Grazing cattle on corn stubble will cause severe compaction and lower yields, right? Wrong. In fact, grazing may even increase yield, according to a 16-year University of Nebraska research project. Logically, we assume that a 1,200 -lb cow concentrates a lot of pressure on small soil patches beneath the hooves. However, Humberto Blanco, a soil […] Read more
Ron Lyseng
Stories by Ron Lyseng
Wet spring seeding spawns innovative implements
Until the last decade, farmers bought equipment developed for dry prairie. However, Mother Nature turned the tables on us, so the mantra of “one-pass seeding” changed to “one-pass seed bed preparation.” Moisture preservation is no longer the name of the game. Manufacturers are adapting to the new demand for implements that handle wet prairie conditions. […] Read more
Shop makes farming ‘much more pleasant’
Norm Basco used to work on equipment in his farm’s gravel-covered yard. If it was raining and his baler needed fixing, the Manitoba forage producer was out there turning wrenches. “I hated it,” he said. “Working out on gravel is awful.” It’s one of those things that makes a farmer age faster than he should. […] Read more
Rebuildable rubber tracks extend life
They look like great big floppy overshoes for your implement, but they’re custom tailored to fit all sizes
The tires versus rubber tracks debate sparked by CAT Challenger 31 years ago eventually subsided. Tracks are now available for every agricultural implement that might ever need to work in mud. The atypical wet weather we’ve experienced in the past couple decades fostered enormous growth in the rubber track industry, as did the awareness of […] Read more
When the trailer drives the tractor
Is the horse pulling the cart or is the cart pushing the horse? Either way, what’s the driver doing? In all discussions of four-wheel-drive tractors towing heavy trailers, Brian Olson makes it clear that the tractor and driver must remain in control. The moment your trailer starts pushing the tractor, you’re probably headed for a […] Read more
How do you stop a rolling mountain of iron?
Is it possible to develop brake technology capable of hauling 235,000 pounds of iron on the highway at 55 m.p.h.? Brian Olson of Power Pin hitching systems doesn’t know exactly how we’ll do it, but he does say it’s necessary, and he does have an idea of the kinds of questions we should be asking. […] Read more
Engineers, industry talk brakes
Under current regulations, there is no requirement for brakes on farm trailers, carts or wagons. Most manufacturers offer brakes as an option, but very few farmers spend the extra money. “The number of farmers ordering optional brakes would be less than five percent, way less than five percent,” says Mike Friesen, president of Elmer’s Manufacturing. […] Read more
One possible solution: hydraulic brakes over air
Some North American tractor manufacturers have suggested an official standard for air brakes on farm trailers and other towed equipment, similar to European air brake standards. One of the benefits of air brakes is that air is completely replaceable. If air leaks, the compressor can easily produce more, says Brad Stage, an engineer with Mico, […] Read more
Farm trailer brakes leading to highway of death?
Think about this. What happens if 235,000 pounds of four-wheel-drive tractor towing a loaded grain cart loses its brakes going downhill, and the entire rig slams broadside into a school bus full of kids? It’s not a matter of “if,” says Brian Olson of Power Pin hitching systems in Fort Qu’Appelle Sask. It’s a matter […] Read more
Calf Cage protects rancher from mad mom
BRANDON — Calving is dangerous. It’s cold, slippery and often dark, and mama cow doesn’t want anybody touching the newborn. Producers get hurt every year during calving season, and some years there are fatalities. However, intervention is necessary if producers want a high survival rate, and the risk of working around a belligerent cow is […] Read more
