The idea that tractors used in broadacre farming may have peaked in size and will someday be replaced by groups of smaller, autonomous machines has been kicking around for at least a decade. In theory, there's certainly still a case to be made for smaller machines that cost less and reduce soil compaction, while having... Read More
Category: Compaction
Tracks certainly don't eliminate compaction, and they usually cost substantially more than wheels, but research at The Ohio State University shows there are several specific applications where tracks offer a productivity or yield advantage in the old tracks-versus-wheels debate. Scott Shearer of The Ohio State University stopped by to chat following his presentation on compaction... Read More
Mid-November seems a little late to be spraying in southern Ontario, but the warm temperatures have made for some great opportunities and fall weed control simply works, says Peter “Wheat Pete” Johnson in this latest episode of Wheat Pete’s Word. Fall weed control is especially worth it on perennial sow thistle, Canada thistle and on... Read More
Compaction is a common concern with farmers throughout North America, especially in high traffic areas such as approaches and headlands. In this report from Agri-Trade at Red Deer, Alta., Derek Molnar of Degelman Industries discusses the company's new Heavy Duty Staggered Ripper (HDSR) that he says is built heavy but simplified, is easy-to-use and offers... Read More
No ruts, no worries, right? Not so, at least not when it comes to deep compaction impacts. Air pockets and macropores in soil structure help move water down the soil profile, and where water goes, so do the nutrients. Compacted soils restrict root growth, oxygen, and nutrient and water movement, ultimately restricting yield potential. What's... Read More
It seems that everywhere you go right now, farmers are talking about cover crops. Producers across the country are not only using a diverse plant mix to provide feed for livestock, but also as potential solutions to compaction, a lack of nutrient availability, and to address weed issues in their fields. In this Farming Forward... Read More
When it comes to spraying crops, European farmers want accuracy and the ability to effectively control rates as they travel through the field. North American farmers have similar spraying goals, but the size and capacity of equipment differs considerably from one continent to the other. In this report from Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany, John Deere... Read More
Sweat the details and practice, practice, practice. It may sound like gridiron football strategy but it will also make farmers winners in the battle to improve soil health, says North Dakota-based independent agronomist and crop consultant Lee Briese. When it comes to improving soil health there are plenty of fixes — from reducing tillage to... Read More
Helping farmers prep soil and seed crops in small spring planting windows is the driving force behind a new harrow and seeder combination for Kuhn. In this report from Agritechnica, Kuhn product line manager David Hild explains how European farmers who fall plow typically utilize two separate machines — a power harrow followed by a... Read More
One of the keys to the evolution and adoption of agricultural robots is to ensure the machines can meet safety standards while working autonomously. At Agritechnica '23 in Germany, French robot manufacturer Naïo Technologies announced that its robots will now be available with augmented autonomy — what the company describes as revolutionary technology that allows... Read More