Much of the information received through a federal access to information request has been made available to the public by the time the request is fulfilled. However, there are sometimes interesting tidbits of information that haven’t been redacted or made available in other ways. For example, an Agriculture Canada official wrote an email to high-level […] Read more
Robin Booker
Stories by Robin Booker
Machine controls weeds with steam
Proponents say herbicide resistance and attacks on glyphosate make it a good time to look for alternative weed control
REGINA — Steam power is returning to prairie fields, but this time as a weed control option that may disrupt conventional broad-acre weed management. “The X-Steam-inator is 100 percent steam, there is no chemical whatsoever in it,” said Ron Gleim, founder of X-Steam-inator. “It’s all electric, there are no boilers, there are no flames, there […] Read more
Drone sprayers separate the weeds
REGINA — A Saskatchewan company has developed artificially intelligent robots capable of detecting and spraying weeds autonomously. “There is the brain and the body. The brain is the parts of the camera, the AI that figures out what it’s looking at and can actually differentiate between weed and crop. And not just differentiate, it will […] Read more
Sclerotinia app helps with spraying decisions
REGINA — A Saskatoon genetics lab has launched an app to help growers make spray decisions. “We have a Q-protect sclerotinia test that farmers can use to calculate or figure out the potential for the sclerotinia disease in their crop,” said Heather Deobald of Quantum Genetix. She said farmers can get results as soon as […] Read more
Diesel prices stay high for summer: analysts
The fuel usually costs less than gasoline in the summer, but supply is down this year as refiners reduce production
Gasoline prices are set to follow sliding crude oil values down over the next year, but diesel prices may actually increase over the next few months. Susan Bell of IHS Markit said diesel supplies generally increase in summer because it’s easier for oil refiners to produce summer fuel compared to low-flow winter diesel, which has […] Read moreDistribution network to be increased for Agrifac sprayers
Agrifac sprayers have become a more viable option for Canadian farmers with Reesink Canada Wholesale taking over distributor rights. “The main focus right now is Western Canada, but we do have dealers in the eastern provinces and we’re going to keep servicing those guys,” said Pierre Benetreau, wholesale manager for Canada. “We’re also in the […] Read more
Clubroot spread becomes risk in dry years
Dirt clumps on equipment are a concern in wet conditions, but spores can also move in blowing dust when soil is dry
Clubroot prefers moist soil and propagates rapidly in wet years, but in dry years spores can travel long distances in blowing soil dust. “When you are seeding in a really dry spring like we are having, the spores are going to be moving in that dust cloud,” said Justine Cornelsen of the Canola Council of […] Read moreProducers must monitor grain bins as temperature warms
A large temperature difference between stored grain and the ambient temperature can cause problems for stored grain, but growers need to be careful how they equalize it. When the temperature warms in the spring and summer, growers with temperature cables in their bins should be monitoring them weekly or biweekly. When temperature differences along the […] Read more
Keeping the lid on grain drying temperatures is critical
Growers should play it safe and not surpass recommended drying temperatures because it can be difficult to tell if grain has been damaged from overheating. “If you have too high a temperature and the grain is exposed to it for too long you will not necessarily see it. The only way you will pick that […] Read more
Feeding with a bucket takes on a new meaning
Adding a hydraulic auger to a front end loader bucket design was a start, adding variable rates and gates finished it
Small cattle operators and growers who need to mix soil for smaller vegetable beds may be interested in the some of the updates Danuser made to its material handling bucket. The Mega Mixer was designed to scoop, mix and dispense material from livestock feed grain to concrete. Mike Willis of Danuser said the company sells […] Read more
