Crop Management
Sprayers can run at 25 m.p.h. | A lack of innovation means nozzle technology hasn’t kept up with high sprayer speeds
Air turbulence and wind created by high sprayer speeds can destroy spray patterns and adversely affect spray coverage. Farmers seed at 4.5 m.p.h. or less, even though they can go faster. They combine at five m.p.h., even though they can go faster. That’s because they know that prudent machine speed puts more money in the […] Read more
Crop Management
Computer replaces hammer in tire pressure check
Keeping perfect pressure | Inflation system keeps tire pressure up, down and equalizes pressure on all wheels
A system that automatically maintains correct pressures has replaced the archaic practice of using a hammer to check for soft tires. TireMaax Pro from trailer manufacturer Hendrickson International differs from other automatic tire inflation systems (ATIS) by handling over-inflated tires as well as under-inflated tires. It also balances the pressures on duals. Over-inflated tires are […] Read morePedigreed seed growers assess extent of water damage
By Brian Cross Saskatoon newsroom REGINA — The impact of flooding on pedigreed seed production in southeastern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba is still unknown, says the president of the Saskatchewan Seed Growers Association. But in some areas, losses could be significant. “What we’re hearing from Manitoba seed growers and Saskatchewan seed growers is that it’s […] Read more
Weed of the Week: flixweed
Flixweed is well known to farmers of the southwestern Prairies and the U.S. Plains as a stubborn pest wherever soil is lighter or traditionally drier. Also known as tansy mustard, this brassica has remained a problem since the days of tillage summer fallow. Its persistence and yellow flowers likely gave it the tansy name, derived […] Read more
Federal money helps create on-line seed certification
By Brian Cross Saskatoon newsroom REGINA, Sask. — The federal government is spending more than $835,000 to help the pedigreed seed industry develop a new automated system for seed crop certification. Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski told members of the Canadian Seed Growers Association (CSGA) that Ottawa’s contribution will benefit the industry by modernizing the pedigreed […] Read more
U.S. crop ratings great as corn enters pollination
By Mark Weinraub CHICAGO, July 7 (Reuters) – U.S. crop conditions held steady, with soybean ratings at a 20-year high and corn ratings at a 15-year high, during the past week with ample soil moisture and warm weather providing near ideal conditions for growth. The U.S. Agriculture Department’s weekly crop progress and conditions report released […] Read more
Is spraying by moonlight effective?
Improving effectiveness | Researchers tested various types and rates of chemicals and how they respond to spray timing
It’s midnight in the canola field and all is quiet, except for the distant chirping of crickets — and the rumble and hiss of the sprayer. Equipment technology has evolved to where night spraying is no harder than day spraying, which can be handy when timing is crucial and acres are many. But does spraying […] Read more
Growers eager for advice on managing canola in bin
Experts scramble for answers | PAMI is conducting trials on three grain bins to determine best management practices to keep grain from spoiling
Long-term canola storage isn’t something producers have previously had to worry about. However, last year’s record harvest and subsequent transportation logjam meant there’s more of the valuable and vulnerable seed sitting in storage as the warm summer months approach. “There are a lot of questions about how to best store it or how to best […] Read more
Weed of the Week: Horesetail
Most farmers in the brown soil zone haven’t had the pleasure of meeting horsetail. The darker the soil and the further north farmers are located, the greater the likelihood that they have had to deal with this challenging pest. Known formally as equisetum arvense, horsetail is not your average weed. It is an ancient plant […] Read more
Morning good for fungicides
Farmers who like to get out into the field early will like the early results from a study on spray timing for fungicides. Morning looks like a better time than noon or midnight for applying them. “So far, what we’ve seen is a trend toward the morning application being best for our fungicide,” said Alberta […] Read more
