MEET YOUR FARM NEIGHBOURS
PHOTO BY ANTHONY HOULE PHOTOGRAPHY
Wilfred Romanowski took over the operation of his family’s Sturgeon County farm in 1961. Though his family once raised cattle and chickens, today the Romanowski farm 20 minutes north of Edmonton strictly produces field crops.
The rotation
Canola, malting barley and wheat.
Division of labour
The Romanowski farm employs no hired help. Though he is 85, Wilfred is in great health and does much of the farm labour. Wife Margaret and son Darren take on whatever farm duties are required as time permits. Grandson Charley is in the
process of learning the ropes.
Claim to fame
As a young man, Wilfred aggressively expanded the farm. Three quarters quickly became 14. “Land was cheaper a long time ago,” he admits. In those early years, crops were good. “Everything got paid off, and it worked out good for me.” Over the years, the farm’s productivity has remained consistent.
Farm succession
Son Darren has become increasingly involved in farm work and decision-making.
The 2025 harvest
One of the best in years. Due to a warm, dry fall with no early frost, crops matured well and no grain drying was required.
Cereals choices
CDC Pilar CLPlus. Wilfred favours this CWRS variety for its
resistance to ClearField Plus chemistry, which he says
conveniently eliminates quack grass, volunteer grain and wild oats. Copeland has been replaced by Churchill as the farm’s malting barley variety for the first time this year. While he liked Copeland, it did tend to lodge, and pre-harvest sprouting
occurred. He anticipates Churchill will stand well for straight cut combining. “I won’t know until this fall,” he said.
Cereal plans
Every year, the Romanowskis have seeded a third of their acres to barley, canola and wheat, respectively. Wilfred
estimated spring rains may have drowned out as much as 10 per cent of his cropland. However, cereal plants that were not damaged had filled out beautifully by early July. Canola may have been damaged to a greater degree.
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