Production — page 166

Conveyor Quality Plus Manufacturing has introduced a new conveyor for seed or fertilizer. The 500 series reverse rotation conveyor belt is eight inches wide (20 centimetres) and is available in lengths from 18-30 feet (5.4-10 metres.) It is designed to operate at angles of up to 45 degrees with less grain cracking and breakage. It […] Read more

Tips on culling When it’s time to cull cows, look to performance records, as well as calf pens, a North Dakota State University beef specialist has advised. “Culling involves several steps,” said Kris Ringwall. “If you have good performance data on your cows, moving down those steps is easier.” Ringwall is a beef specialist at […] Read more

Electronic monitor Micro-Trak Systems has redesigned its series of monitors for application equipment. The Calc-an-acre LR is an electronic monitor that keeps track of ground speed and distance traveled and has two area counters with independent resets. The redesigned Flow-trak LR sprayer monitor helps to eliminate herbicide waste and improve consistency. It gives speed, spray […] Read more

Condition score cows this fall Fall pregnancy testing is a good time to condition score cattle. It is important because the nutritional state of a cow affects pregnancy rate, calving interval, milk production, the weaning weight of calves and heifer maturity. “Although it sounds technical, condition scoring is simple and easy to do,” said Terry […] Read more

Protecting farm drinking water Fall is a good time to take steps for protecting farm drinking water. “Many wells become contaminated from snowmelt and flood waters in the spring,” says John Nowatzki, a water quality associate with the North Dakota State University extension service. “Learning to recognize potential sources of ground water contamination on farmsteads […] Read more

Seeder cart hitch Morris Industries has introduced a three-point hitch and toolbar for its series 7000 seeder carts. The new hitch is designed to improve the cart’s accuracy in placing nutrients in the soil. The company says the cart’s weight can be transferred to the toolbar, which is useful when using coulters for deep placement […] Read more

Fall-applied nitrogen fertilizer With El Nino conditions increasing the chances of a dry spring, fall fertilization might be a good idea. But the decision to fall band nitrogen depends on soil moisture, the form of nitrogen used and how it is applied. “Fall fertilization can improve time management and allow earlier planting,” said Ross McKenzie, […] Read more

Feeder wagons Ram-Bull Ltd. has introduced a new line of feeder wagons. The Apache line is available in portable or stationary models and in several sizes and lengths. It features a vertically flexing inner rack that allows the wagon to flex while being moved. It also has a full angle-iron frame which the manufacturer says […] Read more

Preparation of swine feed On-farm mixing allows hog producers to increase control over feed costs by producing consistent quality product from home or locally grown commodities. Hog feed prepared on-farm is usually ground using a hammer or roller mill. Most mills are portable proportioner grinder-mixers. The objective when grinding is to reduce the particle size […] Read more

Facts on bison grazing Bison are a relatively common sight on the Prairie, albeit behind fences. They arrived as a form of specialized livestock with their reputation intact. Because they are the original grazers of the prairie, they are environmentally friendly. It is said bison won’t overgraze. This is a misconception, said Brant Kirychuk, rangeland […] Read more