Farm Life | Summer 2010
Technology took them to the top.
By Cindy Bablitz
These outstanding young farmers jump on every crop production innovation that promises a fit for their farm. They figure it’s the only way to compete in today’s marketplace.
Gone are the romantic days of yore when a farmer would stand in his freshly tilled field, grasp a fistful of dirt, squeeze it, smell it and gaze up at the sky sensing in his bones the right time for planting.
These days, most farmers don’t till. And although many still feel a strong connection to the land, that connection is supported by technology like never before. Ryan and Annette Mercer, of Mercer Seeds in Lethbridge, AB — this year’s Alberta/NWT region winners of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ program — know this better than most.
"Farming technology has changed more rapidly in the past five years than it did in the previous 20," says Ryan. "It’s hard to imagine where we’ll be in five years from now, never mind where another 20 years of farming technology will take us."
Mercer Seeds is a high-tech farming operation by anyone’s standards. Every decision, from crop rotations to equipment, is influenced by science and technology — a strategy the Mercers believe necessary to compete in today’s marketplace.
Ryan and Annette credit the OYF win, in part, to their commitment to balance environmental considerations against the financial implications of all farming decisions. "Soil health is a strong factor in every decision I make," says Ryan. "As a grain farmer, my livelihood depends significantly on sustaining good soil health."
About 20 years ago, the Mercers stopped tilling. Leaving stubble to anchor the soil from harvest to the next seeding season was the right decision in an area known for its windy climate. Over the years, that move to stubble conservation was refined even further. Now Ryan harvests with a stripper header, removing only the grain heads.
"Straw stands through the winter to trap snow, then provides a good micro-climate for seedlings in the spring. Around Lethbridge, we get a lot of wind. If you lie down in the standing straw, there’s no wind — it’s actually really peaceful!"
Fields of standing straw have higher soil moisture and lower soil temperature so they need to sit for about five or six more days than tilled fields before they are ready to seed. Ryan says it’s worth the wait as the moisture gets germinating crops off to a strong start.
Planting into standing straw also requires the fine, sharp edge of a disc drill instead of the more common knife drill. And to ensure a razor sharp cut through last harvest’s stalks, Ryan replaces his coulters every planting season.
"We’re working with Hyperion Technologies in Calgary on developing harder-surfaced coulters that will hopefully last two years instead of one. However, improving cost efficiency can’t trump performance effectiveness, so it’s a fine balance to try to find," says Ryan.
The Mercers have engaged a team of specialists to help support their operation. Mercer Seeds works with Great Plains-The Camelina Company in selecting and multiplying varietal strains of pedigreed camelina seed to distribute throughout North America.
On the input side, Mercer Seeds works through Andre Lacoursiere, a consultant with Farmers Edge, a variable rate technology company, in fine-tuning variable-rate fertilizer application strategies. "Using intensive soil sampling and multiple years of satellite imagery for each parcel of land, Farmers Edge creates GPS prescriptions for precise zones so only the required rates of phosphate and nitrogen are applied," says Ryan. "In a mile-long strip, the rate can vary by as much as 100 pounds per acre through six different zones."
Later in the growing season, again using variable-rate technology, Ryan sprays on foliar micronutrients (primarily zinc, boron and magnesium) as well. "With the cost of fertilizer what it is, you really can’t afford over-application."
All of this precision employs sophisticated, smart technology — in the tractor cab, on seeders and on spraying equipment. "Our variable-rate sprayers make their own maps of where they’ve applied," says Ryan. "Nozzles shut down automatically, so we never run the chance of spraying the same place twice. Farming supported by this level of technology helps generate better yields and more even maturity, creating the potential for an earlier, more profitable harvest.
Ryan and Annette live with their three children, Ananda, (7), James, (4) and Raylene, (1), on their farm near Lethbridge. To learn more about these regional winners of Canada’s Outstanding Young Farmers’ program, visit www.mercerseeds.ca. FF
