Crop Management
PORTAGE la PRAIRIE, Man. — Growing a profitable corn crop is all about perfect seed placement, and that depends on the grower and the planter. Corn planter guru Bill Lehmkuhl says good corn crops are based on how well every component of the planter is maintained and adjusted. He said producers should take the time […] Read more
Crop Management
Harrow design adds to safety
BRANDON — Safety was a key criterion at Pillar Lasers Inc. when it set out to design a new heavy harrow last year. “Most harrows have the jack stand on the back bar, and they’re notorious for sinking in the ground,” says Dick Friesen of Pillar Lasers in Warman, Sask. This can become a nuisance […] Read more
Proper seed placement will maximize yield, grain quality
Farmers tend to pay more attention to combine setup than seeder setup, says corn planter specialist Bill Lehmkuhl. However, considering the importance of a uniform plant stand to corn yields, they should spend more time ensuring the corn planter is level, the down force is effective and the speed is optimal for seed placement. A […] Read more
Air systems either pull or push — take your pick
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. — White has never traditionally been a big corn planter name on the Prairies, but that will change when its 90-foot 36-row planters start to appear. Corn and soybean fields are expanding, and canola growers are experimenting with planters. However, a corn planter can be a complex and frustrating piece of […] Read more
Organic matters
Few organic commodity producers did well recently, when markets nearly shut down from 2008 to 2010. However, markets are picking up again. COTA has analyzed national Census of Agriculture data that show organic farmers earn more than non-organic farmers. The organic farming population is growing, while the non-organic farming population is in decline. Organic operations […] Read more
Growers need to know their corn: agronomist
Projecting yields | Current varieties can produce 300 to 350 bushels per acre with good weather and management
There’s a simple calculation for figuring out grain corn yield. Multiply the number of ears by the number of rows on the cob by the number of kernels in each row, and divide by 90,000. That’s the yield, said DuPont Pioneer senior agronomist Sandy Endicott. The secret to getting high yields is for farmers to […] Read morePrairie corn crop looks prosperous
PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE, Man. — Prairie farmers now grow grain corn where their parents could grow only silage corn. They grow silage corn where their parents could grow only alfalfa. Might the next generation of prairie farmers grow grain corn as a normal part of their rotations, regardless of locations? Can the new generation corn […] Read more
A growing customer base means organics still matter
The Western Producer has been publishing my monthly column for 10 years now, so it is a good time to reflect. Organics has come a long way since then, perhaps the furthest in public perception. Celebrity endorsements have encouraged consumers to take a look and they have seen the benefits in reducing their exposure to […] Read more
Delta Track coming soon
Versatile’s newest addition | High horsepower, four-tracked tractor to be released this fall
Versatile has a new tracked tractor, the Delta Track. The company, which hasn’t yet officially announced the high-horsepower, four-tracked tractor, released it from field testing at recent private event in Palm Springs, California, for its dealers. The new DT450, DT500 and DT550 articulated tractors feature Camoplast tracks, a new tractor chassis and the shared, heavily […] Read morePulse processor earnings down due to lower margins
Poor margins in the pea, lentil and bean processing business hurt the financial results for one of Canada’s leading special crops processors. Legumex Walker Inc. posted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of $1.5 million on 2012 sales of $295 million. “We can do significantly better than that and our hope is that […] Read more
