How does an on-farm biodigester and 2,200 beef cattle merge to make a farm more profitable and sustainable? On this episode of RealAgriculture’s Profitable Practices, Carl Frook shares how Frook Farms and Mar Creek Renewables have come together to help him manage manure, his cattle, his crops, and boost the bottom line for the family… Read More
Category: Crop Production
When you think about managing crop residue breakdown, do you think about the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of the residue? If not, it might be time to do so, as genetic advancements in corn, for example, has actually made it somewhat harder for stalks to breakdown. That’s just one discussion in this week’s episode of Wheat Pete’s… 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
Ontario Bean Growers (OBG) will contribute $660,000 towards an industry investment of $2 million in the Weed Management Professorship position based at the Ridgetown campus of the University of Guelph. “With the retirement of Dr. Peter Sikkema in 2024 this funding will not only ensure weed research continues for dry beans but will also support… Read More
The dry bean breeding program at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Morden Research Centre in Manitoba will continue for at least another five years under a new arrangement involving McGill University in Quebec and AAFC’s Harrow Research Centre in Ontario. An earlier proposal from the federal government would have seen the program cut or moved to… Read More
2023 was a roller coaster for edible bean growers in Canada’s two biggest growing regions. After record-breaking yields in 2022, Manitoba endured some dry summer growing conditions to produce a good crop with most growers harvesting above-average yields, reports Manitoba Ag pulse and soybean specialist Dennis Lange. In Ontario, the crop emerged well despite dry… Read More
With a new brush-based seed guidance system, Monosem says its ValoTerra Ultimate planter can ensure optimal planting and depth at speeds of 2 to 18 kilometres per hour. In this report from Agritechnica, Monosem product sales specialist Flavien Cattoni explains how a new Active Seed Guidance system was developed based on a zero-gravity concept to… Read More
Grain Farmers of Ontario, which represents Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean, and wheat farmers, has elected Jeff Harrison as its new chair. Jeff Harrison is the director for District 12 (Durham, Northumberland, Kawartha, Peterborough, Hastings) and has served on the board since 2016. He farms with his family in Quinte West. “I am deeply… Read More
Keep it simple and deliver field performance. That’s the message Great Plains is sharing with growers taking a look at the manufacturer’s PL5700 planter for 2024. The planter features 5000 Series row units, and Air-Pro meters, and a positive air system that sets it apart from the competition by providing more accuracy with fewer headaches… Read More
Canada has what the world needs: abundant food and food ingredients. More importantly, Canada has what much of the world lacks — good arable land, clean water, and stability. Murad Al-Katib, president and CEO of AGT Food and Ingredients, based at Regina, is well versed in moving commodities and food products around the world. In… Read More
A good portion of Ontario is nearing the end of what has been a very mild winter. Bare and sometimes thawed ground has many farmers asking if it’s too early for clover, for frost seeding, for tillage, and for patching in wheat crops. There’s also a saying that goes, “just because you can doesn’t mean… Read More
The Senate’s amendments to Bill C-234 in December could result in farmers paying $910 million more in carbon tax, according to updated analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO). After several weeks of contentious debate, a narrow majority of Senators voted to limit the proposed carbon tax exemption for natural gas and propane used on… Read More
As the possibilities of farming with autonomous tractors and implements gain traction, many manufacturers are working on how autonomous machinery will run efficiently without human hands and eyes as it travels on or through the ground. At Agritechnica, Lemken shared how its iQblue tool monitoring technology uses sensor systems to monitor performance as well as… Read More
Orange wheat blossom midge — or simply, the wheat midge — devastated spring wheat yields in the ’90s. Since then, wheat breeders have been working hard to build protection into wheat varieties. To help with tips to scout for the pest, why spraying is a limited option, how Field Heroes help, and what’s new in… Read More
Wheat yield is made up of many yield components ranging from thousand kernel weight to head size and kernels per head. But when it comes to driving higher yields, all those components take a back seat to the number of heads per square metre. It’s the big data point emerging from three years of data… Read More