Did you send in your CGC harvest sample?

Nov 21, 2023

Farmers are being reminded to take part in the Canadian Grain Commission's (CGC) Harvest Sample Program.

Dr Sean Walkowiak, a research scientist with the CGC's Grain Lab, says under the program, farmers send in crop samples and in turn, receive free unofficial grade and quality information which is helpful when marketing your grain.

"This information helps support that research to be able to understand what the harvest is looking at on a larger scale. Then we can use that information to help promote the Canadian brand because we do have top-notch quality in Canadian grain and it's important that we be able to demonstrate that using science-based evidence."

In exchange for your samples, you’ll receive the following results that you can use when marketing and delivering your grain.

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Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.