40 The Business of Prairie Agriculture Better Farming | March 2024 UP CLOSE 22_0470_Jani_GMSupplies_HalfHoriz_US Mod: December 11, 2023 4:44 PM Print: 12/11/23 page 1 v2.5 COMPLETE CATALOG 1-800-295-5510 uline.ca πGROUNDS MAINTENANCE SUPPLIES IN STOCK ORDER BY 6 PM FOR SAME DAY SHIPPING PLASTIC PAILS CORRUGATED TRAYS ing weights and we tackle that at one to two per cent increments as we change to improve. The ultimate goal is profitability, and we do that through lots of little improvements. We’d also like to build something sustainable enough that the next generation can take it over if they choose to. What is a new technology you’d like to have? Clayton: One thing that we just got is a drone. I see it as an opportunity for surveying land and topographies and water flows and deciding where to manage the watershed. I also see it reducing the labour to check cattle. We recently used it to check a cow that was off by herself and found she was sick – so we could bring her in and help her. There are different technologies on the soil side that increase water-holding capacity. There is a lot of opportunity on that as well for higher crop yields and better usage of crop inputs. How do you measure success? Jesse: Profitability. It is a business and if we profit, we can invest more into the farm. Second is productivity. At the end of the day, our main goal is to be sustainable enough to continue into the next generation. Clayton: Profitability driving growth. What advice would you give young farmers? Jesse: My advice comes from taking part in Canadian Cattle Young Leaders in my 20s. I would say network. Young producers need to get out there and network within the industry. It’s incredibly small and people are very welcoming. If you have questions, just ask, because that’s where we come up with our greatest ideas and suggestions. Second, we have learned incredible things from our family – but we like a challenge, so if we think there’s a way to do something different, we will. Sometimes you’re a little scared to try it, but I think there’s incredible value in that. Don’t do things the way they’ve always been done just because. This is a business where you need to try new things. You might fail, but there’s more than one way to do it, and it might be better. Clayton: Always try new things. It’s only a failure if you didn’t learn anything. We’ve tried numerous things. If you try 15 things, seven of them might fail – but with those failures, you’ve created new approaches. A lot are designed off skills from the previous generation, but you just have to be willing to take them to the next level. I also think there are great opportunities for young new entrants into the industry. The average age is increasing and it’s a huge opportunity for new people to get in. All of these exiting members want to mentor and teach the next generation, so I think it’s the prime time for new people to enter the ag industry. BF
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