Ryan Hamill

When asked if participating in the Yield Enhancement Network program has improved yield and profitability on his farm, Ryan Hamill didn’t hesitate for a second before answering. “Without question, I would say 100 per cent,” explained the co-owner of Hamill Brothers. Ryan and his brother, Steven, moved the Middleton operation away from potatoes when they took over the operation from their father and now grow corn, soybeans, wheat and canola. They also have the Pioneer seed franchise for PEI with a network of dealers across the province. While many Island producers include grains and oilseeds in their potato rotation, Ryan said the switch away from potatoes as the main cash crop has worked well for them. He explained it allows them to have a more diverse operation.

Hamill Brothers follow the Yield Enhancement Network for all of their crops and Ryan looks forward each year to the friendly competition with the fellow growers on PEI and throughout Maritimes. They have enjoyed considerable success in the competition, taking home the title for winter wheat in 2024 with the top yield of 3.45 tons/acre with its 25R29 variety.

The 2024 competition saw a new component focused on input costs vs yield that was designed to show whether following the protocol was resulting in an increased return on invest. The yield per acre was multiplied by the average market price. The input costs were then subtracted to determine the return after inputs and allow for comparisons between farms.

Ryan is a big believer in this addition to the competition and not just because his farm emerged on top in the winter wheat category. He explained the goal is not only to produce a higher quality crop on every farm, but to ensure participating producers see a return on their investment.

“Ultimately, this is a business, and the goal is to make a profit,” he said.

While the idea of sharing information with your competitors may sound strange at first blush, the goal is to create a rising tide that will produce smoother sailing for everybody. He said the protocol includes such variables as weather, soil health, crop fertility and the effectiveness of weed and pest control.

For Ryan, that was one of the major selling points when he first heard about the program. Now encompassing close to 60 farms across the region, the program will be entering its eighth year in 2026. He remembers talking to some fellow producers after the first year of the competition.

“I told my brother this is something we need to look into,” he recalls. “Improving the industry for everybody is a great way to promote the quality of our product.”

As a small player in a global marketplace, Ryan said growers in the region need to stake out every advantage they can. By sharing data through YEN, he said growers can learn from each other’s successes and mistakes.
“We do a lot of trials of our own and we are committed to being innovative but through YEN we can collaborate with other growers,” he explained.

The 2025 growing season was one of the driest in recent memory, not only on the Hamill farm but throughout the Maritimes. Ryan added it is even more important in such extreme conditions “to make sure we are following the best practices and getting the best yield and return on investment possible. There is no such thing as an average year anymore, he noted. No two growing seasons are the same.”

For any growers that may be considering taking part in the program but are still unsure about signing on the dotted line, he has some advice – take the plunge for next year. “As far as I am concerned, there is not really a downside,” he noted.