The battle against weeds puts farmer against nature’s innate ability to adapt and overcome. The advent of herbicides tipped the odds in farmers’ favour for a time, but only until several weed species developed — and continue to develop — resistance. Dr. Hugh Beckie, a former weed scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, is now… Read More
For John Herdman, coach of the Canada men’s national soccer team, leadership is more than guiding a group of people. “[It’s] getting the best out of yourself every day, being clear that it’s a process that never stops,” says Herdman, in conversation with RealAg Radio host Shaun Haney. “…And when you stop getting the best out… Read More
Krone is re-focusing its efforts in forages and, with the unveiling of its new baler line, is now claiming to have the widest product range for balers in the whole industry. The company’s VariPack was premiered at Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany in November. “We, for the first time ever, now have a belt baler in… Read More
Weed control is often focused first on out-competing the pest. Some escape, of course, so “control” shifts to decreasing the weed seed bank. There are limited ways to eliminate those weeds with mature seeds at harvest, but recent work in Australia and here in Canada is focused on destroying weeds at the combine. According to… Read More
“We haven’t been good at telling consumers and our customers in other parts of the world how we are sustainable.” That’s the message from the honourable Ted Menzies at this year’s Prairie Cereals Summit. Menzies was there to give an update to attendees on what the framework looks like surrounding the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable… Read More
Why do family farm businesses fail? Quite often it’s not economics but rather family governance issues and relationship problems, says farmer and business consultant Dick Wittman. Many farms fail because operators don’t run the farm in a professional manner, says Wittman who learned plenty of valuable lessons managing a family-operated 20,000 acre crop, cattle, and… Read More
Geringhoff’s new Horizon Star III Razor header offers European farmers better contour following and another method to combat European corn borer. “Our innovation is that we split the corn [header] in two pieces, so we have two independent wings that can go up and down, and therefore we have more controlled contour following,” says Hendrik… Read More
Have you ever wondered how countries that buy Canadian wheat learn about each crop-year’s characteristics? The story of each crop begins with the harvest sample program, involves a careful analysis of the crop, and continues with crop missions to countries such as Singapore, Ecuador, China, and Mexico. Cam Dahl, president of Cereals Canada, and Gary Stanford,… Read More
China-based company XAG is growing a name for itself, recently displaying a series of fully autonomous drones and farm monitoring sensors at Agritechnica, in Hanover, Germany. Founded in 2007, XAG now has laboratories and research stations in 38 countries, and is focused on developing technology to address plant protection, crop monitoring, and farm management. Its… Read More
Before being released in Canada, hemp cultivars go through an approval process very different from other crops. Unlike wheat or canola, for example, lines are not required to undergo a certain amount of trialing in Canada before they can be grown here. That’s not to say there aren’t processes in place to vet cultivars before… Read More
An international group of independent journalists has named Fendt’s new Vario as Tractor of the Year 2020, for its level of connectivity, combined with several mechanical attributes. “Here we combine connectivity, smart farming, as well, with complete efficiency,” says Fendt’s Edward Snieder. The Vario 942 features a 6-cylinder, 9-litre MAN engine, optimized to deliver high… Read More
The Alberta Barley Commission and Alberta Wheat Commission recently integrated their management teams, and now, for 2020, they’re looking for direction by members on whether amalgamating the board of directors should also happen. “That would be a combined Alberta Wheat and Barley Commission,” says Tom Steve, general manager of both the commissions. “I think it’s… Read More
Case IH has launched its LB large square baler range for 2020, complete with changes in its density system, pick-up, driveline, and knotter technology. The company’s LB436 HD, on display at Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany this year, features a 22 per cent greater bale density than the 434 XL, with the same bale size. The higher… Read More
Orkel’s new Hi-X Compactor bales fine materials to an extremely high density, while offering operators a low maintenance system. “It’s a fixed chamber baler with two belts,” says Orkel’s William Bennet. “We’ve actually got a compaction rating of up to 280 bar per bale, so we can really achieve some high quality, really dense bales… Read More
It takes a special occasion for a Massey Ferguson to roll off the line in something other than the signature red. The 50th anniversary of the moon landing, it seems, is momentous enough. At this year’s Agritechnica, AGCO’s Massey Ferguson brand showcased a white Massey Ferguson concept tractor, the Next. Benoit Modde, with Massey Ferguson,… Read More