Precision Pays Off

Friday, September 25, 2026

North Paddock Farms fine-tunes irrigation, technology & diversity

By Mary Loggan

Alison and Michael Davie, named Alberta’s Outstanding Young Farmers for 2026, are building a modern farm business rooted in both family history and innovation.

As co-owners of North Paddock Farms near Taber, Alta., the couple combines deep Prairie roots with international education and a willingness to test new ideas.

Since returning to Canada in 2013, they have expanded and refined a diverse cropping operation that reflects both calculated risk-taking and disciplined management.

Today, that decision underpins a 3,000-acre farm focused on productivity, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.

Farm beginnings

The foundation of North Paddock Farms stretches back generations. Alison’s grandfather immigrated from the Netherlands in the 1950s and established the original farmstead.

Over time, the operation evolved alongside shifting interests within the family.

“My opa started farming on the land where our main farm is now,” Alison explains.

“My dad began farming in the late 1980s. He was more interested in crops, while my opa focused on cattle, and eventually we transitioned out of livestock entirely.”

By the time Alison and Michael returned, the farm had become a fully irrigated cropping operation.

The couple met while studying at Lincoln University in New Zealand — Alison in agribusiness and Michael in farm management — and quickly realized they shared a vision for farming.

“We talked about where we wanted to live and decided on Canada,” Alison says.

“We were young, but we had the opportunity to take over my parents’ farm, and we decided to jump at the chance.

“Michael had a strong interest in equipment and cropping, and coming back to a crop farm was a good fit for both of us.”

Michael adds that a season working on a neighbouring Alberta farm confirmed the decision.

“I worked locally for a year and really liked it. That helped solidify that this was where we wanted to build something.”

Today, their crop mix reflects both market opportunity and agronomic strategy, including potatoes for major processors, cereals, seed canola, pulses, flax, timothy hay for export, and a growing interest in garlic.

Innovations

Since taking over, the Davies have focused on two key priorities: bringing more operations in-house and investing in technology.

“We’ve taken on a lot more of the work ourselves that used to be contracted out,” Michael says.

“That includes potato hauling, fertilizer and compost spreading, and more of our grain hauling. It’s about doing a better job and having more control over timing.”

At the same time, the farm has embraced precision technology and remote monitoring.

“All of our pivots can be monitored and controlled remotely, and our potato storages are fully automated as well,” he explains.

“It’s been a big step forward in efficiency.”

That shift has had a measurable impact on water management — critical in Southern Alberta.

“We used to have someone driving around just checking pivots,” Alison says.

“Now we can monitor everything from our phones. It’s made us much more efficient with our water use.”

Soil health is another cornerstone of their approach. The farm has incorporated compost for more than a decade, applying it on a regular rotation across fields.

“We’ve been applying about eight tonnes of compost every four years per field,” Alison explains.

“There have been improvements in organic matter, micronutrients, and soil biology, and we’re able to reduce synthetic fertilizer in those fields.”

They have also become known locally for their willingness to experiment. Cover cropping trials have drawn interest from other growers.

“We’ve had a lot of people come to see what we’re doing with cover crops before and after potatoes, canola, and beans,” she says.

“A big part of that is protecting the soil from wind.”

One of their more ambitious trials is ultra-early seeded wheat.

“This year we seeded spring wheat in January, February, and March,” Michael says.

“Last year we tried it on a small scale, and this year we expanded to about 150 acres. Right now, it looks fantastic, so we’re excited to see how it turns out.”

Crop diversity is another defining feature, with as many as 12 different crops grown in a single year.

“It helps spread risk,” he says.

“You’re almost always going to have something that underperforms and something that does well.”

Challenges

Despite their proactive approach, the Davies face the same pressures common across Prairie agriculture — particularly around water, weather, and market volatility.

“Water has been one of our biggest challenges,” Michael says.

“There have been years where we were limited to about eight inches when we would normally want closer to 18. That forces you to make tough decisions about which crops to prioritize.”

Those decisions can come at a cost.

“It’s not easy to watch a crop decline because you’ve had to divert water elsewhere,” he says.

In response, the farm has adjusted both cropping strategy and management practices. More winter cereals and early-seeded crops help capture early-season moisture, while real-time pivot monitoring maximizes irrigation efficiency.

Weather variability adds another layer of uncertainty.

“It’s the No. 1 factor we can’t control,” Alison says.

“You can have two seasons that look similar on paper but turn out completely differently, so you’re constantly adapting.”

Input costs and commodity price swings have also intensified in recent years.

“You’re caught between rising input costs and fluctuating commodity prices, and you don’t have much control over either,” Michael says.

“That squeeze is a real challenge.”

Labour is another key concern. The farm employs five full-time staff and approximately 25 workers seasonally.

“The most important thing for us is having good people,” he says.

“It makes the work enjoyable, and it’s essential to running a good farm.”

Looking ahead

Rather than pursuing aggressive expansion, the Davies are focused on refining their operation and capturing more value from what they already produce.

“We’re pretty happy with where we are,” Michael says.

“We’d like to grow slightly in some areas, like potatoes, but our main goal is to do a better job on the acres we already have rather than solely getting bigger.”

That philosophy extends to exploring niche markets and value-added opportunities.

Garlic, which began as a small side project, is one area of interest.

“It started as a hobby and has grown from there,” Alison says.

“Building a local customer base is exciting, but marketing is the real challenge.”

They are also pursuing opportunities in seed production and specialized markets.

“If we can grow a crop for seed instead of just a bulk commodity, or tailor production to a specific market, that’s where we see opportunity,” Michael explains.

Ultimately, their approach is grounded in practical experimentation and disciplined decision-making.

“You just have to try things,” Alison says.

“There’s never a perfect time. But at the same time, you have to know your numbers and make sure it works for your farm.”

At home, the next generation is already getting a glimpse of farm life. Their two children, Peyton and James, are frequent passengers in trucks and tractors.

“If they want to farm, we want to be ready to support them,” Alison says.

“It has to be something they truly enjoy. Farming is a passion, and you have to love it.” BF