Fast forward a few weeks. Picture the combine has started rolling in a canola field, and you’re not quite happy with how much seed is being lost through the back of the machine. Should you increase cylinder/rotor speed? Open the upper sieve? Maybe adjust the pre-sieve? Decrease concave clearance? Increase fan speed? Decrease fan speed?… Read more »
Category: Machinery
7 things we learned at Ag in Motion
It was a warm few days of visiting, walking around, and watching farm equipment in action, as thousands of people from the agriculture community met in a field along Highway 16 northwest of Saskatoon this week for the 2018 edition of Ag in Motion (AIM). The hot weather certainly put a premium on any space… Read more »
WEEDIt could reduce pre-seed spray needs by 75%
Optical sensors for selective weed control aren’t new, but the technology has come a long way in recent years. A new offering, the WEEDIt system, caught farmers’ attention at the recent CanolaPalooza field day event held at Lacombe, Alberta. To explain how the WEEDIt works, we caught up with Tom Wolf, with AgriMetrix. “It’s an… Read more »
Yes, you can build your own autonomous tractor
Many situations have two scenarios: one where a problem is looking for a technology, or the other where technology exists and is looking for a problem to solve. In the case of farming, often it’s the problem that comes first, but when it comes to autonomy, the technology has been leaps and bounds ahead of… Read more »
Clean Seed enters planter business with acquisition of Harvest International
Clean Seed Capital Group — the Canadian company behind the CX-6 Smart Seeder — has announced a deal to acquire U.S. planter equipment manufacturer Harvest International. The company also debuted the first Clean Seed Smart Planter at Ag in Motion on Tuesday, built with Harvest International technology. “Following the granting of Clean Seed patents in… Read more »
MixMate designed to cut sprayer loading times and mistakes by automating chemical blending
Fast loading times are critical for maximizing sprayer efficiency, but mistakes are also more likely to happen when loading in a hurry. An Iowa-based company, Praxidyn, has designed a portable, modular system to shorten the time it takes to blend chemicals and refill the sprayer, while also reducing the chances of errors by automating the… Read more »
Corn School: Aqua-Till trades coulter for water jet
Ever consider replacing your planter disc openers with high-pressured water jets? The concept is called aqua-till. The idea has been pioneered by the South Australian NoTill Farmers Association (SANTFA). Earlier this week, SANTFA research and development manager Greg Butler traveled north to Ontario to showcase the technology for farmers attending the annual FarmSmart Expo near… Read more »
SeedMaster testing single rank drill prototype
After working on the concept for several years, Saskatchewan-based seeding equipment manufacturer SeedMaster has built its first prototype drill with a single rank design. While other air seeder frames have multiple rows or ranks of openers for seeding to create space for crop residue flow and the opener units themselves, the Ultra SR has everything… Read more »
Michelin acquiring track-maker Camso for US$1.45 billion
Quebec-based track manufacturer Camso has reached a deal to be bought by Michelin for US$1.45 billion, as the French tire company looks to expand its presence in the off-the-road (OTR) market. The agreement will see the two companies’ OTR operations combined into a new division that will be managed from Camso’s headquarters in Magog, Quebec…. Read more »
Morris debuts Quantum drill with new frame design and 76% fewer parts
Saskatchewan-based farm equipment manufacturer Morris Industries rolled out a brand new air drill design at Canada’s Farm Progress Show at Regina last month. The Quantum air drill features a stronger, simpler frame design, a new air system, and more row spacing options than previous models, according to the company. “We’ve thought about this product from the perspective… Read more »
Harvest for Kids organizers aiming for 300 combines in new record attempt
Organizers are aiming to create a harvest scene in southern Manitoba on August 4th that’s never been seen before: 300 combines working simultaneously in the same field. The Harvest for Kids 2018 record attempt is planned for 2 pm on the Saturday afternoon in a winter wheat field just south of Winkler, Manitoba. Created to… Read more »
DOT field robot evolving, with first units to be sold for spring 2019
It’s been one year since the DOT field robot prototype made its first public appearance at Ag in Motion (AIM) near Saskatoon, Sask. The machine has since attracted attention from people around the world who are interested in the future of autonomous farming. Engineers in the DOT Technology Corp. shop in Emerald Park, Sask. have… Read more »
Soybean School: How Pre-till vs No-Till stack up for optimal plant stand counts
On the first day of summer how many soybean plants per acre are required to maintain 100 percent yield potential? The answer is simple – 150,000 plants per acre. But there are many management factors to consider when trying to hit that number. In this episode of the RealAgriculture Soybean School, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food… Read more »
Spraying a pesticide with a drone is still not allowed in Canada
The idea of spraying with drones has gained interest as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have become more common in farming over the past few years. In concept, UAV sprayers could identify and target weeds, and then apply herbicide autonomously in specific areas of a field. The technology for spraying with a drone is available and… Read more »
Rocky Mountain Equipment acquires John Bob dealerships in Saskatchewan
Rocky Mountain Equipment (RME) is adding two locations in central Saskatchewan to its dealer network, following up on the unveiling of a five-year plan that included additional acquisitions in Western Canada and expansion into the U.S. New acquisition RME announced the acquisition of John Bob Farm Equipment at Tisdale and Outlook on Tuesday. Founded in… Read more »