News
No time like November

November is a much maligned month in the calendar of the year. Typically it is viewed with dread as it provides a glimpse of the winter months to come. Or it represents 30 days wedged between the colour and splendour of October and the bright lights and festivities of December. Yet there are many positives that come with the month of November. There is the rugged, earthy
beauty of the landscape. Sure, the leaves are gone from the trees and the sun sets earlier each day. But along the country roads, beside one field of discarded corn stalks and leaves or frost-burnt alfalfa is a field of winter wheat, stretching like a carpet of green velour between fence lines. And whether you are out for a walk or heading home at the end of the day, there is the chance encounter with a ribbon of wood smoke or the tang of manure from a nearby field.

It provides assurance, familiarity and a unique sense of belonging.

As I come to the end of my 15th year involved in agriculture, I am thankful for these gifts, these moments that tell me there is something wonderful to be found, even in a month with a dark and dull reputation like November. There is always something beautiful to be seen or some intangible element to bring comfort.

We just need to be open to the opportunity, and that in and of itself, is what I consider to be one of the key defining notions of agriculture today. There are opportunities coming, there are opportunities that are here already; we just need to be aware and willing to see them for what they are.

Do not despair November’s arrival; find a reason to celebrate it.

November is also the month we provide a glimpse into the seed industry, with our Seed Focus issue. The seed world is in a rapid state of change, far greater than we anticipated, or than we have seen in any period in this industry.
 
As a sort of bookending of the growing season, we are also breaking new ground with our latest Machinery Manager feature, which looks at combines, including our streamlined specs and accompanying links to our website for the complete listings from our eight featured manufacturers.

As a final note, we are revising our Traits and Stewardship Guide on our website to include Horizon Seeds on the corn traits listing. From time to time, details can slip through the cracks. This revision corrects an oversight and provides a more comprehensive resource for our readers.

And that is always our primary focus.

Ralph Pearce
Editor
Top Crop Manager