Grain and egg producer, Monchuk Farms, Lanigan, Saskatchewan.
Discover why Clinton works for a sustainable future
Transcript
There is a very vocal community of farmers - they’re all my cousins in the neighbourhood. This is Monchuck Farms. We crop about 3600-3700 acres and an acre is roughly the size of American football field. The family's been farming for more than 100 years now in this area. Right now, the farm is under the operation of my brother Andrew and myself and we're already talking about the next generation of farmers. We believe in crop rotation. So we have canola, we have wheat, barley, oats, brown mustard, rye. And the reason we try and do this is allow the soil to have some different, you know, growing root structures and variety within the field. We've adopted new technologies based on science and research over the years. My dad bought our first direct seeding unit back in 1996 and as a result of that, we used substantially less diesel fuel fuel because he only went over the soil once. Back in the mid 90s, 5 to 10% of the farmers were using that practice of direct seeding. Now, virtually every farmer is using this practice because it is sinking carbon back into the soil, building that organic matter. And it’s better for the environnement. I like the challenge of farming, but I also enjoy the seasons of it. I've always said if I had one day left on the earth and what would I do? And I'd like to be in the combine with my family, growing food and taking it off for others to actually consume. It's really fulfilling.
[Upbeat music begins.]
[A montage begins with black and white footage of two hands holding oat kernels. A shade of blue covers the screen, the screen divides into three and an aerial view of a large combine harvesting a crop field appears in the middle of the screen.]
[A close-up view of a tractor. The screen zooms out and divides into a grid of six squares, all consisting of images. Including several tractors and Clinton Monchuk posing with his son and father in front of a tractor. The screen transitions to a full screen overhead view of a combine harvester pouring grain into a parked trailer in a crop field.]
[The screen turns blue and an animated shovel and fork cross together then separate with the title in between.]
[Text on screen: Meet the People – Behind your Food]
[Clinton Monchuk stands in front of a tractor and a grain bin and talks to the camera.]
Clinton Monchuk: There is a very vocal community of farmers - they’re all my cousins in the neighbourhood.
[Cut to an aerial view of Clinton Monchuk’s farm.]
This is Monchuk Farms.
[A close-up view of a hand holding groats.]
We crop about 3600-3700 acres…
[An aerial view of a combine harvester in a large crop field.]
…and an acre is roughly the size of an American football field.
[Clinton stands and talks to the camera.]
[Text on screen: Clinton Monchuk – Grain and Egg Farmer, Lanigan, Saskatchewan]
The family's been farming for more than 100 years now in this area.
[Clinton and his family pose for the camera with three grain bins behind them.]
Right now, the farm is under the operation of my brother Andrew and myself…
[Clinton helps his brother as they work on a tractor. His son drives a combine harvester.]
…and we're already talking about the next generation of farmers.
[The screen turns blue with a faded view of a combine harvester in a field. White text appears over top.]
[Text on screen: What do you grow?]
[A close-up view of a rotator with cutter blades harvesting crops.]
We believe in crop rotation.
So we have canola, we have wheat, barley, oats, brown mustard, rye.
[An overhead view of grain pouring into a trailer. A side view of grain pouring into a grain tank and a ground-level view of grain pouring through a machine. The family’s dog watches the grain pour into the bottom of a grain cart.]
And the reason we try and do this is allow the soil to have some different, growing root structures…
[A close-up view of a hand holding oat stubble in an oat field. Clinton and his son kneel to inspect the soil and stubble in the field.]
…and variety within the field.
[The screen turns blue with a faded view of a combine harvester in a field. White text appears over top.]
[Text on screen: What is your farm’s history with sustainability?]
[A close-up view of Clinton working on machinery making adjustments on digital display and using a remote control on the dashboard of a tractor.]
We've adopted new technologies based on science and research over the years.
My dad bought our first direct seeding unit…
…back in 1996 and as a result of that, we used substantially less diesel fuel…
[A close-up view of Clinton’s brother fixing a tractor. A person drives a tractor towing a grain tank.]
…because he only went over the soil once.
[A close-up view of grain pouring into a grain tank. Cut to a close-up view of an oat field.]
Back in the mid 90s, 5 to 10% of farmers were using that practice of direct seeding.
[Clinton holds a cellphone in front of a parked tractor as he stands and talks with his father.]
Now, virtually every farmer is using this practice…
[A distant view of a combine harvester and a tractor towing a grain cart through an oat field. Clinton stands and talks to his brother in a crop field.]
…because it is sinking carbon back into the soil, building that organic matter.
[A combine harvesting a crop field.]
And it’s better for the environment.
[The screen turns blue with a faded view of a combine harvester in a field. White text appears over top.]
[Text on screen: Why did you choose farming?]
[Clinton carries a long tube-like piece of equipment.]
I like the challenge of farming, but I also enjoy the seasons of it.
[In fast motion, Clinton walks towards a parked combine harvester and climbs up a ladder into the driver’s seat. A distant view of Clinton driving the combine harvester through a crop field.]
I've always said if I had one day left on the earth and what would I do?
[A close-up view of Clinton inside the tractor as he drives and speaks into a walkie-talkie. Clinton’s son drives the combine harvester and speaks into a walkie-talkie.]
And I'd like to be in the combine with my family, growing food and taking it off…
[A close-up view of a rotator with cutter blades.]
…for others to actually consume. It's really fulfilling.
[The screen turns blue with a faded view of a combine harvester in a field. White text appears over top.]
[Text on screen: Canadian farmers and agricultural businesses work to feed you and future generations. Discover how they are growing a better future. Canada.ca/Taste-the-Commitment]
[Clinton stands and smiles at the camera as he reaches out a handful of seeds.]
[Upbeat music ends]
[Text on screen: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada]
[Government of Canada wordmark]
[End]
Learn how Clinton puts sustainability into practice
Transcript
The idea of, you know, if you're a small farm, you're more sustainable than a large farm, I'd say that doesn't cut it. It all depends on the practices they use to grow their food. When you're a medium to a large-size farmer and you adopt some of these new technologies, you can see the aggregate effect of these changes are substantially higher. There's three different aspects that we look at when we're talking about sustainability. You're aiming to respect the environment, and grow what people actually want to eat and make money doing it. So, one of the big things that we've adopted through the years is trying to figure out what’s science saying about different production practices, different tools we use. We've implemented quite a few different technologies. We have a new technology in each of these storage bins to make sure that they're not heating up because of high moisture or high heat. It notifies us so we can actually take it out of that bin and move it to dry it out and make sure it doesn't rot. We can ensure that we're not going to have any waste when it comes to the food that we're producing. We have a technology now on our sprayer. In each individual nozzle is hooked up to the GPS, so each nozzle turns on and off as you're driving down the field as you're driving down the field to make sure we're not putting more herbicide that's not needed on the land. Something that fundamentally changed kind of the progression, especially on the environment but also on the profitability side, was the ability to direct seed. So by having the direct seeding system, you're putting the seeds directly into the soil and you're not disturbing it, you're not rolling it over like the farmers of the past did. What was happening is you till the soil up and then it open it up for erosion from the wind, from the water, and then it goes away. It ends up in a bush. We want that soil to stay there and be there not only for my farming, but for my son or my daughter or my nieces’ generations as well. We plant many different types of crops on our land, but we also have an egg farm. And the biggest benefit from that egg farm to our land is the fact that we get to put that manure that those birds make and put it back onto the soil, and that increases soil fertility and reduces the amount of other fertilizer that we need to put on that soil. So one of the practices that we did with with our poultry barn is actually put in solar panels in an effort to reduce the amount of energy usage. You know I think the biggest thing for us us is how we're growing more food. At the end of the day, we want to grow food for others. We're a family farm. We've been farming for over 100 years, and I hope the farm goes into generations into the future for hundreds of more years.
[Upbeat music begins]
[A montage begins with the screen divided into three, showcasing black and white footage of a crop field and then in colour, a close-up view of grain pouring into a trailer. A blue shade covering half the screen reveals a tractor and an aerial view of a large combine harvesting an oat field. A close-up view of two hands holding oat kernels.]
[Clinton Monchuk talks to the camera.]
Clinton Monchuk: The idea of, you know, if you’re a small farm...
[Text on screen: Clinton Monchuk – Grain and Egg Farmer, Lanigan, Saskatchewan]
...you’re more sustainable than a large farm, I’d say that doesn't cut it.
[A close-up view of the cutter bar and reel attached to the front of a combine harvester. The screen divides into two with a blue shade tinting a group photo of Clinton, his son, and his father. The image blurs and an animated shovel and fork cross together then separate with the title in between.]
[Text on screen: Sustainable Agriculture In Action]
[A close-up view of the front of a tractor parked next to a crop field. Cut to a distant view of a combine harvester plowing through an oat field. Blue tinted footage of an aerial view of a combine harvester plowing through a field.]
[Text on screen: Can large farms be sustainable?]
It all depends on the practices they use to grow their food.
[A red tractor is parked beside a field, off in the distance a combine harvests an oat field.]
When you’re a medium to large size farmer...
[Clinton uses a touch screen device attached to the dashboard while driving the tractor.]
...and you adopt some of these new technologies, you can see the aggregate effect...
[An aerial view of a combine harvester and a large truck with a trailer attached, parked side by side in an oat field. The combine harvests a field with the truck and trailer parked close by.]
...of these changes are substantially higher.
[Blue tinted footage of an aerial view of a combine harvesting a field.]
[Text on screen: How do you approach sustainable farming?]
There’s three different aspects that we look at when we’re talking about sustainability. You’re aiming to respect the environment... [A close-up view of an oat field. Cut to a wide view of an unharvested crop field blowing in the wind.]
...and grow what people actually want to eat...
[An overhead view of a cutter bar and reel rotating while it's attached to the front of a combine harvester, moving through a crop field.]
...and make money doing it.
[Aerial views of the Monchuk farm.]
So, one of the big things that we’ve adopted through the years is trying to figure out what’s science saying...
[Clinton looks at his phone while he stands next to his father in front of a tractor. A close-up view of Clinton working on his phone.]
...about different production practices, different tools we use.
[A close-up view of Clinton working on a large machine.]
We’ve implemented quite a few different technologies.
[Blue tinted aerial view of a combine harvesting a field.]
[Text on screen: What types of technology?]
[An aerial view of the Monchuk farm with a row of grain bins by fields.]
We have a new technology...
[Clinton analyzes data on his laptop and his phone.]
...in each of these storage bins to make sure that they’re not heating up...
[An aerial view of the Monchuk farm and of a row of grain bins.]
...because of high moisture or high heat.
[Clinton stands next to a tractor and other equipment in a field while working on his phone.]
It notifies us so we can actually take it out of that bin and move it to dry it out...
[A tractor loading grain into a grain bin.]
...and make sure it doesn't rot.
We can ensure that we’re not going to have...
[The family dog walks by the bottom of a tractor pouring out grain. Cut to a close-up view of grain pouring into a grain cart.]
...any wase when it comes to the food that we’re producing.
We have a technology now on our sprayer in each individual nozzle...
[Clinton and his brother walk by a tractor with a large sprayer attachment. A close-up view of a hand touching buttons on digital control screen.]
...is hooked up to the GPS, so each nozzle turns on and off...
[A dog walks in front of a tractor with a sprayer attachment, parked in a field.]
...as you’re driving down the field...
[Multiple large tractors and combine harvesters parked in a field.]
...to make sure we’re not putting more herbicide that’s not needed on the land.
[Blue tinted aerial view of a combine harvesting a field.]
[Text on screen: What has made a difference?]
Something that fundamentally changed kind of the progression, especially on the environment but also on the profitability side, was the ability to direct seed. [A wide view of an oat field with a combine harvester in the distance.]
So by having the direct seeding system...
[A close-up view of a spinning wheel on the side of a machine.]
...you’re putting the seeds directly into the soil and you’re not disturbing it...
[Clinton and his son walk towards an oat field. A close-up view of Clinton’s hands holding of oat kernels.]
...you’re not rolling it over like the farmers of the past did.
[Clinton and his son kneel and reach for soil.]
What was happening is you till the soil up...
[An aerial view of an oat field, one side harvested and the other side not.]
...and then it open it up for erosion from the wind...
[An aerial view of a crop field with an island of trees and wetlands surrounded by crop fields.]
...from the water, and then it goes away.
[Clinton talks to his son as they kneel to handle oat kernels in an oat field. Clinton lovingly shoves his son into the field as they both laugh.]
It ends up in a bush. We want that soil to stay there...
[Clinton helps lift his son off the ground.]
...and be there not only for my farming, but for my son or my daughter...
[Clinton and his son walk through an oat field, with their backs towards the camera.]
...or my nieces’ generations as well.
[Blue tinted footage of an aerial view of a combine harvester plowing through a field.]
[Text on screen: Do you use other sustainable practices?]
[An aerial view of the Monchuk farm, revealing a row of grain bins, a tractor and a truck parked close by.]
We plant many different types of crops...
[An aerial view of the Monchuk farm.]
...on our land, but we also have an egg farm.
[A close-up view of Clinton’s phone screen. Cut to an aerial view of the Monchuk farm.]
And the biggest benefit from that egg farm...
[A close-up view of multiple chickens feeding.]
...to our land is the fact that we get to put that manure that those birds make...
[A close-up view of a hand touching buttons on a digital control panel.]
...and put it back onto the soil, and that increases soil fertility...
[A close-up view of a hand holding soil from an oat field.]
...and reduces the amount of other fertilizer that we need to put on that soil.
[A tractor towing a grain card through a crop field. A close-up view of cartons filled with white eggs.]
So one of the practices that we did with our poultry barn...
[An aerial view of the Monchuk’s poultry barn, surrounded by fields.]
...is actually put in solar panels in an effort to reduce the amount of energy usage.
[An aerial view of solar panels beside the poultry barn.]
[Blue tinted footage of an aerial view of a combine harvesting a field.]
[Text on screen: What change have you seen?]
[An aerial view of a combine harvesting an oat field.]
You know I think the biggest thing for us is how we’re growing more food.
[A combine harvester parked next to a trailer as it loads grain.]
At the end of the day, we want to grow food for others.
[Clinton and his family smile and pose for the camera with grain bins in the background.]
We’re a family farm. We’ve been farming for over 100 years, and I hope the farm goes generations...
[An aerial view of the Monchuk farm.]
...into the future for hundreds of more years.
[Blue tinted footage of an aerial view of a combine harvesting a field.]
[Text on screen: Canadian farmers and agricultural businesses work to feed you and future generations. Discover how they are growing a better future. Canada.ca/Taste-the-Commitment]
[Clinton holds a handful of soil up to the camera and smiles.]
[Upbeat music ends]
[Text on screen: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada]
[Government of Canada wordmark]
[End]
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