X-Steam-inator Agricultural Products signed a memorandum of understanding with Honey Bee Manufacturing to build an implement that uses steam to kill weeds. Kevin Hursh works with X-Steam-inator and he said it made sense to align with a Saskatchewan-based manufacturer instead of setting up a new plant. “It’s actually a lot of component parts that need […] Read more
Robin Booker
Stories by Robin Booker
Sclerotinia resistant genetics for non-GM canola crop
Cibus has developed what it hopes is significant resistance to the disease using its own tools to add the genes
North of San Diego in the Cibus gene-editing facility, excitement is brewing within the 120-person-strong research team. Cibus edits the genes of commercial food crops and it just hit another milestone. Field trials confirmed greenhouse trial results of a new canola trait that’s sclerotinia resistant. Cibus is an independent trait developer that focuses on disease […] Read more
Poking a hole in a lack of grain bin information
Adaptive Agriculture won the Ag tech category at the 2021 Manitoba Ag Days awards for its new product called the Binstick. The Binstick is a portable grain bin probe with sensors that connects to Adaptive Ag’s automated in-bin grain drying system. “The Binstick is for grain bins that don’t have those in-bin grain cables. We […] Read more
Making new cropped acres from old fields
Farmers know where their fields could use some drainage, where tile systems might be a solution. But deciding whether or not it will make them money is a tougher choice. What makes a field a good candidate for a tile investment that will provide a clear return on investment? Thomas Scherer of North Dakota State […] Read more
American study shows broad scale of returns on investments
Two studies were published this summer that show significant return on investment of tile drainage in American cropping conditions. Eileen Kladivko of Purdue University published an update on a 35-year study on a 15-acre plot of poorly drained silt loam soil in Indiana where tile drainage was installed. When the study began in the early […] Read more
We make our own fun here
There’s a good chance that if you grew up in the rural prairies, you have fond memories of skating under the sky and stars with your friends and neighbours. Times like that leave a lasting impression, and not just because of the frostbite. When this pandemic-mangled winter finally takes its place in the history books, […] Read more
Dark days for farm shows
Restrictions on the number of people that can gather in one place have made farm shows and producer meetings difficult, if not impossible, since the pandemic swept through Canada. Some event organizers cancelled them outright, others held virtual meetings; something they hadn’t previously attempted. In many respects, online events fall short of in-person meetings, but […] Read more
Feeding the agricultural machine during COVID-19
It was unclear if farmers would have access to parts they needed to keep equipment running when the pandemic first hit North America. Agriculture equipment manufacturers have been considered a critical service through the pandemic, so they have stayed open. But often, they are global enterprises that rely on international supply chains, and it is […] Read more
Business as (un)usual
This summer, I asked a farming neighbour of mine in Roblin, Man., how his operation has been affected by the pandemic. Other than having to put on a mask a few times when he went to pick up supplies, he couldn’t think of a single way he had to change how his farm does business. […] Read more
Remote and autonomous small aircraft make crop scouting personal
The market for drones, sensors, and agronomic software that quickly turns images into actionable intelligence is racing forward at a breakneck speed. It’s difficult to know which systems will save agronomists or producers time and provide a return on investment, so Glacier FarmMedia had Markus Weber provide a presentation during Farm Forum. Webber heads up […] Read more
