Crop Management
Sometimes a fresh look at an old idea can yield new efficiencies and better results, including a cleaner sample
The new 1345A U-Trough started life when Brandt engineers tore down the designs of previous u-trough units to determine what they needed to make their new unit best in class. Launched two months ago, the 1345A moves 9,000 bushels per hour, according to Sheldon Gerspacher, vice-president of agricultural sales. “The u-trough concept has been around […] Read more
Crop Management
Portable dryer cuts drying cost
Grain-drying can add plenty to the cost of producing and selling, prompting many farmers to examine their investment and operating expenses in conventional grain dryers. “Farmers tell me it costs 30 to 50 cents per bushel to dry grain, factoring their investment plus wear on augers, PTOs, trucks and the dryer itself. Plus there’s fuel […] Read more
Samurai’s secret is built into the geometry
Adjustable blade angle gives operators big soil movement, while aggressive discs cut hard soils and stubble
To understand how the new Samurai disc blade functions in soil is a study in basic geometry. Summers engineers derived the precise subtle concave through miles of repetitive soil testing. The new Supercoulter Samurai tillage tool is aimed at farmers who want the benefits of true vertical tillage, but want to move more dirt than […] Read more
VIDEO: Research aims to pinpoint ideal nitrogen application window
Research on nitrogen stabilizers at Discovery Farm west of Langham, Sask., aims to determine the ideal times to apply fertilizer and whether the application windows can be expanded. “The goal is to show producers they could potentially have more time in the fall to apply anhydrous without risking loss,” said Rigas Karamanos, senior agrologist with […] Read more
Instant samples offer quick decisions on the farm
Whether it is leaves or soils, the lab-in-a-box solution puts portable testing in hands of farmers and agrologists
The METOS MobiLab provides soil and sap nutrient measurement in less than two hours. “We can measure nitrate and ammonia from the soil analysis part of the mobile lab, as well as the sodium and chlorine,” said Guy Ash of METOS during a webinar. “In terms of plant sap we can also measure the potassium, […] Read more
Why do we work so much?
It was a beautiful late September day, 24 C with a light breeze. I had just finished spraying for the afternoon and was scheduled to switch my uncle off the combine around 4:30 p.m. With an hour to spare, I had an idea. So, I announced on the radio “Just finished spraying. I’ll go for […] Read more
Needs more heat
Mike Durns had about 160 of his CanDri grain dryers at work this fall. One of his customers is the Dundurn Colony in central Saskatchewan. Levi Wollman is boss of grain drying at the colony. He says the colony is located in an area where they can’t really justify the investment in an expensive dryer. […] Read more
Agco head retires at the end of 2020
Martin Richenhagen has decided to hand over the reins to one of the largest farm technology companies in the world. After 16 years of running Agco, the often controversial Richenhagen told journalists and the industry gathered for a meeting in Germany last month that his replacement would, “all bullshit aside, (Eric Hansotia) will do a […] Read more
CGC suspends licences of pulse buyers
Farmers who have sold grain to Canpulse Foods or Global Grain Canada Ltd. and haven’t been paid should contact the Canadian Grain Commission. On Oct. 31 the CGC suspended the licences of three inter-related companies, which buy pulse and special crops from prairie farmers. “We’re asking producers to contact us immediately, if they have not […] Read more
Better agri-food benchmarking urged
Experts are calling for environmental targets to better position Canada in markets at home and abroad. Agri-Food Sustainability Targets is a report authored by David McInnes, who is working with Agriculture Canada, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture and others to advance efforts in creating environmental benchmarks for the industry. “What’s happening globally and nationally is […] Read more
