Kolk Farms in Western Canada
Hybrid rye
for the Prairies
Just a few days ago, the wind was whipping up dust over the fields of Kolk Farms. Now, heavy rain is pounding the ground. Dealing with these types of swift weather changes is just what it’s like living in Alberta, one of Canada’s Prairie provinces – and they explain why Jordan Kolk and his family have deliberately made diversification a focus on their farm. Roughly 200 kilometers south of Calgary, the family cultivates about 1,000 hectares of irrigated land, fattens around 10,000 head of cattle annually, and runs a seed business under the name K3 Seeds. In addition to silage corn, oilseed rape, wheat, and barley, the fields also yield a crop that has become particularly important to the farm: hybrid rye from KWS.
It all began on a much smaller scale. Jordan’s great-grandparents emigrated from the Netherlands to Canada in the 1950s. Over the course of four generations, what began as a small family-run farm grew into a company with around 50 employees: “We’re united by a passion for agriculture and for developing the farm together,” says Jordan Kolk, who runs the business with his sister and father. “My parents gave us responsibility early on and the freedom to contribute our own ideas.”
Diversity as a response to uncertainty
Anyone who farms in southern Alberta has to be able to deal with uncertainties. Alongside volatile agricultural markets and rising costs, weather extremes in particular are part of everyday life here. For the Kolk family, diversification is therefore a key success factor: “Cattle farming is shaped by strong market cycles. At the same time, we face weather risks in crop production. That’s why we deliberately focus on different crops and multiple business areas.” It’s this conviction that also led to the creation of K3 Seeds. The company offers certified seed, seed processing and treatment, and agronomic advice. The crops that the Kolk family recommends to its customers are ones that they grow themselves. “In the seed business, we talk about the challenges along with the successes. Both sides learn from each other.”
KWS background
Robust, versatile, efficient.
- The well-developed root system uses water and nutrients efficiently.
- As a winter crop, hybrid rye can reduce erosion.
- High biomass yields, good digestibility,and flexible use make it attractive to livestock farms.
- Hybrid rye is used as a grain, whole crop silage, or feed for different farming structures.
- Modern KWS hybrid rye varieties combine improved yield with improved ergot resistance through PollenPLUS®.
* Sources: Lower Saxony State Office for Mining, Energy and Geology (LBEG), 2011; German Fertiliser Ordinance (DüV), 2024.
Hybrid rye for fields and feed
One crop has a particular story here: rye – or, more specifically, hybrid rye from KWS, which the Kolks have been growing for over ten years. In Western Canada, hybrid rye has become considerably more important in recent years, especially for farms that combine crop production and livestock farming. As both a grower and a retailer, Jordan Kolk gets to know new varieties from two perspectives: from his own field and through conversations with customers. “That gives us a very clear understanding of which traits really matter in practice.” Hybrid rye has long been an important part of the family’s farm strategy. During the winter, it protects the soil in their typically sandy fields from wind erosion. Hybrid rye’s early maturity also makes it possible to grow a second crop, such as corn, oats, or millet, after the harvest.
On top of that, it’s also particularly valuable for sustainable beef production. A significant share of the harvest is turned right into feed. “We produce a large portion of our feed ourselves. That makes us less dependent on the feed markets and has a positive impact on the farm business,” says the farm manager. At the same time, it creates closed loops: The feed is grown on the farm’s own land, fed to its own animals, and the nutrients are returned to the fields through organic fertilization. Crop production and livestock farming complement each other naturally.
In the seed business, we talk about the challenges along with the successes. Both sides learn from each other.
Jordan Kolk
A little better every year
In addition to the high biomass yield, Kolk particularly appreciates that KWS products are continuously being improved. “I’m impressed by the dedication that KWS shows in continuing to fine-tune its varieties. The team is focused on developing solutions that are optimally tailored to conditions in Alberta – both for feed and grain production.”
This attitude mirrors his own understanding of agriculture. When Jordan Kolk talks about his work, it’s rarely about an individual season. It’s about optimizing operations step by step. “As a farmer, you only get one chance a year to get everything right. That’s why we try every day to be better than the day before, and better every year than the year before.”
