Case IH is expanding their Precision Disk 500 series air drills — adding a new single-rank configuration with 15-inch spacing, a sought-after option for soybean seeding and other specialty crops in both no-till and conventional tillage fields. The drills are known for their placement, regardless of tillage, residue, or cropping practices, to give each plant… Read More
They don’t call him Wheat Pete for nothing. It’s September and that means it’s time to talk about wheat, wheat, wheat. In this week’s episode of Wheat Pete’s Word, host Peter Johnson is answering the most timely questions regarding the winter wheat crop, choosing seeding rates, the importance of seed treatments, and so much more…. Read More
Who wants to learn a new weather term? Get on in here for this week’s Wheat Pete’s Word where — unfortunately — we learn there is a specific term for an inland hurricane. Also in this week’s episode, host Peter Johnson is talking cover crop adoption and cover crop options well into the fall, where… Read More
Usually when a farmer considers using a planter in Western Canada, it’s to plant canola crops, not pulse crops. But there are those exploring that option in Alberta. Scott Gillespie, independent agronomist with Plants Dig Soil Consulting, has been working at scaling up plot trials he first saw at Farming Smarter. In this episode of… Read More
Planters and seeders both have their strengths and weaknesses, but with the newest Clean Seed equipment release, the Smart Seeder MAX, you don’t have to choose. Colin Rush, chief operating officer for Clean Seed Agricultural Technologies, joined Shaun Haney to talk about the customer-driven features this new unit has. For the first time, images and… Read More
A timely rain after seeding can erase plenty of sins, but a pounding rain can do the opposite, and lead to punishment for small canola seedlings that have to break through crusted soil. Crusting has hampered emergence and forced some reseeding in canola fields in parts of Western Canada again this year. Of course, there’s… Read More
Concord has announced a new 39-foot model of its Precision Shank Drill (PSD) for 2021. The new size model offers the same benefits of the previously released PSD, but with a lower horsepower requirement to reach its potential seeding speed of 8 mph—originally 500 horsepower was required, but the new model only needs 425. “We’re… Read More
The hangover effects from a wet fall are giving farmers in parts of Western Canada a headache this spring. Saturated soil conditions right until freeze-up forced fieldwork that normally happens in fall to be delayed until spring. As a result, heavy harrows, vertical tillage machines, traditional cultivators, and even fire — all the tools in… Read More
Rolling right after planting has become a common practice on soybean fields in Western Canada over the last decade, but there are some good reasons to consider delaying the timing of rolling until after the crop is up. Rolling right behind the planter or drill improves seed-to-soil contact and is definitely less unnerving than rolling… Read More
Weed control questions, millipede feeding, and a crusting quandary — it must be early June! This week’s Wheat Pete’s Word is a little longer than usual because there is just so much going on and so many great questions rolling in. Host Peter Johnson has got the answers this week to everything from tufted vetch… Read More
Should you plant soybeans shallow to get them out of the ground quickly, or plant deeper into more stable soil temperatures? The correct answer is likely somewhere in the middle says Horst Bohner, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, soybean specialist. He’s monitoring a series of planting date and seeding depth trials at… Read More
Drier weather over the last few years has taken some of the wind out of soybeans’ sails in Western Canada, but there’s a case to be made that fundamental climate trends on the Prairies still support good soybeans yields in the longer term. Especially if growers are on the ball with planting when the soil… Read More
This week’s Wheat Pete’s Word has got some good news, some good ideas, and finally a discussion on just how terrible timothy really is as a forage option. Host Peter Johnson answers questions on a crop’s first drink of water, how much starter fertilizer you can pack into strip-till strips, and reminds growers that armyworm… Read More
Sometimes a small gesture can go a long way to improve your day. So, lucky Wheat Pete’s Word fans, host Peter Johnson has a special gift for you — not one, but TWO podcasts this week. There’s just that much to cover, friends. For this Part A of the April 15th edition, Johnson shares some… Read More
As a cover crop, cereal rye brings a lot to the table. It improves soil structure, builds organic matter, and protects against water and wind erosion. It’s also relatively inexpensive, can be seeded late, enhances weed control and is easy to kill. That makes it a nice fit for cash crop producers looking for a… Read More