Ron Lyseng

Ron Lyseng

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Western Producer

Stories by Ron Lyseng

The upgraded Agrilite conveyor unloads 4,000 pounds per minute and has a side swing of 10 feet both left and right. | Ron Lyseng photo
Crop Management, Machinery

Conveyor trailer unloads 4,000 pounds per minute

This aluminum Agrilite trailer reduces producers’ fill time by 300 percent, thanks to its 10-foot conveyor reach

CORRECTION – 1300 CST November 8, 2018 – This story originally stated the conveyor trailer was capable of unloading 4,000 bushels per minute. The correct rate is 4,000 pounds per minute. FARGO, N.D. — They named the show Big Iron, with special emphasis on “iron,” but there’s always some aluminum and stainless steel that sneaks […] Read more
The Drop Pin hammer strap, the drawbar and the ring implement hitch are all designed, built and shipped out of Fort Qu’Appelle, Sask., to tractor plants around the globe. | Ron Lyseng photo
Crop Management, Machinery

A screwdriver changed a farmer’s life path

For Brian Olson, who made his mark with PowerPin, safety awards mean less than saving a life or preventing injury

The epiphany happens instantly for some people. For others, the revelation is gradual. For Brian Olson, the motivation to focus his life on safe farm equipment came in mere minutes. Olson recalls the day in 1988 when it finally struck him full force that the process of moving farm equipment was inherently a very dangerous […] Read more
Brian Olson and TJ Batke attend Canada’s Farm Progress Show. “TJ has been my business and life partner for 25 years. Olson says “We wouldn’t be where we are without her commitment to our products. She’s the main reason we succeeded.” | Power Pin photo
Crop Management

Prairie inventor awarded for farm safety

Brian Olson decided in 1988 to dedicate his life to developing safer systems for implement hook-up. The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers recently recognized the importance of his work. This August, the farmer turned entrepreneur was honoured in Detroit, Michigan, for his outstanding contributions with the ASABE Evelyn Rosentreter Award for Exceptional Contributions […] Read more
While most manufacturers promote their high-speed disc drills as 10 or 12 m.p.h machines, Todd Parkman says the 45-foot Norwood Kwik-Till is engineered to work at 15 m.p.h. | Ron Lyseng photo
Crop Management, Machinery

High-speed cultivators get faster

Equipment manufacturers are building disc cultivators stronger so that they last longer at higher speed

FARGO, N.D. — The speed of high-speed disc cultivators seems to be getting faster and faster every year. One good example is the 45-foot Kwik-Till, which is designed to work at 15 m.p.h. The Kwik-Till vertical tillage machine is built by Norwood Sales in Cooperstown, N.D. It’s been on the market for six years, and […] Read more
What’s a GPS system doing on an irrigation center pivot? A pivot is the ultimate self-steering farm machine. It rotates around a central axis, automatically guiding itself without complex electronics. Reinke’s Vern Hinnenkamp was at the Big Iron farm show to explain that the precise variable rate farmers use when applying fertilizer and crop protection products can also be applied through a centre pivot, if it’s equipped with GPS. | Ron Lyseng photo
Crop Management, Machinery

GPS on centre pivot

FARGO, N.D. — Irrigation farmers have pumped fertility and crop protection through their pivots for decades. Most dryland farmers have come to depend on GPS for mechanical prescription application for about a decade. But seeing a GPS unit at the end of an irrigation leg can prompt a person to scratch his head. By its […] Read more
Crop Management, Machinery

Calcium chloride: does it work with CIS?

Tire experts say the sloppy slush isn’t intended to work with central inflation systems because of its corrosive nature

LANGHAM, Sask. — Central inflation systems are coming on strong with tire companies designing special CIS tires and equipment manufacturers offering CIS as a factory option. But what about calcium chloride? How does CIS fare with ballasted tires filled with the sloppy slushy? Saskatchewan farmer Paul Heglund recently asked us that question in an email. […] Read more
Three factors are driving the latest generation of cultivators: wet conditions, herbicide resistant weeds and farmer demand for multi-taking cultivators, according to K-Line’s Joe Symington. | Ron Lyseng photo
Crop Management, Machinery

Tillage no longer a dirty word, or not as dirty

Manufacturers today don’t feel they’re soiling their reputations by introducing a new cultivator


FARGO, N.D. — The days are gone when tillage was a bad word and no-till was the prairie mantra. Farmers touring the recent Big Iron show in Fargo were treated to a heaping helping of fresh new cultivators. The surge in new tillage equipment was sparked by generally wet conditions, along with the need to […] Read more
The RFM Auspoint coils on display at Big Iron had seeded 8,000 acres in tough Australian conditions before being shipped to North America, according to PolyTech rep Pat Reinhard. These spring steel coil wheels are flexible to throw off mud and crop residue. The Australian-built coils are used both as closing wheels and also gauge wheels. | Ron Lyseng photo
Crop Management, Machinery

Spring steel wheel sheds mud better than rubber

FARGO, N.D. — Farmers attend farm shows to see what’s truly new, innovative and of benefit to them, such as the Australian-built spring steel coil closing wheels and gauge wheels that shed mud. Australian farmers set their autosteer to go in a straight line and then take a nap, or so the story goes. Straight […] Read more
The new Rubicon has a mid-mounted 2,220 gallon tank, front mounted aluminum booms up to 160 feet, independent air bag suspension and steering at all four corners, and a a full 72 inch ground clearance. | Ron Lyseng photo
Crop Management, Machinery

Big sprayers keep growing

FARGO, N.D. — In the high-stakes contest to have the biggest self-propelled high clearance sprayer, Hardi’s Rubicon 9000 with a 2,200 gallon tank and 160-foot front mount aluminum boom is the new leader. In keeping with the latest sprayer technology, Rubicon booms are mounted out front of the cab and all liquids are carried in […] Read more
After their first year of UTV ownership, most farmers go back to their dealer for rubber tracks, which naturally leads to a snow plow, bucket or snow blower. Nobody expects to do heavy duty snow removal with their UTV, but these small machines are mobile and efficient working around buildings and in the yard. | CAMSO/Kimpex photo
Machinery, News

Take your UTV from horse to mule

The Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) is no longer viewed as a farm toy. It performs a multitude of farm tasks and does real work. Little Brother ATV is still a handy get-around vehicle and more of a recreational machine, but Big Brother UTV is the one farmers rely on as a miniature pickup truck. Extracting […] Read more

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