Change in the West Pffc’S Dan Erlandson Goes for Green
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EASTERN EDITION country-guide.ca January 2014 $3.50 CHANGE IN THE WEST PFFC’S DAN ERLANDSON GOES FOR GREEN +PLUS THE PHENOMENAL GROWTH OF ALBERTA’S GREG APPLEYARD YOU WANT TO FIRE DAD? TRY THESE STRESS-REDUCING TIPS FIRST TEST YOUR WORKING CAPITAL BEFORE YOU TAKE ON 2014 Publications Mail Agreement Number 40069240 JOB ID: 6110-2 B DATE: OCT 15 CLIENT: SYNGENTA CANADA PROJECT: CRUISER MAXX VIBRANCE SOY SHOP VAC UPDATED PUBLICATION: COUNTRY GUIDE EAST DESIGNER: DC ( ) MECHANICAL ( ) PDF/X FINAL SIZE: 8.125" X 10.75" UCR: 280% CLIENT SERVICE PROOFREADING ART DIRECTION PRODUCTION Vibrant roots pull in more nutrients. Crops thrive with Cruiser Maxx® Vibrance®. When the Vigor Trigger ® effect meets Rooting Power™ , you get enhanced crop establishment from stronger, faster-growing plants, above and below the ground. It also protects your soybeans against a broad range of insects and diseases and delivers best-in-class Rhizoctonia control. Visit SyngentaFarm.ca or contact our Customer Resource Centre at 1-87-SYNGENTA (1-877-964-3682). Always read and follow label directions. Cruiser Maxx® Vibrance® Beans, Rooting PowerTM, Vigor Trigger®, the Alliance Frame, the Purpose Icon and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. © 2013 Syngenta. 6110-2-B_SYN_CMVB_Soy_ShopVac_8.125x10.75.indd 1 13-09-11 4:03 PM CONTENTS JANUARY 2014 BUSINESS 8 A GOOD IDEA GOES TO MARKET Jake Kraayenbrink converted his bright idea into a commercial success, but it takes hard work. 12 FEARLESS FINANCING A passion for leveraged growth has fuelled the phenomenal growth of Greg Appleyard. 18 BEYOND A BANK BALANCE What’s the right level of working capital for your farm? It probably isn’t what you think. 22 LET’S MAKE SOME FOOD Canada has enormous potential to irrigate more acres in Saskatchewan. So why isn’t it happening? 33 GUIDE HR — CAN YOU DEVELOP A THRIVER’S MINDSET? These seven steps will help you thrive, not just survive. 34 IF THE GOOD TIMES ARE GONE Can you survive 25 years at this winter’s grain prices? These economists think you may have to. 36 SMARTER OPTION USE FOR YOUR MARKET PLAN Errol Anderson’s strategy to reduce risk, lift income. 37 NOURISHING NEW FARMERS This Manitoba couple is helping today’s homesteaders PG. 30 FRESH SASKATCHEWAN rediscover the skills they need to live off the land. Check out how the farmers at Prairie Fresh Food 40 TIME TO SUIT UP Corporation are taking Canadian agriculture in Enterprise risk management can prepare unthought-of directions. Then see our stories your farm for the big game. on Jake Kraayenbrink, Greg Appleyard, and an 44 YOU WANT TO FIRE DAD? issue full of innovation. There’s always a better strategy, our panelists say. 46 THE VALUE PLAN What’s next for John Deere? Scott Garvey talks strategy. 66 GUIDE LIFE — HEALTHY FOOD FOR BUSY FARM FAMILIES Healthier eating is good for you, and the farm. PRODUCTION EVERY ISSUE 48 AND AT NUMBER ONE… 6 MACHINERY GUIDE Avoid the top 10 precision farming mistakes. The planter versus drill debate gets shaken up by new planter technology. 52 LEADING EDGE 64 HANSON ACRES Tackle field variability with these new strategies. Dale gets a wake-up call. How much is a dream worth, anyway? 54 THE PESTICIDE JUNGLE 68 GUIDE HEALTH Warren Libby keeps us on top of input options. Restless leg syndrome is more common than you think, but help is at hand. 56 FIELD NOTES 70 PETUNIA VALLEY Ideas and insights from the world of research. Owly Drysdale walks his last fenceline, and the valley says goodbye. 57 RUTTING SEASON Your best options for fixing rutted fields. Our commitment to your privacy At Farm Business Communications we have a firm commitment to protecting your privacy and security as our customer. Farm Business Communications will only collect personal information if it is required for the proper functioning of our business. As part of our commitment to enhance customer service, we may share this personal information with other strategic business partners. For more information regarding our Customer Information Privacy Policy, write to: Information Protection Officer, Farm Business Communications, 1666 Dublin Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1. Occasionally we make our list of subscribers available to other reputable firms whose products and services might be of interest to you. If you would prefer not to receive such offers, please contact us at the address in the preceding paragraph, or call 1-800-665-1362. JANUARY 2014 country-guide.ca 3 d e s k EDITORIAL STAFF Editor: Tom Button 12827 Klondyke Line, Ridgetown, ON N0P 2C0 (519) 674-1449 Fax (519) 674-5229 Email: [email protected] Associate Editors: Maggie Van Camp (905) 986-5342 Fax (905) 986-9991 Email: [email protected] Gord Gilmour (204) 453-7624 Fax (204) 942-8463 Email: [email protected] Production Editor: Ralph Pearce (226) 448-4351 Email: [email protected] ADVERTISING SALES Lillie Ann Morris (905) 838-2826 Email: [email protected] Andrew Winkels (204) 954-1414 Cell (204) 227-5274 Email: [email protected] Head Office: 1666 Dublin Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3H 0H1 (204) 944-5765 Fax (204) 944-5562 Tom Button is editor of Country Guide magazine Advertising Services Co-ordinator: Sharon Komoski (204) 944-5758 Fax (204) 944-5562 Email: [email protected] Designer: Jenelle Jensen Publisher: Lynda Tityk The difference in 2014 Email: [email protected] Associate Publisher/Editorial Director: John Morriss Email: [email protected] Every year tells its own story. Inevi- year that our farms are starting into with Production Director: Shawna Gibson Email: [email protected] tably, too, it isn’t the story that anybody dented optimism, which has been common Circulation Manager: Heather Anderson in January predicted. But here’s my two enough, it’s also a year that our farms are Email: [email protected] cents anyway. entering with strong debt:equity positions President: Bob Willcox Will commodity prices sag? Will yields and excellent working capital numbers, as Glacier FarmMedia Email: [email protected] falter? We all have our guesses. It seems Maggie Van Camp describes in this issue. likely that world stocks will rebuild, and Working at Country Guide is an Contents of this publication are copyrighted and may be reproduced only with the permission of the editor. Country that this will put a ceiling on the mar- opportunity to see farms across the coun- Guide, incorporating the Nor’West Farmer and Farm & Home, is published by Farm Business Communications. Head office: kets. But it also seems likely there will try. From here, my overriding impression Winnipeg, Manitoba. Printed by Transcontinental LGMC. be enough extreme weather so we won’t from 2013 is of an incredible number of Country Guide is published 13 times per year by Farm Business be awash in a global glut, and enough farms enhancing their management in an Communications. Subscription rates in Canada — Farmer $39 for one year, $58 for 2 years, $83 economic strength to keep demand up. In infinite number of ways. Almost every for 3 years. (Prices include GST) U.S. other words, markets will have a floor as farm is improving its efficiency, acquiring subscription rate — $35 (U.S. funds). Subscription rate outside Canada and well. There will be weather scares to price new skills, and increasing its confidence. U.S. — $50 per year. Single copies: $3.50. on, but a lot of sideways movement too. There’s an old saying that peace is Publications Mail Agreement Number 40069240. Overall in the markets, 2014 feels like what happens when the soldiers are rest- We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund a treading-water sort of year, waiting for ing. There’s a sense now that our farmers of the Department of Canadian Heritage. the next big shock to set a new direction. have rested, they have re-armed, and they Canadian Postmaster: Return undeliverable Canadian Indeed, there’s a spreading sense that are ready for growth. addresses (covers only) to: Circulation Dept., PO Box 9800, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3K7. waiting for the next big shock is mainly Because of high land prices, it had U.S. Postmaster: Send address changes and undeliver- what 2014 will be remembered for, even seemed we were going to enter a long able addresses (covers only) to: Circulation Dept., PO Box if that shock doesn’t arrive for years. In period of attrition, where growth isn’t 9800, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3K7. this issue, after all, columnist Gerald Pil- possible. I no longer believe this. Subscription inquiries: ger writes of U.S. research that suggests The skills, the resources and the man- Call toll-free 1-800-665-1362 or email: [email protected] this holding pattern may last 25 years or agement ingenuity of today’s farmers are U.S. subscribers call 1-204-944-5766 more, so that farmers who are starting simply too great. In 10 years time, I now their careers now may find themselves in a believe, we’ll look back at 2014 as the Country Guide is printed with linseed oil-based inks PRINTED IN CANADA rut they can never truly climb out of. year when, on individual farms all across Vol. 133 No. 1 It’s fanciful at best to think 25 years this country, the moves were made that Internet address: www.agcanada.com forward in agriculture. Some would say led to their long-term success. ISSN 1915-8491 it’s folly. Still, it captures the mood. On their neighbours’ farms, it will The editors and journalists who write, contribute and provide opinions to Country Guide and Farm Business Communications attempt to provide But the mood is wrong.