Often when talking about the cattle markets, we talk about carcass weight, but sometimes without necessarily even completely realizing what it means or what the average weight can tell us. Anne Wasko, of the Gateway Livestock Exchange, says at the end of the day, we’re all selling beef tonnage — pounds of beef is what… Read More
Author: Kara Oosterhuis
Kara Oosterhuis is a Field Editor for RealAgriculture, covering all things agronomy in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. She grew up on a mixed irrigation and dryland farm northeast of Bow Island, Alta. Kara has always had a love for agriculture and a desire for telling stories - so she figured she may as well choose a career that lets her do both. You can find her on twitter at
There’s something about us rural folk and the appreciation we have of just how beautiful our surroundings can be. For those of you that know me, you know that sunsets, sunrises, and a bright starry sky can make me take a deep breath in ways that not much else can. Lately, I’ve been stuck in… Read More
In 2018, Zach Fleishman interviewed 200 irrigation farmers trying to figure out their pain points when it comes to center pivot tires. At the time, the number one issue farmers wanted to eliminate was the pivot track rutting in their fields. The second issue was dealing with flat tires. Flash forward to 2023 and Fleishman… Read More
There are many reasons to adjust tire pressure, whether it be to reduce compaction, be gentler on crops, or increase the lifespan of the tire itself. Michelin’s central tire inflation system does all of the above, through two-line technology, versus the more common one-line technology seen across the market. Sean Higgins of Michelin, was at… Read More
There are benefits to both dry and liquid fertilizer, depending on the operation and fertility program. This is why Fendt decided to create more options for the Momentum planter, making it much more feasible to switch between dry and liquid fertilizers. It’s not a matter of convincing producers to go one way or the other,… Read More
When it comes to cybersecurity, often times the mentality can be “it happens to the big guys, it won’t happen to me.” The unfortunate reality is that cyberattacks are a growing industry, and in order to protect yourself and your company, you have to understand the risks and how to be less of a target…. Read More
When it comes to autonomy in agriculture, it can be a bit overwhelming when we go straight to imagining machinery driving itself with no supervision. This is why Case IH’s messaging at Commodity Classic at Orlando, Florida, is to focus on the small things, in order to make autonomy a realistic goal. The first step,… Read More
Quebec farmer Mike Verdonck started strip tilling in 2000, and since then, has found Soil Warrior’s strip tiller is the best for their soil conditions. Verdonck was on hand at Commodity Classic at Orlando, Florida, to talk about his experiences with the implement. He operates in a heavy clay zone in Quebec, which as any… Read More
The Successors is a RealAgriculture podcast series hosted by Kara Oosterhuis focusing on agriculture from the perspective of the up-and-coming generation. How do you make the call on what technology to keep up with? When is the “right time” to get involved with politics? And who do you involve in your succession planning conversations? Gerrit… Read More
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has released its February numbers, and although they are showing a mixed bag in both the U.S. Canada, combine sales have spiked. And not just by a small increase either — a whopping 247 per cent year-over-year increase in Canada, and a 165 per cent bump in the U.S…. Read More
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and CNH Industrial brands Case IH and New Holland have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that provides farmers and ranchers the right to repair their own farm equipment. The MOU follows a similar agreement AFBF entered into with John Deere earlier this year. Zippy Duval, AFBF president, says… Read More
How we tackle climate change is a conversation heavily debated across the globe. Bjorn Lomberg, author and president of Copenhagen Consensus Center, spoke at the Alberta Beef Industry Conference last month, held at Banff, Alberta, to discuss what he thinks is some of the best ways to mitigate climate change — and how some of… Read More
When it comes to policy, we know there can always be unintended consequences — even on the items that are not at the top of the docket list. One of these items that has slipped under the radar for many is the Underused Housing Tax (UHT). The tax was initially developed and targeted at urban… Read More
After a few years of feeling like they were getting kicked while they were down, cattle producers are feeling a little more optimistic about 2023, as meteorologists and analysts alike are predicting a break in the drought. Following a few back-to-back years of extreme drought, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is recording 2022… Read More
The Successors is a RealAgriculture podcast series hosted by Kara Oosterhuis focusing on agriculture from the perspective of the up-and-coming generation. How do you turn your focus from animals to being a canola specialist? What is it like to travel and see agriculture around the world? Why is important to be curious about your job?… Read More