Grainswest - Tech 2026

Tech 2026 grainswest.com 21 The Romanowskis 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 farm20minutes north of Edmonton strictly produces field crops. The rotation Canola, malting barley and wheat. Divisionof labour The Romanowski farmemploys no hired help. Though he is 85, Wilfred is in great health and doesmuch of the farm labour. Wife Margaret and son Darren take on whatever farmduties are required as time permits. Grandson Charley is in the process of learning the ropes. Claimto fame As a youngman, 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. Farmsuccession Son Darren has become increasingly involved in farmwork and decision-making. The 2025harvest One of the best in years. Due to a warm, dry fall with no early frost, cropsmatured 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 Copeland has been replaced by Churchill as the farm’s malting barley variety for the first time this year.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 rainsmay have drowned out asmuch as 10 per cent of his cropland. However, cereal plants that were not damaged had filled out beautifully by early July. Canolamay have been damaged to a greater degree. Photo: Anthony Houle Photography