Good Morning – Friday Crop Report (on a Thursday)
Spring seeding in Saskatchewan is off to a very slow start. As of the first week of May, the province sits at just 3% seeded. In our area and further north, it’s basically zero. I was out with the hoe yesterday and still hitting frost and ice chunks. You can drive a hoe right into a slough and pull it back out — the ground is that heavy.
I even slid into a creek while clearing an ice jam. Nearly shit my pants, but the hoe got me out. A good reminder that spring fieldwork still demands respect.
Big Farm Restructuring Reality Check
I keep turning over the large-scale farm restructurings we’ve seen and still can’t figure out how the plan ever made sense — or how the banks bought into it. The scale they pushed for was never realistic in Western Canada’s climate and markets. Now we’ve got a few operations still trying the same model with the attitude of “Hold my beer — we’ll do it different… but the same… and it’ll work this time.”
These situations don’t just hurt the big players. They ripple out and hurt every farmer in Western Canada, including the many successful 5,000 to 12,000-acre operations that run solid, sustainable businesses. Good news on one front: the operation in question did receive an extension from its major lender.
Market & Crop Notes
Grain prices took another hard hit this week. Buyers are convinced prices are too high and that “the war is over.” Both assumptions are nonsense.
Winter wheat froze as far south as Texas, yet we’re already seeing wheat heading in Kansas. Winter canola looks excellent so far. Fertilizer supply is tight but not in major shortage — just expect stupid money if you need extra for newly acquired land.
A Note on Mental Health
Mental health struggles are real in this industry. A few years ago I lost a very close friend to it. The only one at peace now is the one who’s gone. The family carries the weight for the rest of their lives. If you’re struggling, talk to someone. It helps.
Looking Ahead
Roads north are still rough, but the mood in the countryside is strong — I believe we’ll see the highest lever usage in years. The weather finally seems to be cooperating, but we’ve already lost one critical week in a short growing season.
Good luck to everyone out there. Stay safe, watch the ice and the sloughs, and let’s make this a strong planting season. Here’s to Plant 26 and a great week ahead.
Spring seeding in Saskatchewan is off to a very slow start. As of the first week of May, the province sits at just 3% seeded. In our area and further north, it’s basically zero. I was out with the hoe yesterday and still hitting frost and ice chunks. You can drive a hoe right into a slough and pull it back out — the ground is that heavy.
I even slid into a creek while clearing an ice jam. Nearly shit my pants, but the hoe got me out. A good reminder that spring fieldwork still demands respect.
Big Farm Restructuring Reality Check
I keep turning over the large-scale farm restructurings we’ve seen and still can’t figure out how the plan ever made sense — or how the banks bought into it. The scale they pushed for was never realistic in Western Canada’s climate and markets. Now we’ve got a few operations still trying the same model with the attitude of “Hold my beer — we’ll do it different… but the same… and it’ll work this time.”
These situations don’t just hurt the big players. They ripple out and hurt every farmer in Western Canada, including the many successful 5,000 to 12,000-acre operations that run solid, sustainable businesses. Good news on one front: the operation in question did receive an extension from its major lender.
Market & Crop Notes
Grain prices took another hard hit this week. Buyers are convinced prices are too high and that “the war is over.” Both assumptions are nonsense.
Winter wheat froze as far south as Texas, yet we’re already seeing wheat heading in Kansas. Winter canola looks excellent so far. Fertilizer supply is tight but not in major shortage — just expect stupid money if you need extra for newly acquired land.
A Note on Mental Health
Mental health struggles are real in this industry. A few years ago I lost a very close friend to it. The only one at peace now is the one who’s gone. The family carries the weight for the rest of their lives. If you’re struggling, talk to someone. It helps.
Looking Ahead
Roads north are still rough, but the mood in the countryside is strong — I believe we’ll see the highest lever usage in years. The weather finally seems to be cooperating, but we’ve already lost one critical week in a short growing season.
Good luck to everyone out there. Stay safe, watch the ice and the sloughs, and let’s make this a strong planting season. Here’s to Plant 26 and a great week ahead.
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