Would you fix a tractor tire that’s always flat?

Farmers and scientists offer a simple solution to unprofitable acres 

Researchers have found 20 per cent of cropland on the average Prairie farm is not profitable, with eight per cent being unprofitable in the same spot, year after year. A field-tested fix is to plant perennial forages. 

“We knew these were areas that needed to have something different done with them,” explains Keith Vanbeselaere, now semi-retired after farming with his wife Lisa near Medora, Man. “Along road allowances or areas that were saline, we have always sowed these down to grass with no intention of breaking them up because, as soon as you do, they’re just going back to the way they were.” 

Vanbeselaere says he’s been using forages to rehabilitate poor soil and provide important ground cover for four decades; a practice he learned when farming with his father. More recently, after acquiring a new half section for Vanbeselaere Farms, he seeded portions to forage.  

“We needed to do something with these acres that weren’t growing anything,” he says. “We were able to use the grass that we harvested because we have cattle. So, it just made sense.” 

Marginal acres are a chronic problem on the Prairies, costing farmers untold millions in lost profits and wasted input costs. The Prairie Precision Sustainability Network (PPSN), estimates 13 acres (5.3 hectares) in every quarter section consistently remain unproductive despite fertilizer, crop protection products and careful management. 

“Farmers lose about $68 per acre on average trying to grow annual crops in marginal land,” explains Sam Robinson, a sustainable agriculture research scientist with Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). “On the other hand, perennial forages can reduce the impact of salinity and kochia in underperforming acres. You repair the soil, save on wasted input costs and produce livestock feed to use or sell.” 

Based on Manitoba Agriculture’s Cost of Production guide, farmers seeding canola into extremely saline soil could lose more than $400 per acre based upon input costs and reduced yields. Fertilizer expenses alone total roughly $130 per acre, and with a break-even price of 32 bushels per acre for canola, expenses quickly overcome profit if the land isn’t returning consistent yields. 

“Even mildly saline soil robs virtually any profit from the canola or wheat you plant in those acres,” notes Jenai Buchanan, a marginal areas specialist in DUC’s Brandon office. “And if your marginal acres are weedy, that also requires a specialized approach. Perennial forages are proven to choke out kochia and other weeds.” 

With kochia’s increasing resistance to herbicide, farmers are spending more on chemical control and seeing less success. “The better solution is to have permanent cover in place that will compete with the weeds. We find this is a successful long-term approach,” says Robinson, who is currently involved in a $7.6 million research project to identify sustainable, profitable and productive farming practices. 

Robinson says deep-rooted, salt-tolerant forages also reduce the impact of salinity. The plant roots intercept salt-laden water before it can reach the soil surface, minimizing salinity in the immediate area and helping prevent the problem from spreading.  

“Saline areas can also produce a surprisingly large amount of forage,” notes Robinson. “A study from North Dakota found that bare, saline areas can produce forage at about 50 per cent the rate of non-saline areas within a few years, turning a liability into an opportunity.” 

Buchanan urges farmers to systematically reduce or eliminate marginal areas when the opportunity arises.  Otherwise, under-producing acres will remain a drain on farm profits. 

“When spring weather is co-operating, seed forages before you put away the drill,” says Buchanan. “Another opportunity comes in the fall before freeze-up, especially in areas suffering from excess moisture each spring. Make marginal acres a high priority. Don’t wait for the salinity or weeds to spread.” 

DUC offers incentives to farmland owners ready to tackle marginal acre problems including kochia and salinity. A bonus discount is available when sourcing seed through Nutrien and additional incentives may apply for land financed through Farm Credit Canada. Contact the DUC representative in your area to calculate total payments. In Manitoba, DUC’s Marginal Areas Program is funded in part by the Conservation Trust, an endowment fund providing sustainable, long-term financing for conservation in the province. 

“There’s one expense to establish it and, after that, just cut it and bale it and feed it,” says Vanbeselaere, one of nearly 600 famers in Western Canada to take part in DUC’s Marginal Areas Program. In the past five years, DUC has helped more than 1,700 producers establish 170,442 acres (68,975 hectares) of forages—including 22,602 acres (9,147 hectares) in marginal lands—paying over $12.6 million directly to farmers. 

In addition to financial incentives, DUC provides one-on-one agricultural extension support including seed mix selection and establishment advice. Farmers can see best practices for establishing forages in hard-to-manage areas at the research and demonstration farm near Brandon operated by Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives. 

Buchanan says patience is key when rehabilitating marginal acres. Saline-tolerant forages can take two to three years to fully establish. Touch-up seeding may be required. 

“We recommend using a seed drill for the best seed-to-soil contact,” says Buchanan. “If broadcasting or droning, you should do a harrowing pass afterwards to cover the seed. Don’t plant deeper than three quarters of an inch. Anything deeper can reduce emergence and plant counts.”

To read the PPSN study into marginal acres in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, click: ag.ducks.ca/program/marginal-areas-mb/.