious about trying other avenues.
He’s also been wary of marketing options like forward contracting for his hogs. “Financially, I didn’t have to have my market set,” he said.
“I felt I could meet my obligations. If I was a new person in with a heavy debt load, I think it (would be) a good option.”
However, he does “play the market” with cash crops like canola.
Plans for change
Although many farmers expect to be using new varieties in five years, only 36 percent expect to add a crop they don’t already have. Seven percent didn’t know and 57 percent said they would not have any new crop.
Out of the 36% who plan to try new crops in the year 2000*:
44% plan to add
wheat or barley
44% plan to add
oats, canola or flax
33% plan to add
specialty crops
28% plan to add
field peas
8% plan to add
forages
17% plan to add
other crops.
- Numbers do not add to 100% because more than one category may have been selected.
Both the Progressive Producer and Innovative Investor groups intend to give proportionately stronger emphasis to special crops.
The survey found that 74 percent are already involved in raising some type of livestock. This could climb to 80 percent in five years because the Progressive Producers and Innovative
Investors indicate intentions to expand their livestock operations.
