Pesticide jugs Service seeks to increase number of chemical containers that are disposed of properly
FARGO, N.D. —Last year, a Kansas company asked 175 farmers about their farm’s jug handling programs and was surprised by the response: they had no programs. “Over 90 percent of the guys admit to throwing unrinsed jugs into the back of their pickup,” said Ralph Lagergren. “Plus, nearly 95 percent of farmers we surveyed said […] Read more
Ron Lyseng
Stories by Ron Lyseng
Hagie aims high in sprayer equipment
When is high not high enough? | When new corn varieties produce taller stalks, axles need to follow
FARGO, N.D. — The term “high clearance sprayer” takes on new meaning when these machines fight to stay atop corn hybrids that have recently gone from six to eight feet tall. Hagie is one of the companies trying to keep up with the higher crops. Its new STS12i sprayer, which it debuted at the Big […] Read more
Riteway’s One-Till scores hat trick
Tillage equipment | Has today’s one-pass tillage movement superseded yesterday’s one-pass tillage seeding movement?
FARGO, N.D. — Twenty years ago, farmers were flooded by waves of new no-till drills. Today, the picture has reversed as farmers are inundated by waves of new tillage implements. Many reasons are cited. The wet spell has persisted longer than anyone could have imagined, leaving farmers to cope with excess soil moisture. The abundant […] Read moreFarm boy constructs baler out of scrap wood
It may not perform like a Hesston, but Tim Rhodes’ backyard-built, hand-operated straw baler is quite the machine. Fourteen-year-old Rhodes decided to give it a try when he saw a YouTube video showing how to build a small square baler out of scrap wood. “The bales aren’t terribly tight, but the machine does work. I […] Read more
New full-tilt tillage tools hit market
Smooth sailing in spring | Tire ruts in muddy fields this fall won’t disappear on their own and can be hard on equipment
Manufacturers are switching their focus from moisture conservation implements to full-tilt tillage tools as waterlogged fields become the muddy new norm rather than the exception. In response to farmer demand, Sunflower introduced two new implements in September: the 6650-48 vertical tillage tool and two split-wing 1436 disc harrows. Dennis Lewallen, chief engineer on both cultivator […] Read more
Agco upgrades Gleaner, Massey harvesters
Lighter weight, increased capacity | Gradual changes in the components and design result in new combines, over time
Rather than going back to the drawing board every few years, Agco believes in the gradual evolution of its combines, focusing each new enhancement on the weakest link in the chain. This year, the company used the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, and Big Iron in Fargo, North Dakota, to introduce major upgrades to […] Read moreTrials testing efficacy of new fertilizer
Crystal Green | Company testing phosphorus prills in canola, spring wheat, corn and soybean crops
Like any technological innovation, Crystal Green does not enter the market as the lowest cost option. However, like so many agricultural innovations, the higher efficiency might justify the higher cost. In the case of Ostara Crystal Green, field trials are essential in demonstrating that the economic benefit of the company’s pearlized phosphorus prills merits a […] Read more
Extracted nutrients form new fertilizer
Waste-water management | Ostara’s patented Pearl process could help address phosphorus concerns in Lake Winnipeg
Isolating and transporting phosphorus and nitrogen has always been the Holy Grail for scientists trying to develop better manure management technologies. If those two elements could be economically extracted and exported beyond the point of origin, pollution from manure could be nearly eliminated and commercial grade fertilizer could be sold at a profit far past […] Read moreNew edition now available for herbicide handbook
The 10th edition of the Weed Science Society of America’s Herbicide Handbook is now available. It offers comprehensive information on more than 230 herbicides available in North America. “ ‘Nozzle heads’ will get a lot out of this handbook,” said University of Manitoba weed specialist Rob Golden, who uses the handbooks in his research […] Read more
Man. official honoured for agronomy work
What does it take to earn the International Certified Crop Advisor of the Year Award? The unique personal pastime of this year’s recipient provides a clue: hunting down, sampling and photo documenting 26 official state and provincial soils. John Heard, a soil fertility extension specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, recently received the annual award from the […] Read more
