On the Farm: The ranch began as a cow-calf operation three years ago but now actively markets the meat it produces
Denver and Becky Johnson saw bison production as a way to return to the community they loved and it also gave them a chance play a role on the family farm where Becky grew up. The Johnsons are owners of Bison Ridge Farms, a 150-head bison ranch located west of Prince Albert, Sask., on the […] Read moreTag Archives on the farm — page 4
First Nations family returns to grain farming
On the Farm: The younger Thomsons hope to build a business that grows ‘slowly but surely’ and stays in the family
Making money is not the primary reason Aidan Thomson started farming four years ago. “I love being outside, love connecting with the wilderness,” said the 21-year-old First Nations grain farmer from the Carry the Kettle Nakoda Nation. Thomson grew up on a farm on the reserve, where he has fond memories of watching tractors drive […] Read more
Nova Scotia producers try sweet potatoes
On the Farm: Family’s first years growing the sub-tropical crop were closer to disaster than success but they persevered
The Keddys seem to prefer to do things the hard way, like farming. The young couple lives in a fertile, warm, rich farming area that can grow all sorts of crops with good yields and returns. Instead of growing one of those proven winners, Katie and Phil decided to embrace something nobody else was growing, […] Read more
Producer bridges ranching, conservation sectors
On the Farm: Tamara Carter helps run a cattle operation and grain farm and works for the Nature Conservancy of Canada
Tamara Carter didn’t really need another full-time job. She, her husband Russ, and their three children run 250 head of cattle near Lacadena, Sask., and also have a 4,000-acre grain farm north of there at Plato. But the position of director of grassland conservation for the new Weston Family Foundation initiative at the Nature Conservancy […] Read more
Vegetable farmers share passion for rocks
On the Farm: A seven-acre market garden business grew out of excess produce the family grew in their home garden
WETASKIWIN, Alta. — The directions to Franbeta Farms are clear. It’s the place with the rocks and trees. Massive rocks the size of vehicles act as sentries along the driveway. Rows of towering pine and spruce line the curved driveway directing traffic into the farm. In the yard, hundreds of rocks create boundaries around the […] Read more
Alberta flower producer thinks like a farmer
On the Farm: Lisa Jans chooses her varieties based on a number of traits, including stem strength and length of stem
NEW NORWAY, Alta. — Lisa Jans is combining her agronomy skills and the global pandemic, which disrupted the flower market, to become a flower farmer. “I love flowers,” said Jans from her central Alberta farm. Each year, her flower beds grew larger, with an equally bigger workload and more weeds to deal with. Then she […] Read more
Farmers build dairy plant to avoid additives
Ten years ago, Wilma Mol was frustrated. She had noticed a decline in the quality of yogurt, ice cream and cheese at grocery stores, mostly because of what she attributes to additives in the dairy products. “Corn starch and pectin in yogurt, skim milk powder or milk ingredients in cheese…. Ice cream with no cream […] Read more
Farm opens door for purple martins
Alberta producer kicks off a building boom in condominium-style bird houses that sees the species’ population explode
WETASKIWIN, Alta. — Over the next few weeks, Bob Buskas’ eyes will be on his fields as he begins to seed. He also has an eye to the sky as he waits for the purple martins to return to his farm. It takes about two to three weeks for the birds to fly from their […] Read more
Man. farmers make decision to return home
On the Farm: David and Jean Caldwell emigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1995 — now they’re moving back
For just over a quarter of a century, David and Jean Caldwell of Kenton, Man., have called Canada home. But by their own admission, their Scottish roots run deep, and on April 30, their life will come full circle as they head into retirement with a move back to their bonny homeland. The decision to […] Read more
Love of gardening prompted major transition for farmers
On the Farm: Sask. producers made the switch to greenhouses from grain bins and now run one of the largest operations in the province
Gil and Brenda Leray aren’t your typical Saskatchewan farmers — not by a long shot. About 30 years ago, the Lerays made a life-changing decision to stop growing broad-acre crops like wheat, barley and canola. Instead, they decided to focus on a higher value crop. The Lerays own and operate Leray Gardens at Prud’Homme, Sask., […] Read more
