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Spring
2018
Grains
West
14
GROWING
IDEAS
Spring
Tips
Alberta farmers
share last year’s
lessons learned
OBSERVATION
Forward contract your grain when prices are strong. In June
of 2017, I already had our entire projected wheat crop priced
and was 65 to 90 per cent on the other grains. This gave me an
accurate picture of my cash-flow projections, and because we
had a very dry, low-producing year in our area, I received a good
return on the entire crop.
TIP
Take a scientific approach to seeding rates by doing accurate
1,000-kernel weights (TKW) and adjusting those rates to your
desired plant population. This is especially important when
cleaning your own grain because TKWcan change by year, bin
and crop variety.
OBSERVATION
Be patient at almost everything, except when it comes to
harvest. Then go like hell and use every available minute. Take
grain off wet if you have the opportunity to put it on air, dry or
blend.
TIP
Load up on podcasts, audiobooks and music to make the long
hours in the cab more enjoyable. This may seem like a more
general farming tip, but seeding days are the longest here and
staying sane is important.
OBSERVATION
The 2017 crop season reaffirmed that
seeding early has huge agronomic
advantages. We were on the wet side
this spring. With crop left out from 2016,
we didn’t start seeding till later in May
and delayed a week after only five days
of seeding. This pushed our crops back
in the fall, making them susceptible to
early frost.
TIP
For a few years now, I’ve been stagger-
ing the tread width on my sprayer. By
having one axle wider than the other,
the tires only drive over the crop once,
leaving it less stressed in the tire tracks.
The other benefits are less compaction
in the track, and in soft spots all four tires
grab fresh ground. You don’t leave such
big ruts, nor get stuck as often.
OBSERVATION
Asking myself, “What can I lose here?”
has become the framework through
which I evaluate farming decisions. This
way of looking at risk can keep me from
plunging over potential precipices. It can
also be a spur in my side. I may perceive
a choice as risky, but when I re-evaluate
the potential downside, I realize that
there isn’t much to lose.
TIP
I make copies of my seeding plan with
seeding, fertilizer and inoculant rates
as well as locations or bin numbers of
those products. I make sure there’s one
in every tractor and truck we use for
seeding and one taped inside the kitch-
en cupboard. That way, no matter who
is driving what, they have a reference to
guide them.
COLE SIEGLE
CLYDE
PATRICK KUNZ
BEISEKER
BRIAN SEWELL
HERRONTON
SARAHHOFFMANN
THREE HILLS