The calendar has flipped to December which brings Christmas music (yay!) and, inevitably, colder weather (boo!). But just because it’s cold outside on the farm or ranch the work does not stop. Whether it’s pushing snow or bedding or feeding the animals, cold weather brings a new set of challenges for the tasks to get… Read More
It’s nice to have all the bells and whistles on new equipment, and you have to keep up-to-date on new ideas or you’ll get left behind. It’s is also important to listen to your customers and realize that sometimes it is hard to manipulate bells and whistles when you have to wear thick gloves to… Read More
Can spray technology help us better manage the escalating problem of herbicide-resistant weeds? Spray guru Tom Wolf, from Saskatchewan-based Agrimetrix Research & Training, certainly thinks so. At the recent Canadian Weed Science Society meeting at Niagara Falls, Ont., Wolf highlighted two technologies he believes could help help growers manage weed resistance. In this video, Wolf and… Read More
In the wake of several high-profile accidents involving semi trucks, Saskatchewan has moved to ensure potential drivers receive more training. On April 6, 2018 sixteen people were killed and 13 injured when a semi-trailer failed to yield at a flashing stop sign and crashed into a bus carrying players and staff of the Humboldt Broncos… Read More
When it comes to changing leadership dynamics on the farm, are ag retail and equipment companies ready for what it might mean when it comes to sales and service? It’s an interesting perspective, as newer — and sometimes much younger — generations move in to the purchasing power positions on farms, how brands establish and… Read More
Air suspension systems are common on vehicles. They provide all kinds of advantages over other systems, including the potential for a wide variety of height adjustments. They can also be a really good fit on a piece of equipment where you might not expect to find them — headers, for example. Honey Bee Manufacturing has… Read More
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers has released its monthly flash report for Canada and the United States. The Canadian numbers shown below indicate that year-to-date sales for equipment are down in comparison to a year ago. Combines sales year-to-date are down 6.3% and 4WD tractors are down 9.0%. In 2018, 2WD tractors are up 3.5%,… Read More
A difficult harvest will push farmers to figure out ways to allow a little more harvesting done or protect what is already in the bin. Getting grain fit to store safely is always a challenge, but if a dryer is at capacity or not an option, can supplemental heat be enough? Rene Deschamps, with Ag Growth… Read More
Air seeders are getting bigger at the same time that farmers are applying more total product per acre. Is the distribution system that worked well on a 36-foot air seeder up to the task of evenly distributing 300-plus pounds of seed and fertilizer across an 86 foot air drill? Not likely. Dale Leftwich, RealAgriculture’s Saskatchewan… Read More
What if you could take a scan of your grain bin and know the condition of each bushel inside that bin? And what if you could do this even if the bin held 500,000 or even a million bushels? Grain Viz has taken technology originally designed for breast cancer research and brought it to the… Read More
Grain Farmers of Ontario plans to purchase grain baggers to assist in “short term storage of corn for farmer-members.” The producer organization, representing Ontario’s 28,000 barley, corn, oat, soybean and wheat farmers, met with Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, late last week to address the high DON corn crisis in Ontario. At the… Read More
MacDon is well known for its header offerings for cereal and pulse crops but, until now, it has not had a presence in the corn industry. That is all about to change. MacDon recently acquired Harvest Tech which the company says will help expanded its product line into some additional areas. RealAgriculture’s Dale Leftwich had… Read More
Having control of inventory is a constant concern for all small business owners, including farmers. When you have multiple fuel types, multiple users, and tanks that are accessible to anyone that drives through the yard, fuel inventory management can become one of your biggest concerns — and one of your most expensive. Which is most… Read More
If you decided to incorporate intercropping to your farm plan this year, there’s some good and some slightly bad news for you, if you live in Manitoba. During this past week’s intercropping workshop held at Brandon, Man., Matthew Wiens, land management specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, told producers there’s funding available for those who chose to… Read More
Much has changed on the Ontario soil conservation front since 1987. No-till farming has been firmly entrenched, most farms in the province now proudly tout their own Environmental Farm Plan, and soil health is recognized as key to a $13 billion food economy that fuels 800,000 jobs. It’s a 30-year journey that Harold Rudy captures… Read More