Cutting input costs is one way for organic farmers to increase profits. Those at the forefront of the in-dustry hope to further reduce costs with organic no-till. Reducing the cost of production in an organic farming system by $100 per acre isn’t just a dream, says Kathleen Delate, professor of agronomy and horticulture at Iowa […] Read more
Ron Lyseng
Stories by Ron Lyseng
Resistance fight goes mechanical
According to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences:
Herbicide resistant weeds, despite new technologies and recent research, remains a challenge for producers globally. Herbicide resistance in Russian thistle recently turned up in Montana — page 3 of the March 10 edition of The Western Producer. Look for a series of stories in the Production section, beginning in this edition, that look at the […] Read more
Information overload: making sense of precision ag data
CALGARY — The constant introduction of newer and better data-collection technology can leave many precision farmers and consultants scratching their heads. There’s not much point in wasting time or money logging field data that will never be used, says Lewis Baarda, a GIS specialist with Farming Smarter in Lethbridge. Baarda analyzed various types of data […] Read more
Transport Canada gives eBee thumbs up
CALGARY — The delta wing eBee precision agricultural drone is based on the latest aerodynamic technology. It carries a payload of powerful imaging technology with six sensors from which to choose. Brent Chenier of Ag Business and Crop in Calgary said the eBee weighs 1.5 pounds when the camera and battery are installed. “It’s constructed […] Read more
Meld signals to exploit maximum connectivity
Despite a major investment in RTK, which is used to improve data from satellite positioning systems, many producers still experience signal loss and become frustrated at the wasted time waiting for the system to come back to life. The situation is more maddening when using RTK to guide a tile drainage plow, in which case […] Read more
Breathing new life into old air carts
Ground-drive air carts built before the dawn of the modern digital age can be upgraded with the installation of a new Air Cart Monitor displaying five main functions. Introduced at Ag Expo in Minot, North Dakota, last month, the device from IntelligentAg monitors bin levels, meter roll shaft, meter box, fan speed and ground-drive clutch […] Read more
Breaking the chains of your implement paint
While radio-based RTK correction signals for guidance are adequate for producers on flat land close to a dealer’s tower, the fact is that these systems still depend on line-of-sight. That problem is compounded by the fact that there is little compatibility between brands. If your tractor is red, then your system has to be Trimble. […] Read more
Electric drive tractor hits the dirt
Electricity is more efficient than mechanical drive systems, which could save farmers money over the long haul
The electric drive farm tractor is no longer just a dream. The Autonomous Tractor Corp. of Fargo, North Dakota, delivered its first unit last month. The company made its debut at Fargo’s Big Iron Show in September 2012, when it introduced the Spirit Autonomous eDrive tractor. The odd looking machine left farmers puzzled by the […] Read more
CT soil scan outshines what microscope can do
University of Guelph researchers build better tools to focus on the relationship between soil health and crop yield
What goes on in the soil at night might surprise a lot of people. It’s not the relaxing, sleepy scene some might imagine. Roots are forcing their way past rocks and a wide assortment of types and sizes of creatures from bacteria, to worms and gophers are on the move. It can be pretty chaotic […] Read more
Promise found in strip till
Strip-till has been called the fence-sitter’s favourite form of farming, perfectly suited for those who can’t decide between an all-out conventional black seed bed preparation and total zero-till trash cover. It might be an accurate description. In strip-till, the narrow alleys where seeds are planted are worked with radical tillage tools designed to create what […] Read more
