Canadian growers who want to kick the tires on a satellite monitoring system can still get in a few free weeks if they head over to the EOS Crop Monitoring platform website. The company originally offered a free trial of their cloud-based service until April 30, but has extended the deadline. “We made a decision […] Read more
Robin Booker
Stories by Robin Booker
Farm data collection and farmer use analyzed
Value proposition and usability of digital details a big concern for producers looking to take advantage of data
Studies into precision and digital agriculture usually focus on how quickly farmers are adopting technologies such as GPS and variable rate tools. “There wasn’t a lot known with what farmers were doing with the data they collected and how that’s channelled through the decision-making process, and ultimately leading to improved outcomes,” said Nathan DeLay from […] Read more
Chickpea diseases becoming more resistant: researchers
In the second half of last year’s growing season, Sabine Banniza’s phone began ringing more often than normal. Banniza is the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Strategic Research Program Chair in Pulse Crop Pathology, and she’s where agrologists and growers turn when they can’t identify a pulse disease. In this instance, a disease was sweeping through […] Read more
Most 2020 pulse seed plentiful, except chickpeas
Tougher harvest conditions have resulted in higher than normal disease levels in seed supply this spring
Seed supply for lentils and peas is solid this spring in Saskatchewan, but chickpea seed is another story. “The average germ that we have (for chickpeas) is only 82 percent this year, that’s down from 91 percent last year,” said Sandy Junek of Discovery Seed Labs. “Over 50 percent of the samples that we tested […] Read moreManaging tough weed issues in pulses is possible
Researchers say herbicide layering tactics and high seeding rates can help growers protect yields with clean fields
Weed and disease management is challenging in pulses, so it’s difficult to know where to draw the line when it comes to how many inputs to apply. “A lot of the work that we’ve been focusing on is what type of inputs should we be recommending for producers to try and manage these challenges,” said […] Read more
Raven buys DOT with plans for expansion
Prairies autonomous farm tool finds a new home in the Dakotas, one with global reach and a growing stable
Raven Industries is now the sole owner of DOT. Norbert Beaujot is taking in the big view from his farm in southern Saskatchewan and of the future of the autonomous farming platform. “As a family, we couldn’t take on putting DOT where it needed to be by ourselves,” said the founder and owner of SeedMaster […] Read more
Nuseed works with ADM on omega 3 canola plant
The company will contract with growers in Montana and North Dakota and use the finished product as fish food
Nuseed and Archer Daniels Midland have entered into a partnership for crushing and processing Nuseed’s proprietary omega 3 canola in the United States. “Nuseed has certain expertise with plants, plant breeding and production, and ADM are an excellent partner to complete a large piece of the supply chain,” said Clint Munro of Nuseed. He said […] Read more
AEFs help environment but maybe not bottom line
Nitrous oxide is no laughing matter when it comes to climate change and agriculture delivers its share of N2O
Nitrous oxide emissions from Canadian crop production can be reduced significantly with the use of advanced efficiency fertilizers, but these products don’t provide enough agronomic benefits to warrant a wide scale adoption by growers, according to a study on slow and controlled released nitrogen products on the Prairies. Richard Farrell of the University of Saskatchewan’s […] Read more
Spray drone with payloads up to 200 kg.
Hannover, Germany — Volocopter built upon its passenger helicopter technology to develop a cargo drone that has agricultural applications. The Volocopter is a German two-seat multi-rotor electric air vehicle designed for passenger air travel in an urban environment. The company displayed its VoloDrone Demonstrator fit with John Deere spraying technology in John Deer’s future technology […] Read more
Prevention, target hardening boosts security
Farmers are encouraged to make their property less inviting to criminals — starting with a closed gate
Rural crime increased dramatically on the Prairies during the economic downturn that started in 2017, so it’s likely a good idea for farmers to revisit their security with a pandemic pummelling the economy. In 2018, the Alberta RCMP produced a video series about crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) and target hardening. RCMP Const. Julian […] Read more
