The average American farmer has $170,000 tied up in unused used equipment. These implements are too good to scrap and they’re left sitting around in farm yards, losing value every month. That figure comes from BigIron Auctions in Nebraska, and is based on a university study carried out in the United States Midwest several years […] Read more
Ron Lyseng
Stories by Ron Lyseng
Momentum seen in quest for better seed placement
Competition in the planter market is rolling faster as Agco introduces its revolutionary new Fendt Momentum to help overcome conditions that challenge uniform emergence. Row croppers know an evenly emerged, picket-fence plant stand is the critical first step for optimum yields, despite the many agronomic and operational challenges beyond their control. Agco says they have […] Read more
Michelin introduces three new agricultural tires
Michelin’s ag portfolio grew last month with the introduction of the VF SprayBib in three sizes, the VF FloatXBib plus radial airless skid-steer tires in two sizes and two treads. The SprayBibVF is a very high flexion tire for high-clearance sprayers. It’s designed to strike a balance between a narrow tire to avoid crop damage […] Read more
Getting on board the fast track with 20 m.p.h. air drill
Camso has introduced a new high speed track set and a new mid-roller for Steiger Quadtrac. The Quebec manufacturer introduced Ag TTS Angle high speed tracks for air drills and planters. The tracks increase field mobility and reduce soil compaction. They can travel on the road at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. […] Read more
Arm getting too cranky? Go full electric
It takes 50 to 60 crank arm rotations to get the legs on a trailer’s landing gear to touch ground. This exposes the driver to a variety of musculoskeletal injuries. The damage typically occurs to shoulders, knees, back and upper body. The repetitive cranking motion impacts muscles, tendons and joints, especially with aging drivers. And […] Read more
Modern planter for older field power
Planter manufacturers are turning a new focus on designing narrow-transport machines suitable for small fields, no-till, transport on narrow roads and for growers lacking high-power tractors. Throughout the industry, there’s a realization that bigger isn’t always better or even wanted. Many corn and soybean growers do planter-applied fertilizer with a split-row configuration and narrow transport. […] Read more
Is this the magic metal of the future?
A U.S. research company is figuring out how to turn nanocrystalline metal alloys into high-value products and parts
Imagine the benefits to farm implements if they were made of a metal five times stronger than today’s steel. As well, implement weight could be cut in half and would last longer. That metal is waiting over the horizon. Veloxint is an alloy research company in Massachusetts specializing in developing and commercializing nanocrystalline (NC) metal […] Read more
Strong alloy could eventually make ag implements lighter
Manufacturers are looking to shave every possible pound from seeding equipment, sprayers, combines, swathers and grain trucks. Less weight in ag implements translates to more payload or less soil compaction. New nanocrystalline super-alloys from a Massachusetts company called Veloxint may some day cut the weight of farm implements in half. We’ve already accepted spray booms […] Read more
Plug pulled on RNA signal to kill enemy insects
GreenLight Biosciences uses the biology of RNA signals to disrupt the messages that insects receive to eat certain plants
Most of society today wants farmers to reduce or eliminate chemicals they use to protect crops. Farmers want that, too. RNA signals hold the answer. Scientists are facing a major challenge trying to figure out how to provide non-chemical crop protection remedies so farmers can continue to increase the volume of food required to feed […] Read moreU of M helps in fight against flea beetles and sclerotinia
Among the many collaborative RNA interference projects GreenLight is conducting around the continent, there are two canola protection projects at the University of Manitoba dealing with flea beetles and sclerotinia. Although the two projects are independent of each other, both are being conducted by Steve Whyard, researcher in the biological sciences department. One line of […] Read more
