A cooler summer, more precise fertility measures, better overall farm management, improved equipment, wise fungicide use and timely rains have combined to create a very successful farming year for most people in this area.
Davidson farmer Rob Stone said this has been a good year and most people are pleased with their yields, but it needs to be remembered that farmers have worked very hard for these higher yields. He said this is probably the most money any individual farm has spent per acre on their crops this year and with the weather cooperating the result has been an above average crop.
“There are some crops that are approaching a top yield and some are definitely breaking the long-term average, so there is a trend for higher yields this year then there has been for the last five to 10 years,” said Stone. “Some crops (are) more so than others. It seems the cereals are more topping their average trend yields and crops like canola; overall more people are experiencing some success with their yields.
“I wouldn’t say they’re astronomically record high as far as the canola is concerned, (but) cereals probably. The cereals, overall there is a lot more people having yield success and if you look at the pulses and lentils and stuff like that there is some people that report extremely high yields.”
Stone said protein levels are lower than average with the bigger yield, but the increased investment in producer’s fertility management strategy has helped keep up protein levels along with the increased yield in hybrid spring wheat and durum.
There is “actually a situation where some people were experiencing too low of a protein in barley, which is very unusual because high protein barley is a problem,” he said.
Gord Willner, who farms west of Davidson, said this isn’t the biggest crop he’s ever had, but it is one of the better ones in a while. He said it’s hard to say the reason behind the good crop other than all the variables which “don’t always make sense” that go into farming seemed to come together this year.
“We’re putting grain in our barn,” said Willner, noting the increased volume has created problems with storage space on the farm. “We’ve got a shop (and) we’re going to put grain in there. Then we’ll probably put the last of our feed barley on the ground.”
Willner said all his canola is already priced and contracted due to the possibility of the price going down. He said none of the wheat has been priced, but now that he knows the grade of it that work is beginning.
“Actually I started doing it up the other day for our spring wheat,” he said. “Then the only other thing we have is flax and I’m going to contract it pretty quick as well for a winter delivery.”
To read more please see the October 7 print edition of The Davidson Leader.