John Deere 8335RT with tiller doing first pass

[farmaholic]

Grassfarmer: It may be monoculture(per field) on a yearly basis but long term is anything but. How many different species do you have grazing on your grass that you use to make a living on?

[grassfarmer]

Lets compare apples to apples. I have many, many
species growing in my pastures often 15-20 in one
small field. Asking how many species I use to harvest
it is like asking you how many different types of
combine you use - irrelevant to the topic.

[ALLFARMER]

Ya pretty marginal land on Tuesday some may
sell for 275k/ quarter. 2 droughts in my 9 yrs here

[farmaholic]

Grassfarmer: takes much more iron to get a crop to the bin than a combine. If you don't agree with modern grain farming that is fine with me. Things have changed. Grain farms have flourished here. Soils are improving with diverse crop rotations and no summmerfallow(for nearly 20 years). We grow cereals(wheat durum barley canaryseed), flax, canola(mustard), pulses(peas lentils). If that is your definition of unsustainable monoculture so be it.

[Ronski]

Farmaholic is correct. I've worked up
there in the winter (and short summer
stints) for years. Its an amazing area
with great potential.
Todays mixed farm up there (and
elsewhere) is grain farming and making
60 to 100 thousand off-season who wants
to **** around with chickens, pigs,
cows, goats and a partridge in a pear
tree?
Also remember that this is virgin soil.
What weeds do they have? They can push
rotations way harder than we do because
there is no history there.

[Burbert]

Most of the harvesting is done in the
Spring, cousin theys often gets snowed
under!

[Hopperbin]

Burbert, Maybe they will get done sooner cause of all the auction sale machinery getting hauled up there.

[northfarmer]

I was surprised when I looked at a heat unit map
of Alberta and this area. Some broad acres crops
are more suitable here than much further south.
A trip up there this winter with the kids for hockey
confirmed lots of new development. Was
interesting to see freshly broken land and we are
not talking about the odd bush line. Day length
advantage has served this area well and all the
best to these enterprising farmers braking new
land on this scale.

[Hopperbin]

Thanks North Farmer I thought I would toss a little bullshit in with Burbert's message. I have respect for yu guys up there. Litterally up there.

[Burbert]

Opps I fergot, wit globel warmin, Northern
Albertie is now in the tropics. Hotter
than the hubs a hell, mosta the time.
Happy framin to ya's, whos gonna grow some
cocoanuts this year, er papya, er RR sugar
cane? Ta yas, I say good luck, yer gonna
needer!

[Burbert]

The trick wit that northland is ta, getter
lookin real, then sell it ta some rich
Uropeean, who wants ta live in Comedia,
butt can't unless hes got lottsa money ta
invest. North BC Peace river boys/girls
are doin that sorta thing all the time.
Hell they'll even sell ta unsuspectin
Merkican ifn they get a change, bin goin
on fer years......

[tipsy]

As I re-read this topic, and just so we are clear, pure bush land at Keg River Alta was/is selling for $160,000.00 for 1 quarter plus development.. I find this hard to believe. Big money must come easy for northern alta. people.. FYI There is lot's of land available that is ready to farm in n.e.Sask. Which I would consider, (if there is such a thing) in a more sure crop area for the same monies or less.. and in case you doubt this check with any realator office in north east Sask and find for you self!!!!

[ALLFARMER]

Keg River is 3/4 hour south west of here. Ya you
could likely buy open land in Keg for 160k. Some
open 3 miles from town land sold for 395k x 3
quarters today.