Some of the RealAg team (Jason and Kelvin) is Winnipeg this week, along with hundreds of farmers, at the third annual CropConnect conference. Attendance on day one was up from last year, with speakers (and guests in the RealAg studio) covering topics ranging from the latest UAV tech to struvite fertilizer to sunflower grading. Roberta… Read More
Category: Tradeshows & Events
What management practices and behaviours make farmers more financially successful? A report commissioned by the Agri-Food Management Institute and Farm Management Canada attempts to answer this question. “With the Dollars and Sense study we’re trying to determine what makes a leading farmer. How do they end up in the top 25% of farmers versus the… Read More
It’s another year of opportunity for barley, says the barley merchandising manager for Viterra. After declining for much of the past decade, the number of barley acres in Western Canada rose slightly in 2015 and is expected to grow again in 2016. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s preliminary projection has barley acreage rising by two percent…. Read More
In theory, the application of a plant growth regulator to wheat should result in shorter, stronger plants that are less prone to lodging, enabling higher yield potential. In reality, it’s not that simple. “I wish it was a nice black and white, straightforward story, but it certainly isn’t,” says Sheri Strydhorst, who’s done extensive work… Read More
Cutworm outbreaks are incredibly unpredictable, pest management biologist Jennifer Otani told delegates of Agronomy Update in Red Deer last month. The insect can overwinter as eggs, larvae, or pupae, and scientists don’t yet have a good understanding of the survivability of the various stages, let alone the almost twenty species we’re dealing with across the… Read More
Maybe it’s due to news traveling faster on social media than it used to, but there have been a fair number of reports of canola heating in the bin this winter. Producers who find themselves in these unfortunate situations are often left scratching their heads wondering why it happened. Was it harvested too early? Was it straight-cut or… Read More
Employees need clear expectations and timely feedback. It might sound simple, but those are the two keys to creating a farm culture where the business gets the most out of its talent and where employees feel like they’re doing a good job, says Barb Dartt, a Michigan-based farm business consultant. “We tend to underestimate the… Read More
Krone launched its new Big X 770 forage harvester at Agritechnica, bringing updated technology and new style to the Big X lineup. The forage harvester boasts a 16.16 litre V8 engine, and outputs 775 horsepower, with improved safety features, including: additional indicators in mudguards, an extra step on the access ladder, and better overall visibility of all… Read More
It was another busy (and fun) few days for the RealAgriculture crew covering Farmtech last week. We had our very own studio, set up on the tradeshow floor — right next to the beer and coffee. We spent the week racing from the studio to the hall where keynote speakers made us laugh (and cry), to… Read More
Regulatory restrictions are not on the radar in Manitoba, but the province’s agriculture entomologist suggests farmers in Western Canada should ask themselves “why?” before using neonicotinoid seed treatments. The Ontario and Quebec governments are restricting the use of insecticide-treated seed in response to concerns about neonics hurting bee health, but there haven’t been the same problems with pollinator populations… Read More
The first secret of soybean success really isn’t much of a secret, confesses agronomist Ross Bender. It all comes down to the weather, specifically rain in August. But farmers do have an opportunity to impact the remaining production factors that make up the six secrets of soybean success, says Bender, senior agronomist for the Mosaic… Read More
A new report commissioned by SaskCanola says there would be no net benefit to producers from implementing a component pricing system that offers premiums or discounts based on canola’s oil content. “There was some discussion a few years ago when crush margins were widening — are farmers receiving a fair amount for the canola they’re growing… Read More
There’s a balance that must be struck in any farm succession plan. Mom and dad (the retiring generation) need enough money to retire and enjoy what they’ve earned, while the succeeding generation needs to start with enough to maintain a viable business. As Jacquie Gerrard of Backswath Management explains, farm succession conversations should start with figuring out… Read More
We always love to see when content sparks further discussion among viewers and readers. Discussion is what fuels learning among the agriculture community. We tweeted this: New unit from Summers Mfg designed to cut down on sprayer fill times — thoughts?https://t.co/lgQYy1vTST — RealAgriculture (@realagriculture) February 1, 2016 Creating efficiency is not easy for product developers…. Read More
As the Canadian Dairy XPO enters its fourth year, the upstart dairy industry show is making moves to attract more producers and exhibitors. The show attracted about 10,000 people when it launched in 2013. Local dairy producers have embraced the show, says CDX General Manager Jordon Underhill, “but what we’ve seen is an increase in… Read More