Grainswest - Spring 2026

Spring 2026 grainswest.com 31 “Growers know that they may face short-term losses, but if they can see a clear path to economic or soil gains in the long run, they might give it a try,” said Liu. As with much of farming, risk tolerance has a role to play in the decision to change course. “Grain prices definitely matter, though if a grower has farm-saved seed in the bin ready to use and it’s not costing him anything, why would he switch crops at that point?” said Serfas. Certain farmers may be more inclined to roll the dice in search of the next big thing, he speculated. Generally, however, most won’t take a huge risk and seed a lot of acres to that specialty crop on the first try. THE ROI ON SOC An increase in SOC levels can produce substantial gains: greater nutrient cycling, better soil moisture storage for subsequent crops and greater capture of micro-organisms that offer a host of soil benefits. “SOC improves soil structure, holds water and nutrients tightly and makes crops more resilient to stressors,” said Liu. It often acts as a buffer that protects crops under harsh conditions. “This may not always increase yield, but it can reduce morbidity in your crops when they’re under stress.” Liu suggested farmers be mindful of the big picture. “I would advise growers to take a systemic approach and not just look at a single indicator. Think about short-term gains and long-term crop morbidity.” The results of Serfas’s study are not meant to be prescriptive. While his research outlines the potential upside to the adjustment of crop rotation, he recognizes each farm is unique. “The prospect of SOC-enhancing rotations seems to be a win-win for producers,” said Serfas. “Apart from improving yield and profits, it offers even greater benefits for the environment. That’s not to say you should do this, since outcomes vary considerably across fields and years, and depend on a farmer’s long-term plan.” A change in rotation may have varying appeal among farmers, but improvement of soil health and an incremental boost to the bottom line are worthy goals that require long-term commitment. “Your actions now will greatly affect the future,” said Serfas. Tomorrow’s actions can also affect good work done in the past. “Should you decide to till the soil every other year, you could release a lot of carbon, and all of those hard-earned benefits over the last 30 years may be lost.” Success with a specific crop rotation is not automatically guaranteed. Farmers are encouraged to conduct research, consult crop commission resources and consider the assistance of an agronomist. “Be patient and realize that every season is slightly different,” said Bourgault. “Sometimes you do everything right and it doesn’t quite work out, while other times it really pays off. Farming is a lifelong learning journey. Some people think it’s a recipe: do this and that and you’ll be fine. But as most growers know, it just doesn’t work like that.” The main takeaway of a recent University of Alberta crop rotation study is that while farmers calculate commodity prices into their rotation decisions, they should also consider how that rotation affects carbon sequestration. Photo of flax crop near Eston, SK, courtesy of Devin Serfas.