Timing weed control in canola isn’t easy, but the task can be made easier if producers keep a few important principles in mind, said Christine Mardell, the Canola Council of Canada’s agronomist in northwestern Alberta’s Peace River region. Use a pre-seed burn-off treatment such as glyphosate for good early season weed control. Mardell said council […] Read more
Production
Optimum weed control requires precise timing
Eliminating sulfur smell – Water Clinic
Q: I am curious as to what an automatic down well system is worth.Ê I live in a house on an acreage with three other people. Our well is 17 metres deep. We have ample water flow, but we do have a problem with iron and sulfur smell. I have installed a water softener-iron filter […] Read more
Anhydrous tanks put to the test
The prairie provinces may still have anhydrous ammonia nurse tanks imported from the United States years ago without Canadian approval or inspection. “These tanks do not have a Canadian Registration Number (CRN),” said Terry Rieger, manager of boiler and pressure vessel inspection for Manitoba. “This is not a grey area. It is illegal to put […] Read more
New Products
New air seeders Bourgault Industries Ltd. has expanded its line of 6000 Series air seeders. The L6450 air seeder is the newest model in the 6000 line. It has four internal tanks for a total capacity of 450 bushels. Tank configurations can be altered with the use of patented interconnecting ports. Material can be diverted […] Read more
Application of hog manure likely sustainable practice
A new study provides encouraging news about how repeated swine manure applications affect crop production, soil and environmental quality in Saskatchewan. Results show that manure applied at agronomic rates is a sustainable management practice. The rate of application must be in balance with crop nutrient needs. Jeff Schoenau, soil scientist at the University of Saskatchewan, […] Read more
Drill shank spacing: what’s right for you?
The controversy over the distance between shanks on an air seeder or air drill for seed-row spacing is still with us after 15 years of direct seeding. Eric Oliver’s approach is that row spacing is important only when using narrow openers with low seedbed use, such as a knife or disc. The conservation agronomist with […] Read more
Herbicides, surfactants no longer sold together
Producers will soon see major changes in the way herbicides and surfactants are packaged and sold. Beginning this spring, some herbicides that had previously been packaged with a surfactant will be sold separately as unique products. BASF is the first manufacturer to do this in a large part of its product line, including Odyssey, Poast […] Read more
Precision seeder masters single pass
Since he brought Peacock Precision Seeders to the market 15 years ago, Neil Wagner of Hague, Sask., has sold 12,000 of his openers that convert a conventional air seeder into a one-pass seeding machine. Those Peacocks will be hard at work this month, even the oldest machines. Wagner’s inspiration for the Precision Seeder did not […] Read more
Farmer likes results with Peacock system
On April 20, Neil Remple began seeding his 10th consecutive crop with a Peacock Precision Seeder conversion on his JD 665 air seeder. The Moosomin, Sask., farmer plants 1,500 acres each year, with a variety of crops including wheat, barley, canola, flax, canaryseed and peas. “It’s an older seeder, the one with that yellow 80 […] Read more
Mid-row rationale reviewed
By the early 1990s, farmers had solved most of the mystery of making zero till and direct seeding work for them in their own fields. The next challenge was to do it all with just one pass of the machinery. Because of the proximity of fertilizer to the seed, nitrogen toxicity made this next step […] Read more
