REGINA Ñ With flax acreage expected to increase this spring, researchers recently gathered to review research results for farmers and local agronomists. At the agronomy update in Regina, Agriculture Canada researcher Guy Lafond from Indian Head, Sask., reviewed research results dealing with seeding dates and seeding rates for flax. With 19 years of flax research […] Read more
Production
Early seeding not so critical in flax
Advice from an expert
Guy Lafond, an Agriculture Canada researcher at Indian Head, Sask., provided the following recommendations for maximizing potential when growing flax: Flax has a wide seeding window: from the end of April to May 21. Seed canola first because it responds better to early seeding. Seed at a rate of one bushel per acre (25 kilograms) […] Read more
Dry bean, potato yields swallowed by salinity
Many farmers struggle with soil salinity and its effect on how crops, forages, shelterbelts and lawns produce and survive. Len Hingley, a soil and water technician at Alberta Agriculture’s Crop Diversification Centre South near Brooks, said that’s why the centre has compiled a summary of its recent salinity research. The centre’s studies included salinity tolerance […] Read more
Use history to establish realistic yield goals
A realistic yield goal is one developed from a field’s past performance and that uses the most current information on the factors that most influence yield. In semiarid agriculture, water is one of the major variables in crop yields, but nutrients play an important role in improving crops’ use of water by increasing the amount […] Read more
New Products
Rotary cutter The Schulte FX520 rotary cutter features a five-rotor, modular-domed, single-deck design available with walking axles. With fixed knives and high spindle speeds, it provides good stalk-shredding performance. The modular seven-gauge domed deck is continuously welded to improve strength and the sloped back deck is designed to improve material flow and distribution. A unique […] Read more
Grower credits WAAS accuracy to quality antenna
Some days, Vince Denis sounds more like an air traffic controller than a farmer. “I’m often tracking 10 satellites and three beacons all at the same time and never less than eight satellites,” the Domremy, Sask., producer says. “I get three inch to six inch accuracy every day. And this is all with WAAS, the […] Read more
Build better antenna and customers come
BRANDON Ñ Much of the problem with accuracy in agricultural global positioning systems stems from the quality of the components in the antenna, says Greg Setter of Setter Manufacturing in Russell, Man. “Back when we were selling other brands of antenna based primarily on competitive pricing, we were running into a lot of technical problems,” […] Read more
Winter wheat has advantage over barley as feed option
Winter wheat may provide producers with a cereal for their rotations that has profitable regional markets in the pig and poultry industries. While barley is often seen as a cereal with local cash crop advantages, it doesn’t meet the energy requirements of monogastric animals such as pigs. “Pigs need protein, energy and fibre in a […] Read more
New cart doubles acres between fills
VONDA, Sask. Ñ In 2003, Bernie Denis switched from dry to liquid fertilizer. The switch accomplished two things: it gave him better seedling safety, especially in dry years, and it nearly doubled the acres he could seed between fills. “Before that, we were using a tow-behind dual airseeder, putting fertilizer and seed down two separate […] Read more
Modified Super-B transports liquid; saves time, truck
VONDA, Sask. Ñ Before Bernie Denis switched to liquid fertilizer, he always had a seed truck and a fertilizer truck in the field at seeding time. Building an air cart that included a liquid fertilizer tank allowed him to consolidate his seeding equipment. The next step was to streamline the trucking side. However, now he […] Read more
