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 moreMachinery — page 60
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
Swedish disc offers new approach to seed bed prep
A new variation on the familiar disc tackles the challenges of managing crop residues, volunteers, and weeds, while also preparing the seed bed for a crop. “Has anyone seen a disc that looks like this before?” said Philip Korczak, holding up a steel disc with a wildly serrated edge. Korczak, regional manager for Väderstad Industries, […] Read more
When spot-spraying came of age
For decades, researchers and entrepreneurs have been trying to offer farmers a system to reduce chemical application by targeting specific plants in the field. Spot-spraying looked like it was coming our way in the early 1990s when Australian inventor Grant Yates visited Western Canada to demonstrate and sell his Southern Precision Weedseeker. He sold a […] Read more
No weld cracks on this aluminum boom
Farmers with aluminum spray booms say benefits outweigh the drawback. That drawback, of course, is cracked welds. Once cracking commences, it plagues the boom until it’s finally sold for scrap. The key to building an aluminum boom that doesn’t crack is to put the welds in non-stressed zones. All hinge points are fitted with rod […] Read more
From DOT to pull-type, 120 foot sprayer finds new platform
Connect’s sprayer system for the autonomous farming platform is being offered as a loaded, pull-type applicator
Connect built its first sprayer for the DOT agricultural robot in 2018. It was fit with a 120-foot boom and the most advanced spray technology available, including turn compensation, individual nozzle control, and a recirculating boom. Tim Pattison of Connect said their team often heard from farmers that they like the sprayer, but they were […] Read more
Used equipment steady-to-strong, with levelling
The used farm equipment market in Western Canada has been relatively unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ritchie Brothers recently published its used equipment market trends summary that looks at the volume and price of equipment that ran through its North American auctions in the first two quarters of this year. Jordan Clarke of Ritchie Brothers […] Read more
Stripper headers could be on the way back
There is a lower-cost alternative to buying a new swather or a bigger combine; a header that leaves most the plant behind
As the practice of desiccation tumbles into our history books, prairie crop production will dramatically change forever. Farmers are considering flipping that heavy investment in straight-cut headers into swathers. However, a few farmers are bucking that trend. Instead of buying new swathers, they’re instead buying stripper headers. Shelbourne Reynolds Stripper headers were introduced to the […] Read more
European sprayer gets North American drift
Big booms, big tank, adjustable track and 10-inch, PMW nozzle spacing running less than a foot from the ground
Horsch has produced self-propelled sprayers that met road-width restrictions in European markets for years. Now, its recent offering comes with adjustable axle widths and frame height that will help the company compete in the North American market where big sprayers cover more acres. The company has big plans for expanding into Canada and the United […] Read more
