What shape is your farm record keeping system in? Do you write things into a journal? Do you write your records on a sheet of paper and then watch it blow around the truck all summer and possibly out the window as you drive down the highways at 120 km/h. There are other options. Get… Read More
Category: United States
By Bernard Tobin Satellites and smart phones are poised to deliver a new level of biosecurity that could keep farmers one step ahead of disease. As Canadian pork producers struggle to contain the spread of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv) on their farms, a new company, Be Seen Be Safe, is rolling out a satellite-based… Read More
Shaun Haney talks to Kevin Grier from the George Morris Center about the demand challenges for retail beef in 2014. Kevin has been doing some interesting research on how much beef is featured in grocery store fliers and he is not liking the trend. One of the big indications for beef demand is always the… Read More
Farm machinery continues to increase in size to match an ever-evolving industry, and bigger equipment puts pressure on your wallet, the ground and tires. Are tire manufacturers reacting to concerns over compaction? Have tires been changing? What do they have to offer? Read more: Does the freeze/thaw cycle break up compaction? In this video, RealAgriculture’s… Read More
No longer just a concept, Google Glass is moving ever closer to a face near you. This very hands-free but completely web-connected device has moved from theory to real-life-testing in an incredibly short period of time. But what can Google Glass do, and, more importantly, will you look ridiculous wearing them? See more: Click here… Read More
If 543 horsepower and a 360-bushel carrying capacity don’t impress you, then how about Lexion’s accelerated pre-separation threshing system, which separates up to 30% of grain before the crop even enters the main cylinder? An increased net performance of 20% without added fuel consumption doesn’t sound half-bad. And what about the 740TT combine, which can now… Read More
Editor’s note: This is the second part of a series called Gaining Ground. Written by Rob Wallbridge, Gaining Ground is focused on cultural management practices applicable for any production system, with a heavy emphasis on soil management. See the first article in the series here. What if I told you there were monsters on your… Read More
There’s incredible effort and expense put in to growing a crop. Once it’s in the bin, however, the job is only mostly done. Storing grain safely, especially over the long term, means keeping tabs on bin conditions. Bin monitors and sensors are the first step — how you track and monitor what those sensors are… Read More
It’s March and I can almost taste spring. Certainly the thermometer around here isn’t part of that – but the slightly longer days and that first day of spring marked on the calendar for later this month – has me longing for it. Dream with me of those warm spring nights in the field filling… Read More
The picture to the left was shared with me by Cami Ryan. Several thoughts and rants come to mind as I look at this marketing campaign. Has marketing always been this dishonest? Have consumers always been so led astray? Are we all just pawns in the game of food marketing? I find it quite ironic… Read More
By Terry Betker When the planets align and the growing season weather is perfect, and there are production shortfalls in other parts of the world and the markets respond positively, and when you’re able to price into market highs, life on the farm can be very rewarding. A possible scenario? Perhaps, but likely it’ll only… Read More
No two farmers manage their corn crop the same way, yet can achieve top yields. This is great news, because it means that no matter what your goals are for the farm, from decreasing tillage, to using more cover crops, there’s a way to produce more corn per acre. That’s one of the take-home messages… Read More
The impact of a frost on the canola crop is not likely to impact a field the same way twice. There are just too many variables at play — the temperature of the frost, the duration, the topography of the field, the growth stage of the plant, the soil moisture, trash cover and, perhaps most… Read More
Fendt’s new 900 series models of Tier 4-compliant tractors are not only more environmentally friendly, they’re also more efficient in the field. With the integration of Fendt’s selective catalytic reduction technology, the new models provide up to 7% better fuel economy than their predecessors. They are available in a 200 to 300 PTO horsepower power… Read More
What costs the canola crop the most in yield each year? Lack of fertility? Harvest losses? Spoilage in storage? Swath timing? The question isn’t actually entirely fair, as we can’t necessarily answer this question precisely, but we can most certainly start to stack up the evidence to support or refute each of these management areas’… Read More