LANGHAM, Sask. — Pillar recently released a cast-steel-constructed opener that’s more rigid and has better trash clearance compared to its previous offering. The Mark 3 is a double-shoot opener that’s a hybrid between a disc and hoe opener. “We have a disc that runs up front cutting a deep trench and moving the soil. Then […] Read more
Robin Booker
Stories by Robin Booker
Customized planter handles the really big jobs
Broad-acre, seed-singulating seed unit combines the productivity of an air drill and the accuracy of a planter
Growers have been vexed by a difficult choice for decades. The tradeoff between the productivity of an air drill and the accuracy of a planter. For broad-acre growers in Western Canada, a large one-pass system capable of applying a massive amount of fertilizer and seed between fills seems an obvious choice. But the in-the-row spacing, […] Read more
To tidewater or bust
Western Canada is suffering from inadequate infrastructure to get commodities to tidewater, but the path to address the shortcoming is unclear. In 2012, then Prime Minister Stephen Harper moved to fast track the approval process for large infrastructure projects in Canada by giving cabinet ministers discretion on the scope of environmental assessments needed for developments. […] Read more
Looking at construction through the gender lens
During the G20 meeting at Buenos Aires, Argentina, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau discussed why it’s important to look through a gender lens when considering large infrastructure projects. “You might not say what does a gender lens have to do with building this new highway or pipeline. Well, there are gender impacts when you bring construction […] Read more
Seed terminator installed on combine
An Australian now farming in Canada is using the hammer mill to reduce his dependence on herbicide applications
A Saskatchewan producer brought in a Seed Terminator from Down Under to test its pulverizing abilities on prairie weed seeds this harvest. “Nick Berry, who is also my first cousin, invented it,” said Josh Lade. “We were both pretty apprehensive on how it was going to go, like the tough conditions are a lot different […] Read moreGov’t tries controlling the message
Agriculture Canada tried to impose media talking points on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for the public release of a study that examined glyphosate levels in Canadian food. Before the study’s release, CFIA provided the Grains Roundtable an overview of the study’s findings on April 10, 2017, according to an Agriculture Canada internal report obtained […] Read more
Faking it – the great honey robbery
The great honey robbery | Canadian producers are forced to react as the burgeoning trade in counterfeit honey threatens to upend their industry. | BY ROBIN BOOKER
ROBLIN, Man. — The surge of counterfeit honey into global honey supplies has been devastating for Canadian beekeepers. “It’s been twisting my hand because I can’t stay here,” said Tim Wendell of Wendell Honey. “I don’t know if the price is coming back or how long it’s going to take. It always has come back, […] Read more
Producers finding skid steers essential to farm
I asked producers through social media where skid steers fit on Canadian farms and it quickly became apparent that many farmers are very fond of the little loaders. “Chop off your right arm and that’s what life would be like without a skid steer,” said Brain Barnett, who farms near Moose Jaw, Sask. Matching equipment […] Read more
Man. company helps turn tractors into robots
A package from North Star Robotics enables farmers to more easily embrace autonomous operation of farm equipment
Spotting driverless-tractors working a Canadian field will be commonplace in the near future. Canadian growers are already retrofitting equipment with technology that enables machines to works autonomously, such as Brian Tischler’s Ag Open GPS and Matt Reimer’s tractor that pulls a grain cart up to his combine. These solutions require a fair amount of tech […] Read more
Spring combining not the end of the world
Farmers say sometimes it’s better to call it quits in the fall and get back in the field in the spring
Millions of acres of crop remain unharvested across the Prairies, and while there is still time for good harvest conditions, it’s a safe bet winter harvest is going to be occurring again this year. “Unfortunately, the last three falls we’ve had snow we’ve had to deal with one way or another. Two years ago was […] Read more
