By Colin Budd
Alberta Agriculture is trying to take the guess work out of farming.
It’s still an inexact science, but there crop decision making tools can be a way to push a producer in the right direction whether it’s pesticides, seeding, costs or grain measurement.
For example, if you’re not sure about how to go about fertilizer this year, there is a program called AFFIRM, that takes into account moisture, the previous year’s crop, the crop being put in this year, soil test results and other factors.
“There is a lot of good diagnostic tools on our website and it helps because you are making an informed decision. It beats the heck out of making one on gut feel,” said Harry Brook, a crop specialist with Alberta Agriculture.
He said the biggest factor is to know where you are financially and the site
has the tools that can project what is going to make a profit.
“Knowing where you are financially and doing the projections really helps make an informed decision,” said Brook.
“Marketing is a whole area where producers do not do a good job. The thing about weather conditions in the spring time from when you plant to when you harvest, there are lots of opportunities to lock in prices that are respectable. But you can only do that if you know how much it costs you, so you know if there’s profit.”
Prices vary a lot during the summer and Brook says to take advantage when it can happen.
Another factor that could come up a lot this year because of the moisture situation is pests, which has their population projections mapped out on the site.
“Under dry conditions grasshoppers might be an issue,” said Brook.
The crop decision making tools are available at www.agric.gov.ab.ca.