Should I bale my wheat straw, or is it worth more left in the field?

Coles Ag on September 2, 2026

By Ashley Ammeter, Whole Farm Specialist, Manitoba Crop Alliance

To give the classic agronomist response: it depends.

Straw has value whether it’s baled or left in the field. How that value is best captured varies from farm to farm and even from field to field. The answer depends on your soil type, moisture conditions, cropping system and long-term management goals.

If you farm clay soils with high organic matter, excess straw may cause management challenges. Heavy crop residues can require additional tillage, delay soil warming and drying in the spring, and interfere with seeding. In these situations, baling straw may be a practical management tool.

On the other hand, on lighter-textured, drought- or erosion-prone soils or those with lower organic matter, the benefits of retaining straw may outweigh any potential income from baling.

Some components of the value of straw are relatively easy to quantify. Straw contains nutrients that are removed from the field when baled and may need to be replaced through fertilizer. Other benefits, such as supplying organic matter, are much harder to put a dollar value on.

Straw contains valuable nutrients

The nutrient content of straw can vary depending on crop type, growing conditions and soil fertility levels. Potassium (K) content can be particularly variable, since the K found in crop residue is highly soluble and will leach from crop residue if there is rainfall before baling.

Typical straw nutrient contents are shown below:

*Note that potassium is often naturally abundant in clay soils, so potassium removal is not always considered a significant concern in clay soils. Source: Manitoba Agriculture Straw Cost Calculator.

Manitoba Agriculture’s Straw Cost Calculator can help determine the value of straw based on the cost of nutrients removed. While the actual nutrient content of straw can vary considerably, calculating an approximate replacement value for the nutrients removed can be a useful starting point.

The value of organic matter

The nutrient value of straw is relatively easy to calculate. The value of the organic matter in straw is much harder to quantify, but may be even more important in the long run.

Soil organic matter is a critical component of soil health that influences many soil properties and plays an important role in crop productivity:

  • Soil moisture regulation: Increased organic matter can improve water infiltration under excess moisture conditions and improve water holding capacity under drought conditions.
  • Soil structure and aggregation: Soil organic matter plays an important role in the formation of stable soil aggregates (soil particles that are bound together). A well-aggregated soil improves water infiltration, root growth and can better resist erosion and compaction.
  • Herbicide breakdown: Soils with low organic matter can have an increased risk of herbicide carryover, particularly under dry conditions. Organic matter provides sites for herbicides to bind to, preventing them from impacting sensitive crops. In addition, soils with high organic matter often have increased microbial activity, speeding up herbicide breakdown.

What does long-term research tell us about straw removal?

Long-term research from Indian Head, SK, suggests that the impact of straw removal depends on how much residue is removed, how often straw removal occurs and the overall management system.

In a study by Lafond et al. (2009), straw was removed two years out of three in a fallow-wheat-wheat rotation over a 50 year period. Depending on the harvest system used, baling removed 26 to 40 per cent of the total aboveground crop residues (other than grain). Despite repeated straw removal, researchers saw no reduction in soil organic carbon and soil organic nitrogen.

They concluded that in medium- and heavy-textured soils, crop residue can be harvested without negatively impacting long-term productivity, provided that less than 40 per cent of residue is removed, that removal happens no more than two years out of three, and that the practice is combined with adequate fertilization and no-till management.

The bottom line

Straw is a valuable resource. It contains nutrients, contributes organic matter and helps protect soils from erosion. At the same time, straw can create management challenges and may have market value.

If you decide to bale straw:

  • Maintain sufficient crop residue and stubble to protect the soil from erosion, and reduce tillage after harvest to preserve residue cover. The Manitoba Agriculture Soil Management Guide recommends maintaining at least 35 per cent crop residue cover after seeding for most soils, and at least 65 per cent cover on soils that are susceptible to wind erosion.
  • Avoid removing straw so frequently that soil organic matter levels decrease.
  • Fertilize crops adequately to replace nutrients removed in the straw and use soil testing to guide fertility decisions.
  • Be especially cautious on low organic matter, drought-prone and erosion-prone soils.

Additional resources

We’re Hiring: Senior Manager – Advance Payments Program and Member Operations

Coles Ag on August 31, 2026

We are seeking a full-time, permanent Senior Manager – Advance Payments Program and Member Operations to join our dynamic team and spearhead the strategic leadership and management of the Advance Payments Program (APP) and MCA’s membership levy administration functions.

The Senior Manager provides leadership to program staff, ensures compliance with legislative and organizational requirements, oversees key operational processes and financial activities, and identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, service delivery and organizational effectiveness. Working closely with the COO, the Senior Manager supports the achievement of MCA’s strategic objectives through strong operational leadership, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Click here to view the full job posting, including duties and responsibilities, desired qualifications and experience, and working conditions of the position.

To apply, please forward a resume and letter of interest by email to darcelle@mbcropalliance.ca. The application deadline for this position is 4:30 p.m. CDT on Sept. 25, 2026.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

We’re Hiring: Member Relations Coordinator

Coles Ag on August 31, 2026

We are seeking a full-time, permanent Member Relations Coordinator to join our dynamic team and serve as a key liaison between MCA and its farmer members, delegates, directors, industry partners and stakeholders.

The Member Relations Coordinator is responsible for fostering strong relationships, facilitating member engagement, co-ordinating board and delegate activities, and contributing to the successful delivery of MCA’s communications, events and organizational initiatives.

Reporting to the COO and working closely with the CEO, the Member Relations Coordinator provides administrative, co-ordination and engagement support that contributes to operational efficiency and a positive member experience. They also play an important part in supporting MCA’s member communications, publications, extension events, governance activities and industry partnerships that deliver value to Manitoba farmers.

Click here to view the full job posting, including duties and responsibilities, desired qualifications and experience, and working conditions of the position.

To apply, please forward a resume and letter of interest by email to darcelle@mbcropalliance.ca. The application deadline for this position is 4:30 p.m. CDT on Sept. 25, 2026.

We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Jeffrey Stobbe-Wiebe, wheat and barley crop committee

Coles Ag on August 26, 2026

Jeffrey (Jeff) Stobbe-Wiebe farms near Springstein, MB, with his dad and brother, Dave and Keenan, at Wiebe Family Farms. He lives with his wife, Miriam, and their young son, Robin. They grow wheat, oats, barley, canola and soybeans.

What motivated you to get into farming?

I grew up on the farm and have been helping out since I was little. I left and became a brewer for a few years at different breweries around Winnipeg then realized I wanted to come back to the farm. Being outside every day is really nice. I like how much work on the farm changes day to day. One day you’re a welder, the next you’re a soil scientist or doing agronomy work. Every day is a little bit different. You also get to drive big tractors, which is always fun too.

What motivated you to get involved with Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA)?

We started a craft malting facility on our farm. We grow barley, we malt it and then sell it to local craft breweries. I work closely with the Canadian Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC) in Winnipeg. They do a lot of field trials and research with MCA. In talking with CMBTC, they suggested I should get involved. As a barley grower and maltster, I’ve got a unique perspective, not just growing barley but also the value-added side. Through their encouragement, I became a delegate, and this year I also became a director.

What benefit do you think being a delegate has brought you?

I was only a delegate for three months before becoming a director, but being a delegate is great. I got to see the process of how MCA works, meet board members on the crop committee and learn more about what they do. It’s a nice way to get involved without having to be on the board or a decision-maker right away. It’s a good way for your voice to be heard while getting a sense of how the organization works and whether it’s a good fit for you.

What does your role on the wheat and barley committee involve?

Delegates are in charge of helping steer the ship a bit in terms of the vision and direction of what MCA is doing. MCA is focused on research, so we help set the direction for wheat and barley research we want to see coming down the pipeline. It’s great to be part of the decisions about where research dollars are spent and what projects we’re looking to fund. It’s good to be involved in the research side of agriculture and to see where your check-off dollars go.

Is there a project, issue or area of work you’re especially proud of being part of as a delegate?

Funding approvals (reviewing research papers) were a bit of a whirlwind. I’m generally proud of the whole process of going through research proposals and choosing where the funding should go. When we put our farm money into something, it’s nice to see the research that comes out of that process.

Why do you think other people should get involved with MCA?

Being involved means actually seeing where the research money is going. If you’re a grower of a certain crop type, this is a way to make sure your voice is heard.

What are you most excited about when it comes to the future of your farm?

Continuing to grow sustainable crops in Manitoba.

Do you have any hobbies outside of farming?

Skateboarding, biking, golf and disc golf.

What’s your go-to field meal during busy seasons?

My mom makes supper for harvest, whatever she’s bringing that day.

What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?

I was a brewer for seven years in Winnipeg. I also worked at a distillery in Copenhagen for three months.

If you weren’t farming, what do you think you’d be doing?

Malting or brewing.

What is your favourite food or meal to cook?

I like cooking green curry. I also bake a lot, like kouign-amann. It’s kind of like a sweet and salty croissant.

The 4th International Wheat Congress: observations and opportunities

Coles Ag on August 10, 2026

In May, MCA research program manager for cereal crops Lauren Gislason attended the 4th International Wheat Congress (IWC4) in Bologna, Italy, which reinforced the value of international collaboration in advancing wheat research.

While the scientific topics were diverse, common themes included climate resilience, disease management, sustainable production and application of new technologies. The conference also highlighted that many countries share Canada’s challenges, including reduced research investment, emerging production risks and the need to strengthen pathways that translate research into practical benefits for producers.

Observations and opportunities

  • IWC4 showcased the breadth of current global wheat research, with sessions focused on sustainable production systems, wheat breeding and genetics, genomics and genome editing, climate resilience, disease and pest management, digital agriculture and phenotyping, soil health, and reducing the environmental footprint of wheat production. Across these topics, there was a strong emphasis on multidisciplinary approaches and international collaboration to address emerging challenges facing the wheat sector.
  • International partners are facing many of the same challenges as Canada, including declining public investment in agricultural research, climate variability, evolving disease and pest pressures, and the need to attract and retain the next generation of agricultural scientists.
  • Collaborative funding models are becoming increasingly important to support large, complex wheat research initiatives. Discussions emphasized that successful international partnerships rely on trust, co-development of research priorities and regular communication among funders and researchers.
  • The “last mile” of research remains a universal challenge. While scientific collaboration is often strong, ensuring research outcomes are translated into practical tools and improved varieties that are adopted by farmers requires continued investment in extension and knowledge transfer.
  • Supporting Canadian researchers’ participation at international conferences provides significant value through networking, exposure to emerging research and technologies, information sharing, and the development of new international collaborations that can strengthen Canadian wheat research.
  • There may be opportunities to strengthen engagement among research funders, both internationally and within Canada, through dedicated funder workshops and renewed national forums, such as the Canadian Wheat Symposium, to encourage collaboration, reduce duplication and improve co-ordination of research investments.

Allan Feurtado, Team Lead, National Research Council Canada

Coles Ag on August 7, 2026

Allan Feurtado is the Team Lead of Integrated Omics and Climate Resilience at the National Research Council Canada (NRC). Growing up in Ontario, he developed an interest in plants and crops that led him to study at Queen’s University, the University of Guelph and then Simon Fraser University. His research focused on seed dormancy and germination, which eventually brought him to the Prairies and his current role at the NRC.

Where did you work before the NRC?

I first came to the NRC in Saskatoon as a PhD student through Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC. What was originally meant to be a one-year visit, to work with specialists in plant hormone research, turned into the place where I completed my PhD. After my PhD, I stayed at the NRC in a postdoctoral research associate role, working on seed maturation and germination. Over time, I became interested in abiotic stress, because of the parallels with events in seed development and maturation. This eventually led to my current position as team lead and research officer with the NRC’s Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre.

What got you interested in your current area of work?

My interest in plant roots stemmed from our discovery that the root system plays a significant role in wheat lodging resistance in our Prairie environments. Root biology had always interested me and its connection to lodging issues faced by farmers renewed my interest to develop a project centred on root system architecture – the shape and spatial arrangement of root systems. The second priority was figuring out the best way to look at roots. That’s where my interest in photography and imaging came in. I started thinking about how we could best use imaging technology and analysis to gain better insight into the root system diversity of our crops, and that’s also when I teamed up with root researcher Leon Kochian at the University of Saskatchewan.

Tell us a bit about what you’re working on at the NRC.

One of the current projects I’m working on is “Root of the Problem 2.0: Solidifying barley lodging,” which is a continuation of earlier work where we looked at various stem and root traits to determine which were impacting lodging resistance. The work is being done in collaboration with barley breeder Aaron Beattie at the University of Saskatchewan. Through the first “Root of the Problem” project, we conducted field trials in a small set of barley cultivars with varying lodging tendencies to confirm and validate the major traits contributing to lodging resistance in barley. We found that, in addition to plant height, wider root angles help anchor the crop and improve lodging resistance.

Since it is quite labour intensive to study roots in the field, we also wanted to use our indoor root imaging techniques to see if we could develop an efficient method that could be used to initially screen for lodging resistance. We found that root angles measured shortly after germination using hydroponic pouches were also associated with lodging resistance in the field.

Those findings led to Root of the Problem 2.0, which began in summer 2024 as a four-year project. Our goal is to further validate our findings and build an AI / machine learning model that breeders could use to select for lodging resistance using indoor root imaging. We’re also evaluating a larger collection of barley, around 250 genotypes, to better understand the genetics of root traits and develop root-based markers that will be very useful for barley breeders. We are continuing to collaborate with Aaron Beattie on the work and have added Ana Badea at AAFC Brandon to collect additional lodging data that will be important for building our models.  

What can you say about the value of farmers providing funding and support to your organization?

It’s critical. At the NRC, part of our research is supported through external funding, so being able to work on projects that are directly relevant to industry and collaborate with breeders is incredibly important. Results coming out of our projects are applicable across the Prairies and involve funders from both crop organizations and government partners.

Support from farmers and the industry is essential for the research we want to do, especially bringing together the collaborations needed to elevate our research discoveries and outputs. Another important piece is science communication. It’s valuable that organizations like Manitoba Crop Alliance are interested in sharing our research with farmers and helping connect the science to the people who will ultimately benefit.

How does that farmer funding and support directly benefit farmers?

It has been important for me to build connections with crop development teams and breeders, and to work closely with them so the knowledge we are generating goes directly into breeding programs and helps develop the next generation of crops. Our goal is to give breeders tools to select barley with improved lodging resistance, which will ultimately help farmers reduce losses and improve crop productivity.

How do you spend your time outside of work?

My main hobby is photography, which relates back to my interest in image-based analysis of plants and our root imaging technologies. I’ve always enjoyed taking pictures, especially landscapes, nature, wildlife and places around Saskatchewan and Western Canada.

What is the best part about your job?

A couple of things come to mind. What really excites me is the science itself and the knowledge we can generate. Over the last decade, it has been exciting to see where that knowledge can go and the impact it can have through collaborations with plant breeders and other industry experts. The other part is working with collaborators and co-supervising students. I enjoy mentoring students, transferring knowledge and helping develop our next generation of potential scientists. It has been incredibly rewarding.

What is a good piece of advice you’ve received that has stuck with you?

Recently, I had a conversation with a new colleague about science being a team effort. We talked about surrounding yourself with people who bring diverse perspectives and expertise and about how critical this is to advancing research for Canada.

I’ve really seen the importance of that over the last five years through engaging with crop development teams, breeders, computer scientists, data engineers and AI/machine-learning experts. I see myself working at the intersection of crop biology and technology, where collaboration is essential.

It’s all part of surrounding yourself with an array of expertise and bringing different perspectives together to elevate what you are able to accomplish. That is advice I’ve received from several people over my career.

I’ve noticed a lot of wild oat escapes in some of my fields this year; what can I do to prevent it from getting worse next year?

Coles Ag on August 5, 2026

By Ashley Ammeter, Whole Farm Specialist, Manitoba Crop Alliance

Despite our best efforts, sometimes even the best laid weed control plans go wrong!

The first thing to remember is that not all weed escapes are created equal. In some cases, weeds can survive because of application timing issues, challenging weather conditions or late flushes that emerge after spraying. However, when weeds aren’t controlled by herbicide applications, herbicide resistance should also be on your radar.

A recent survey in Manitoba found that in fields with uncontrolled wild oats, 100 per cent of populations were resistant to Group 1 products, 82 per cent were resistant to Group 2 products, and 82 per cent were resistant to both Group 1 and 2 herbicides. Those numbers show how important it is to take a closer look at wild oat weed escapes.

Start with scouting

Examples of field-scale weed distribution patterns that may help diagnosing weed escapes. Image from: Dr. Charles Geddes and Alberta Grains.

Identifying why your herbicide failed to control wild oats is the first step toward finding a solution. Start by scouting the field to narrow down the cause. Consider factors such as application timing, weather conditions, late flushes after spraying and the size of the weeds when you sprayed. Look out for distribution patterns in the field that might suggest application issues, such as plugged nozzles, missed areas or poor coverage. If you’re able to rule out these causes, its time to consider herbicide resistance.

For more information on narrowing down potential causes of weed escapes, see our resource on scouting after herbicide applications.

Herbicide resistance testing

If you suspect herbicide resistance, the next step is to collect samples to send for testing. Currently, most herbicide resistance tests require samples of mature seeds from the suspected weed patch. While some species may not have mature seed until after harvest, wild oats will likely have mature seed before your crop is harvested. Keep a close eye on your wild oat patches so you can collect seeds before harvest.

The Resistant Wild Oat Action Committee has information on how to collect samples, where to send them for testing and how to interpret the results.

Managing weed escapes this season

Even if you’re waiting on herbicide resistance test results, there are still steps you can take this season to manage the long-term impacts of surviving wild oats.

Before seed set, consider mowing patches to prevent the seed maturing and returning to the soil seedbank. If you plan to submit a sample for resistance testing, leave a small patch so you can collect mature seed.

At harvest, combines can spread wild oat seeds up to 145 m. Rather than chopping and spreading straw and chaff in heavy wild oat patches, consider dropping and baling the straw. This can help contain the patch and minimize spread.

Build a long-term strategy

Whether or not you have herbicide-resistant wild oats, using an integrated weed management strategy gives you the best chance of success in your fight against weeds.

Integrated weed management incorporates cultural, mechanical and chemical control practices to manage weeds. These are just some of the possibilities!

Combining multiple strategies can significantly improve your success in managing wild oats:

  • Use herbicides with different modes of action such as pyroxasulfone, fall-applied granular herbicides or other effective modes of action.
  • Diversify crop rotations. Winter cereals can be more competitive, later-seeded spring crops allow more time for wild oat control prior to seeding, and forages are harvested before wild oat seeds shatter and return to the soil.
  • Consider targeted tillage in the fall to promote fatal fall germination of wild oats, or in the spring to stimulate early germination of wild oats that can be controlled prior to seeding.
  • Improve crop competitiveness through practices such as higher seeding rates, narrower row spacing, careful placement of fertilizers to feed the crop not the weeds or choosing taller varieties.

With weed escapes, its not only the surviving plants that matter; it’s also the thousands of seeds they contribute to next year’s weed problems! Taking the time to identify why those wild oats survived allows you to build a management plan that uses “many tiny hammers” to keep the weeds at a disadvantage and protect the effectiveness of herbicides into the future.

Manitoba Crop Alliance awards 2025-26 high school bursaries

Coles Ag on July 20, 2026

July 20, 2026 (Carman, MB) – Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) has awarded six graduating high school students from Manitoba with bursaries valued at $1,000 each. The six bursary recipients are Austin Dubyts from Stockton, Katie Gulak from Gilbert Plains, Aiden Brunel from Ste. Rose du Lac, Keira Duguid from Gimli, Julia McMahon from Inwood, and Ella Prejet from Notre Dame de Lourdes.

“Every year, I’m impressed by the quality of our bursary applicants and this year’s recipients are no exception,” says MCA chair Jonothan Hodson. “I look forward to seeing the valuable contributions they will make to our industry. The future of Manitoba agriculture is in great hands.”

MCA established these bursaries to assist graduating high school students within the province of Manitoba who are planning on continuing their education at a Canadian college or university in a field that will benefit the agriculture sector. MCA also awards annual bursaries valued at $2,000 each to post-secondary students enrolled in agricultural programs within the province of Manitoba. The application period for 2026-27 post-secondary bursaries will open in October.

For more information about the MCA bursary program and to learn more about the recipients, visit mbcropalliance.ca.

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For more information, please contact:

Cole Christensen
Communications Manager
Manitoba Crop Alliance
403-589-3529
cole@mbcropalliance.ca

About Manitoba Crop Alliance:
MCA represents more than 7,700 farmer members who grow wheat, barley, corn, sunflower and flax in Manitoba. MCA puts its farmer members first and strives to continuously improve their competitiveness and profitability by focusing on four main areas: research, agronomy, market development and access, and communications. By investing in these key areas, MCA ensures wheat, barley, corn, sunflower and flax remain sustainable production choices for Manitoba farmers. For more information, visit mbcropalliance.ca.

Meet Manitoba Crop Alliance’s 2025-26 high school bursary recipients

Coles Ag on July 20, 2026

Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA) is proud to support agriculture’s next generation. MCA’s bursary program is designed to assist with the financial needs of students pursuing education in a field that will benefit the agriculture sector.

Six graduating high school students from Manitoba have been awarded with bursaries valued at $1,000 each. The six bursary recipients are Austin Dubyts from Stockton, Katie Gulak from Gilbert Plains, Aiden Brunel from Ste. Rose du Lac, Keira Duguid from Gimli, Julia McMahon from Inwood, and Ella Prejet from Notre Dame de Lourdes.

“Every year, I’m impressed by the quality of our bursary applicants and this year’s recipients are no exception,” says MCA chair Jonothan Hodson. “I look forward to seeing the valuable contributions they will make to our industry. The future of Manitoba agriculture is in great hands.”

To qualify for these bursaries, applicants did not need to be continuing into an agriculture-specific program. However, they did need to clearly articulate how their continued studies would help them benefit the agriculture industry.

Congratulations to all the recipients!

Learn more about this year’s recipients

Riley Anderson, corn crop committee

Coles Ag on July 6, 2026

Riley Anderson farms with his wife, Lashonda, west of Morris, MB. He is fifth generation on his father’s side and sixth on his mother’s. The family operation includes his parents, Joe and Pat; his sister Kara, who is an owner; and her husband, Caleb, who helps during harvest. Riley’s sister Cheyenne also works on the farm, while sisters Kaylie and Tessa help during busy seasons. His friend Tim is also an essential part of the operation. Together, they grow corn, soybeans, wheat and oats.

What motivated you to get into farming?

“It’s in my blood,” my dad always says, and we joke about that. I loved driving tractor and riding with my grandpa and uncle when I was little. From a very young age, my parents knew farming was in my future.

What is one of your favourite parts of farming?

I absolutely love planting season. That’s when we put the crop in the ground, and it’s when the highest level of attention to detail and precision is needed. It’s intense, because that’s what sets up the rest of the season. If we don’t do a good job planting, we’re going to have very little to harvest at the end of the year.

What motivated you to get involved with Manitoba Crop Alliance (MCA)?

MCA was looking for a delegate, and a friend of mine who was on the committee called and asked if I would join. I did, and I’ve enjoyed my time here so far. I enjoy connecting with other farmers, and corn is an interesting crop in Manitoba. Traditionally, you either grow it and love growing it, or you don’t. It’s always good to meet with other people who are passionate about growing a crop I enjoy. I also think it’s very important to be part of planning where our research dollars are spent.

What does your role on the corn crop committee involve?

The No. 1 job of the corn crop committee is deciding where our check-off dollars go and how best to spend them. We strive to be good stewards of farmers’ money. Second, because corn is more of a special crop in Manitoba, part of the role is spreading knowledge and skills on how to grow corn effectively. As one of the other delegates says, it’s about spreading the love for corn.

Is there a project or area of work you’re especially proud of being part of as a delegate?

The biggest accomplishment is hiring an agronomist in residence for special crops at the University of Manitoba, Loveleen Dhillon. That’s a pretty big deal for corn and other special crops in the province. It increases capacity for corn-specific research in Manitoba. 

Is there anything you’d like farmer members to know about the work MCA is doing?

MCA strives to spend every dollar to benefit Manitoba farmers. It’s for farmers at large, not just a few.

Why do you think other people should get involved with MCA?

With the amount of dollars coming in through the check-off, it’s a lot of money. We need as many smart, wise minds around the table as possible to decide how those dollars are spent. The more people involved who have a passion for moving agriculture forward, the better the ideas and research will be.

What are you most excited about when it comes to the future of your farm?

Growing more nutritious crops that have demand around the world, and bigger crops in the future as I learn how to be a better manager of my soil. I want to become a student of my soil and learn how to maximize its potential and leave my farm in a better position than my ancestors left it for me.

Do you have any hobbies outside of farming?

In the winter, I’m really into ice fishing. It gets me out of the house. In the summer, I enjoy going to sporting events. I’m a big football fan. My wife and I have also recently gotten into watching dirt track stock car racing.

What is a good piece of advice you’ve received that’s stuck with you?

Always buy good land and don’t buy bad land. Also, surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. I try to put myself in rooms where I’m not the most knowledgeable person, so I can keep learning.

What’s your go-to field meal during busy seasons?

Whatever gets sent out to the field. We used to always get sandwiches because my dad loves them, but he had some health issues a few years ago which has changed how we eat on the farm. Now we get more hot meals or low-carb options and try to eat healthy in the field instead of grabbing something quick from a gas station. My mom makes a teriyaki chicken dish with a bit of rice and vegetables mixed in. It’s so good.

What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?

I was homeschooled from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

If you weren’t farming, what do you think you’d be doing?

I used to say I’d be coaching football, but I know I’m not good enough at that and probably wouldn’t make any money at it. I’d likely be working in the ag industry, maybe as a sales agronomist or in a role that involves connecting with people.

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