SPRING IS HERE
Make sure you circulate your ALPINE tanks if it has been stored over winter
Using air at about 7 psi works well – 1 hr per 3000 gals
GETTING YOUR PLANTER (OR DRILL) FIELD READY FOR SPRING
For a lot of growers seeding/planting is literally just around the corner (and may have already started depending on what part of Western Canada you live in). One of the most important aspects of spring for a farmer is getting his equipment ready for the field and in my part of the world (Eastern Manitoba), the most important piece of equipment to get ready is the planter.
FINDING INSPIRATION IN INTERESTING PLACES.
Peyton Manning retired from the NFL on March 7, 2016. Peyton is one of my heroes and I have admired him for many years, not because he was a football player but because of how he approached his craft. He always strove for perfection and never settled for “good enough.” He was never the best athlete or most skilled, but he worked harder, studied longer and pushed himself and his team mates to be better every day. Peyton mentioned a quote at his retirement press conference that struck a chord with me from Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be, and he will become what he should be.” That struck me as very applicable to what we do in agriculture and how we need to think about our industry moving forward. I thought of it like this “Treat a crop as it is, and it will remain as it is. Treat a crop as it could be, and it will become what it should be.”
CURLING – LESSONS FOR THE FARM
Many of us have been watching the curling elite during the recent Scotties, Breir and Worlds competitions. For many of us club curlers we are in awe of the tremendous shots being made and the strategies used in winning a game. As I watched the games there are several areas that lead me to exam the way I look and conduct my farm operations.
MICRONUTRIENTS
Not so many years ago when we looked at soil tests micronutrients weren’t an issue. Going through all the soil tests I did last fall, every one of them is lacking in some kind of micro. With our different practices in farming and the larger yields that are being taken off these days we have depleted our soils of these valuable nutrients.
ELECTION TIME IN SASKATCHEWAN
With the Saskatchewan provincial election looming, I’m sure everyone has noticed political television commercials and radio ads have been picking up. It appears to be a 2 horse race between the Sask Party and NDP. Both have there long lists of priorities, but I noticed an important part of Saskatchewan that is missing from both lists.
IMPORTANCE OF PROPER EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE AND PRODUCT HANDLING
We all know too well how important it is to make sure all our rates are correct when seeding or spraying but sometimes we get so busy we will let a few things slide; this is never a good idea as it will always come back to bite us. Improper application rates will cost us money!!! Sometimes to double and triple check things is never a bad idea, it will pay dividends in the long run.
MAKING EDUCATED DECISIONS
As we find ourselves planning for the upcoming growing year, there are many different events to take part in.
LICENSE TO FARM.
Recently the Saskatchewan Canola Development Commission released a documentary discussing the new age of farming and the challenge of informing the end consumer about how their food is produced. You may agree or disagree with the facts and opinions expressed in the film, but in my opinion it does shed some light on a few misconceptions that the end consumer may have about farming today. I commend the efforts of all the people involved in the making of this film and I think it’s worth a watch.
IT’S TRADESHOW SEASON
Come see us at the Crop Production show next week in Saskatoon. Tuesday Wednesday or Thursday
