How do I check a canola farm’s field records for weed and disease problems?
Ask for field records covering several seasons, showing what was grown, what was sprayed, and where weeds or disease appeared. Walk the fields to see for yourself. Patterns that return in the same places or lead to heavier spraying are worth a direct question to the seller.
Weeds and disease can quietly raise the cost of growing canola. Ask for field maps and for notes on problems by field and by season. Look for entries on what was found, when, and what the seller did about it. Compare the notes with the crop results for those fields.
Walk the fields at a time when problems show. Look at the edges, low spots, headlands and any patches that look different. Ask the seller about weeds that proved hard to control and whether the products or methods needed to change. Ask how crops were rotated, since that affects pressure on the land.
Speak with the farm’s agronomist or adviser, with permission, and ask what they noticed. If the records are patchy, ask why. Ask what the seller would do next season, and which fields would be a priority. Consider asking a qualified adviser to scout the land with you. A guide on negotiating a sale can help you talk through anything you find, and your lawyer can advise on how it should appear in the agreement. Ask whether the records are written at the time or reconstructed afterward, since fresh notes are usually more dependable. Photograph any problem patches you see.
Key takeaways
- Ask for notes on weeds and disease for each field and each season.
- Walk the fields where problems tend to show.
- Speak with the farm’s agronomist, with the seller’s permission.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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