Trials look at which crop combinations are the most productive, beneficial to the soil and reduce insects and disease risks
Einstein said no two objects can occupy the same spot at the same time, but he didn’t forbid them from being really close. In agriculture, it’s called intercropping. Intercropping is a complicated system in which two or more plant species occupy the same field at the same time. Biodiversity in the field provides a certain […] Read more
Ron Lyseng
Stories by Ron Lyseng
Sustainability requires forages; growers require return on forages
Sustainable agriculture requires forages, and that means beef. Farmers need a solid cash return on forages if they’re going to regularly incorporate them into their rotations. There simply are not enough dairy cows and sheep to consume the large volume of forage biomass created by a well-balanced rotation. Chickens and pigs don’t thrive on forages, […] Read more
VIDEO: Drones used to target areas for drainage
Unmanned aerial vehicle technology has advanced to the point that an RTK-equipped drone with elevation accuracy of plus or minus five centimetres can find the best route for water across a field. Prairie companies are working together to make every acre pay its way. One topographic-capable un-manned drone is a fixed wing eBee RTK, retailing […] Read more
How 3D aerial mapping works
Creating survey-grade topography maps from a drone still sounds like science fiction to most people, but if you understand triangles, you’re on the right path to understanding the process. Here is Warren Genik of GreenAero in his own words as he explains how it works. “It all starts with photogrammetry, a method of combining multiple […] Read more
Brine spill research may save cropland
North Dakota researchers look at a reclamation strategy to bring salt out of the soil and put land back into production
Aaron Daigh has been tasked with a mighty challenge: figure out how to clean up the messes left by fracking brine spills. The North Dakota State University soil scientist says most of the average 42 spills a week are relatively small, covering only a few hundred square feet or a couple acres. However, they are […] Read more
Keep cool, even when engine is shut down
It’s no problem to shut down the diesel while waiting in line at the terminal and the temperature is moderate. It saves a bit of fuel and they say it’s good for Mother Nature. However, you’re not as likely to shut down on a 38 C day. Those high temperatures can hit you at seeding […] Read more
‘Honest food’ new buzzword in ag sector
Big supermarkets are driving food production, highlighting importance of traceability, management practices: consultant
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. — Contrary to what most North American farmers believe, finicky European food trends are not driven by consumer demand or ivory tower agencies. Instead, supermarkets pull the strings, says Michael Horsch. Horsch is best known in Western Canada for his Maestro corn planter and zero till drills, but back home in […] Read moreNitrogen: shovelling or spoon feeding, it’s all about timing
Very few corn growers still apply the full load of nitrogen at or before seeding time. Although a solid foundation of pre-seed nitrogen is applied in late fall or early spring, it’s generally accepted that too much nitrogen at any one time leads to leaching, volatization and denitrification. This holds true regardless of the season […] Read more
Planter upgrade hikes fertilizer capacity, allows blending
The addition of two dry bulk compartments to the Horsch Maestro makes it the first corn planter in North America with bulk-fill dry fertilizer, which gives it better flexibility at seeding time. The Maestro SW Dry is now available with twin 2.2-tonne fertilizer compartments, allowing producers to take advantage of the economic benefits of dry […] Read more
Tracks take load off planter, allowing maximum capacity
FARGO, N.D. — The centre section is always the heaviest component on any brand of corn planter. As planters continue to grow in size, weight on the centre section grows accordingly. A centre section running on round rubber tires creates ridges, increases the odds of getting stuck in wet conditions and causes soil compaction in […] Read more
