Increase yields as a way to expand

[furrowtickler]

Ado is right, spending money smarter is what seperates succesfull farms from those who simply exsist by expanding. Producing more bushels/ac and generating more net revenue is less stressfull than chasing more acres and trying to burn more hrs that are not there, while exhasting your resources.
In some cases/years land expantion is the right thing to do. But every farmer in western Canada is in a unique position on buying or renting dirt. To me once you get to an efficient size for your management/climate/machine load/labour requirements it pays 3-1 to put more money into the dirt you have than to reorginize and expand - JMO. Being a farmer and in the ag retail side for 15 years you see this time and time again, guys that have their ship together and know their limits are by for the most efficient - and they could be 2000 - 4000 - 6000 - 8000ac - and about (2) 10,000 guys. There are some that can't manage 2000ac and there are some who could easily manage 2000ac more. I am sure it is the same everywhere.
Back to the original post, absolutely - try to max out yeilds before expanding acres when land prices are at all time highs. No better time in history to try than now. Push ado, I think he will give some good down to earth agronomic advice on how to do it.
VValk - have you tried McRae Holdings in Cardston/Stettler?

[vvalk]

Ya We use McRae's now. Not sold on the boron or micros( whether foliar or seed treat) I do use 16-20-0-13 which is convenient for one blendm over all the land. They have a product called notro boost which i again am not sold on. Wondering what the yield difference would be if you took the $12 you spend on nitro boost and put that into extra urea or ESN. Would like to top up fert in crop especilly canola but not sure when to on cereals. Don't want to spray with chemical ( which is when it needs it for yeild) and am told you need quite a bit at head stage for protein.
I think next year I will blend in 20lbs of actual ESN on top of my normal amount of urea. I think this will be good for two things, protein and too much moisture.

[dschill]

I'm not sure of your moisture situation, but if you get enough rain, I would amp your N rates up another 20-30 units on both your Canola and Wheat. And possibly an additional 10 units p on both and 10 more S on Canola. My experience with newer Canola Hybrids is they easily pay back for additional fertility. Wheat is always a toss up. With 550 canola and 350 wheat, it's a no-brainer "here" on my farm. We will use more foliars with these prices as-well, but won't make any rec's

[ado089]

V,
In my opinion ESN is a great product but it does have a sweet spot between 40-60lbs, any less and you don't tend get the benefits and any more is just too damn expesnsive for what you get.
I would be very cautious about just putting more fert in the ground. You are in an area that is typicaly dry and hot, top dressing liquid N and possibly integrating a foiliar K app may be a better way manage risk in a 50cent N world. A $30 tissue test may also tell a tale, compare good plants to bad. UAP has a great program that will give you a prescription for your crop based on tissue tests. I know alot of our long term (25 year) min-till land is starting to show micro defficiencies due to stratafication. This really shows up on wheat because of copper, it looks like leaf disease except starts at the top of the plant. There is so much a guy can do to push that last 15% but it doesn't always show an economic return. Without knowing specifics all I can say is use test strips and backcast what you do to make sure you're not missing something.

Also in Alberta there is a great network of public applied research organizations ( I think yours is SAARA), they make many of their project decissions based on what locals want to know, get them involved in what you want to try. It's always better to experiment with someone elses money.

[Burbert]

Vvalk, You sound like a great farmer
already. Why do you want to push it any
more? You are making money and treating
your land well! Keep up the good work.
All the stuff that you are hearing from
friends, neighbours and angribusiness reps
about bigger yields is mostly bull
anyways, unless they are growing in an old
pig pen, then its hog manure powered not
Bull!!

[buzz]

Interesting points.
It is easier to experiment with decent prices.
What about other variables?
Tillage, earlier seeding, better weed control and
improved harvesting. Just some ideas.
Good luck this spring.