THE SEMENIUKS
PHOTO: ANTHONY HOULE PHOTOGRAPHY
The first in a series of family farm portraits, GrainsWest visited Angela and Robert Semeniuk, whose land is in the Smoky Lake area. Their children, daughter Gabrielle and son Tristan, are the fifth generation to be raised at this 115-year-old farm.
The rotation
Canola, CWRS wheat, malting barley and pulses such as green peas and maybe fave beans in 2026.
Division of labour
Robert handles most operational details with assistance from Tristan, while Angela takes the lead on financials. The family employs three seasonal workers.
Claim to fame
Robert and Angela were 2012 winners of the Alberta region Outstanding Young Farmers Award.
Farm succession
Son Tristan has been accepted to attend the Crop Technology program at Lakeland College with an eye on an ag business degree. His parents encouraged him to get life experience off the farm. Succession planning is at the conversation stage and includes a lawyer and accountant. “It’s not a concrete plan, but we have guidance,”
said Robert. A recent land purchase will increase transition flexibility.
The 2025 harvest
In a word, disappointing. “I hate saying, ‘I can’t wait for next year’ in spring of the year I’m in.” Though with just 40 per cent of average moisture, careful management and solid crop genetics moderated their losses.
Cereals choices
To counter regional midge downgrading, the Semeniuks grew AAC Wheatland VB in 2025. “A good, solid variety with good protein.” They will grow it again in 2026, then switch to AC Stoughton VB, another midge tolerant variety. The farm supplies barley to Rahr Malting. The Semeniuks switched to CDC Churchill from AAC Synergy in 2025.
Cereal plans
Wheat is a staple in their crop rotation, but acres are likely to be trimmed in 2026 due to poor market signals, high fertilizer cost and current dry conditions. A possible increase in barley acres will depend on maltster bids.
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