GrainsWest Fall 2019

Fall 2019 Grains West 6 All inthe family IN SPRING OF 2014, GRAINSWEST published a cover story entitled “The Found Generation.” You can read it at grainswest.com . The four young agricul- tural leaders profiled in the piece grew up on Prairie farms. After working and completed their educations off-farm, they all returned to farming and became influential advocates for their industry. Shaking off the pervasive sense of gloom within farming at the time, these voices of generational change were exceptionally positive. All refreshingly approached agriculture with a sense of optimism and the conviction their deci- sion to pursue farming as a career was the right one for them and their families. Anecdotally at least, and tempered by the hard realities of farm entrepreneurship, this shifting attitude continues to grow and spread. This issue’s cover story is something of a followup on the ever-evolving topic of next generation farmers. In “Welcome back” (page 26), we examine the lives of three young farmers who left their family farms around the time they came of age. They went out in the world to study and work, sometimes in jobs not directly related to agriculture. Their off- farm experiences differed greatly one to the other, but each returned with varied ag-friendly skills and self-confidence well suited to the independent nature of the industry. Having proved themselves on their own terms, they returned to farm- ing hungry to apply their knowledge and ambition, clear-eyed about the setbacks and celebrations that are always part of agriculture. When the next generation of farm offspring decides to make agriculture a life’s calling, land rental and acquisition eventually becomes part of the equa- tion. Farm size remains on an upward trajectory in Canada, and planning for potential scaling-up scenarios makes practical sense. Picking up where our spring, 2019 story “Expensive acres” left off is “Growth formula” (page 32), which looks at the number crunching neces- sary for farm operations to be expansion ready. In this guide to growth, Prairie farmers who have successfully expanded over the years share their approaches to acre acquisition. Growth opportunities may present themselves only occasionally, while mar- keting the harvest is, with occasionally disastrous exceptions, an annual thing. As farmers ready their crop for delivery to the elevator, preparedness is likewise important. Disappointment in the dispar- ity between expected return and actual payout is all too common. In “Dodging downgrades,” (page 36) we gather advice from farmers and industry professionals on how to minimize unexpected out- comes. Again, preparation is the key, and there are resources grain farmers can turn to when facing a dispute over the quality and dollar value of a load. That there will continue to be occa- sional grading disputes over the quality of individual truckloads of grain is a given. On a global scale, there’s no disputing the high quality of the nation’s grain crops is the industry’s central marketing advantage. The Black Sea region of Russia and Ukraine is moving an ever-greater volume of medium-pro- tein wheat onto world markets. At first glance, this imposing surge of competi- tion is alarming. In “Surfing the Black Sea” (page 22), we discover there’s plenty of opportunity for high-protein Canadian wheat exports to ride this wave. Here in the fall issue of GrainsWest , you’ll also find the final instalment of our Combine to Craft series (page 16). This portrait of the Hilton family focuses on their field-to-glass vertical integration efforts. Soil-conscious stewards of the land, they grow barley, malt it, brew beer and even serve it at their Strathmore tap- room. As with the subjects of our cover story, the next generation of the Hilton clan is making their return to the farm and finding unique ways to build on the farming tradition they were born into. Incorporating their ambitions and bringing new skills into the family business, next-generation farmers aren’t reinventing the wheel, but building upon existing operations. There is no guaranteed success in farming, but in working to better the odds and supplying an always-refreshing dose of optimism, these young agriculturalists are making the future of the family farm all the brighter. EDITOR’S MESSAGE Read more, listen more To complement the print edition of GrainsWest , you can read the free online edition of the magazine at grainswest.com , where you’ll also find exclusive online-only stories. On the go? We’ve got you covered. For in-depth audio that expands on topics tackled in the pages of the magazine, download The GrainsWest Podcast on iTunes or wherever you access your podcasts. For Android users, visit Google Play, download the Google podcast app and search “GrainsWest Podcast.” Also get important ag information and links to new online stories and never miss a story by signing up for the GrainsWest newsletter at grainswest.com/newsletter-signup/