HUSA Sep 16 2026 - Michael Torrie

Harvest Progress and Challenges: Michael Torrie from Grassy Lake, Alberta, shares updates on his farm's harvest progress with David Woodruff of Hale Broadcasting. About two-thirds of the harvest is complete, with wheat and lentils finished. However, canola, dry beans, and corn are yet to be harvested. Disease affected wheat quality, with some durum wheat grading no better than number three due to rain impact. Rain challenges were also noted for dry beans and canola, but specific strategies like swathing helped manage wet conditions. Crop Yields and Fungicide Use: The winter wheat yield was excellent, averaging at 100 bushels per acre. Disease caused by rain affected durum yields, resulting in a potential crop insurance claim due to a 40% yield loss in affected areas. Rust and molds necessitated multiple fungicide applications, although Michael believes timing could have been improved to reduce damage. Equipment and Harvesting Techniques: Straight cutting was used for most winter wheat while swathing was necessary for others. The use of specialized machinery like picket combines has become popular for dry beans, reducing dirt contamination and dockage. Michael notes these combines are not typically used for soybeans; they originally were designed for peanuts but work well for beans. Crop Rotation and Seed Processing: Michael grows seed canola and faces volunteer issues from past varieties, which could lead to genetic contamination though roguing crews help mitigate this. Seed companies allocate different varieties among farms to manage cross-contamination risks. The farm strategy remains to grow either all seed or all commercial canola to prevent crop contamination. Future Plans and Market Considerations: There are plans to use growth regulators on winter wheat to reduce lodging and increase yield. Michael discusses local markets for their grain corn, which is destined for a nearby feedlot, and mentions the option of expanding grain corn production due to market demand in Southern Alberta. Distilleries might also be a market for corn. Overall, Michael's farm faces typical agricultural challenges with weather and disease, but employs various strategies—from machinery choice to crop rotation—to manage these effectively.