Automated planting | Prospero can fertilize, seed and apply herbicide
Prospero is a tiny field-roving robot that intends to replace the tractor and seeder. Grain growers still have a few years to get used to the idea, but it could soon be a reality in row crops. This autonomous micro planter (AMP), which is the brainchild of robotics specialist Dave Dorhout of Iowa, pushes the […] Read more
Ron Lyseng
Stories by Ron Lyseng
Accurate forecast on-the-go
Localized information | Sensor gathers data on wind speed and direction so sprayer operator can make appropriate adjustments
Weather is the main factor determining whether or not to spray, but it’s often difficult to get accurate information about a specific field. Ideally, an operator would like to merge accurate forecasts for the general area in which he’s spraying with localized data from a sensor within the one acre immediately surrounding his sprayer. Nice […] Read more
Growers upgrade to cash in on forage prices
Better machinery | Producers are investing in sophisticated equipment to save time and speed drying
High grain prices are prompting farmers across North America to convert their hayland into cropland, which is good news for serious forage producers. There are internet reports of hay delivered in Texas for $380 US per ton, while prices in the northern border states exceed $200 per ton. A hay dealer in Langley, B.C., is […] Read moreDefacer keeps silage intact
Chris Roulin has reduced the amount of feed he loses to spoilage and spillage to almost zero since he started using a rotary defacer two years ago. Roulin, who milks 100 cows on his farm near Stonewall, Man., says the Emily Mobile Rotor Bucket drops almost no silage on the concrete bunker floors, something that […] Read more
New telehandlers equipped to handle many jobs
Growing popularity | New telehandlers have greater reach, lifting capacity and safety features
BRANDON — Telehandlers, typically found only on dairy operations, are showing up across the Prairies as farmers catch on to their versatility and safety. Safety is often cited as one of the biggest factors in the growing popularity of telehandlers. With a lower centre of gravity and the arm pivot anchored to the rear of […] Read more
Silage defacer saves money
Silage packing left intact | Slicing off thin layer reduces deterioration and breaks up hard clumps
RIVER HILLS, Man. — Spoilage from air in silage is one of the biggest enemies of dairy producers and small feedlot operators. However, air penetration can be avoided by giving the silage face a clean shave at every feeding, says Kara Burrell of Agromec Industries in Brandon. Pulling apart the face of a silage pile […] Read moreVariable rate made simple, just follow directions
Capstan N-Ject | System makes it easier for farmers intimidated by variable rate technology to match map data with fertilizer injection rates
Adopting variable rate technology can be frustrating, especially transforming prescription map data into product that is injected into the soil. The more hoops the data jumps through, the more difficult it be-comes, and the greater the odds of a miserable and frustrating spring. However, an injection system that obediently follows instructions can simplify that challenge, […] Read more
Dozer blade gathers forage under wings
Degelman’s Pile Driver built to move forage
Degelman Industries has designed a new dozer blade specifically for pushing forages in the pit. “It’s designed to give the operator more blade and more control in the pit,” said Paul Degelman of his company’s new Pile Driver. The centre section is 10 feet wide. A four-foot wing at each side can be independently controlled […] Read more
It’s in the bag with new Track-Pack
Silager | Hydraulic control can double the torque to create better compaction
The all-new Track-Pack silage bagger stuffs a full 20-foot truckload of forage into the big, white bag every 60 to 90 seconds. That kind of hay volume means a farm’s operations manager needs to be well organized and have a lot of trucks to keep the bagging machine running at peak efficiency, says Mike Koskela. […] Read moreAuger sensor signals full bin without climbing ladder
Alarmed spout | Openings allow grain overflow to give operator time to shut down once alarm sounds
BRANDON — As grain bins continue to grow higher, so too does the average age of prairie farmers. This combination compounds a situation already fraught with danger. The simple solution is to stay off the bins, and Angelika Gehrer thinks she has the answer. “A full bin alarm can pay for itself quickly by preventing […] Read more
