MARICOPA, Ariz. — The newly launched Case IH AFS Connect Magnum series tractors are said to be the largest technological step forward by the company in up to a decade. Leo Bose, Case IH AFS and harvesting product manager, said the ability to remotely observe tractor monitors is a significant new feature. “A dealer can […] Read more
Robin Booker
Stories by Robin Booker
Cover crops prevent erosion in high moisture Midwest
A corn and soybean grower from northeastern Iowa had to change how he farms because of climate change. “In my 45 years I’ve seen climate change,” Tim Burrack, vice-chair of the Global Farmer Network, said after his CropSphere presentation in Saskatoon last month. “We used to go from a three-inch rain event being something that […] Read more
BLOG: Getting into China’s favour is a long row to hoe
The Canada-China dispute is unfortunate, especially if you’re a Canadian farmer. When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government took power, strengthening the Chinese-Canadian trade relationship was a priority, demonstrated by many visits to China by high-level officials as well as multiple rounds of face to face free trade agreement exploratory discussions between the countries. In Canada, […] Read more
You bought and paid for your tractor; but own it?
The licensing agreement for the embedded software in Tom Schwarz’s John Deere tractor has him frustrated. “This contract between you and Deere defines every electronic part in the product as a licensed product and it demands total control over those parts, which of course the equipment is useless without. What Deere is effectively saying is […] Read more
Carbon tax estimates uncertain
The price of carbon taxes for agriculture in Canada isn’t publicly known, despite farmers and agricultural industry players’ needs for that information. It appears the federal government had more estimates than it has readily shared in the past few years and it still isn’t easy to find some of the important costs that farmers will […] Read more
DOT put through its paces in Arizona fields
University of Arizona researcher works with the autonomous farming platform and DOT-ready implements this winter
MARICOPA, Ariz. — DOT and Connect have shifted staff to Arizona for the winter to continue research into robotic farming and to prepare to autonomously farm on a broad acre scale this year. DOT is a Saskatchewan-built robotic platform designed to bring autonomous farming to broad acre grain production, and Connect is newly formed company […] Read more
New system adjusts combines on the fly
The AFS Harvest Command on Case combines keeps track of a machine’s settings to improve quality and savings
MARICOPA, Ariz. — The automatic combine adjustment system available in the new Case 250 series combines use 16 sensors to control seven combine functions, says Ryan Blasiak, Case IH harvest marketing manager. “To make adjustments on the fly, it is super easy,” Blasiak said. “All you need is four button presses and you’re ready to […] Read more
Producer urges gov’t. to take action on fake honey
A British Columbia beekeeper spends $1 million on a new test and implores the government to make sure it is used
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency uses an ineffective method to detect fake honey, which has forced a Canadian beekeeper to take matters into his own hands. Peter Awram is a second-generation beekeeper who has apiary facilities in British Columbia’s Fraser Valley and produces honey north of Edmonton. “There is so much fraud in the industry, […] Read moreNew study finds risks in broadcasting urea
The research in eastern Sask. also found that advanced efficiency products do not reduce losses in all situations
Spreading urea on the soil surface is coming back into favour as farmers look for quicker ways to cover acres in the spring seeding window. The resurgence has researchers re-examining the strategy. “Our board said, ‘there are a lot of guys throwing fertilizer down on top of snow; I wonder how much nitrogen they’re losing […] Read moreCFIA has never prosecuted adulterated honey cases
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency tests honey imported into Canada for veterinary drug residues and chemical contaminants, as well as for adulterants such as sugars or syrup added to honey. Honey imports found to be adulterated are returned to their country of origin or destroyed. Foreign companies that send adulterated honey into Canada may face […] Read more
