Ian studied accounting in college and worked full-time as an accountant after graduation, but the farm kept calling and he ended up taking a more active role in the farm when it came time for his dad to step back a bit. “I was an accountant, but my love interest was turning to other areas,” Ian says. “The farm was taking over too much of my time, so it was time to make a change.”

In the offseason, he still does some accounting work on the side, but the farm is now his priority. “I don’t like calling myself an accountant because I’m more of a farmer these days,” Ian says. “I still have that background, and I try to keep it fresh, but farming is my priority.”

His accounting background has been helpful to him as he manages a growing farm and works to turn a profit each year. “It’s enabled me to have a better understanding about things like what an income statement and balance sheet look like at the end of the day,” Ian says. “I have a clearer idea of the cents and dollars that I need to break even or make a dollar on every acre. There are some decisions I won’t make because it just wouldn’t pencil out at the end of the day.”

Investing in the business

Making investments in the farm is an important part of Ian’s growth plan. Since Ian took over, the farm has more than doubled in size. Whether it’s new equipment or updated technology or trying out different inputs, Ian prioritizes investments that will help the farm continue to grow, and he realizes those investments sometimes come with taking on a bit more debt.

“My debt load isn’t too high, but I’m able to keep my creditors happy. Everybody’s getting paid,” Ian says. “The long-term benefit of positive debt management is I can turn around and take on new opportunities when they become available.”

Ian knows some farmers aren’t as open to carrying debt to get ahead, but he firmly believes capital management, credit score maintenance and paying attention to his credit history has helped his farm. “Some guys don’t look at the benefits of it, they only see the cost side and that’s why they stick to what they’re doing,” Ian says.

When it comes to taking on debt, Ian is smart about looking at all the numbers. He understands it’s not just the amount you are financed for, but it’s also the terms you can get with that amount, so he factors that into the decision as well.

Leveraging Scale and Relationships

Ian started working with Nutrien Ag Solutions over ten years ago to finance his inputs, and his relationship with Nutrien has grown over time. It doesn’t hurt that his crop consultant, Carson James, is also his neighbor and a fellow farmer, so he knows a thing or two about what it takes to succeed in this market.

“Carson is very knowledgeable and has helped with a lot of things, including figuring out the right crop rotations and inputs,” Ian says. “Nutrien has my whole operation right now. I’ve tried to go elsewhere but have always come back. It’s a matter of making sure I’m doing justice to the farm.”

Ian isn’t afraid to have a large portion of his business with one company, especially when it’s a large, well-established business like Nutrien.

“Don’t be scared to throw your eggs in one basket and fully look at the program that each company offers,” Ian says. “You could find a shiny carrot at another company, but there are also other things you might miss in the fine detail that might not benefit your farm.”

Ian and Carson agree the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence, but it’s useful to do your research to know what’s out there.

Farming Sustainably

Because of the relationship they’ve built, when Carson came to Ian with a new opportunity around sustainability, it was a well-received suggestion.

Ian is an Echelon subscriber and uses variable rate fertility across his farm. “What Carson does, looking at our harvest scorecards to see what we’re able to leverage and what kind of regression we might have, is really huge for us,” Ian says. “I can see what kind of tweaks and changes we should make for future years and maximize every acre we have.”

Ian is part of the Sustainable Nitrogen Outcomes (SNO) program, which pays him to incorporate best management practices for nitrogen. It’s a sustainability program that helps growers get credit for things they’re already doing and make adjustments to ensure the operation is more sustainable.

“Ian was a pioneer in our sustainability program, he was one of the first to join,” says Carson. “He loves seeing the data and then using that to tweak things. He’s committed to sustainable farming, and our program financially rewards him for that commitment.”

Ian admits he doesn’t do things the same way his father and his grandfather did, but he also thinks progress is needed to make sure the land and the farm last for future generations. He has two daughters and wants to make sure the farm is there for them if they choose this path one day.

“It’s a matter of keeping the farm going, feeding the world and doing everything right,” Ian says. “I want to be a good steward of the land.”

“At the end of the day, I’m having fun and loving what I’m doing,” Ian says. “I think that’s the right mentality that a farmer has to have. The positives can offset the negatives.”