Production — page 174

Let’s talk weed control Weed control starts by inspecting fields, knowing what weeds are present and whether they will be a problem. Scouting fields every year and keeping a record of weeds helps to identify control problems quickly. “Ox-eye daisy, tall buttercup, Canadian thistle, wild caraway and scentless chamomile are particularly hard to control in […] Read more

Soil sampler Concord Environmental Equipment has introduced a new automatic soil sampler. The series 2000 auger is designed to mount on all-terrain vehicles. The robotic arm allows the operator to take the soil sample, retrieve it and place it in a labeled sample box without leaving the seat of the ATV. The sampler is powered […] Read more

Sheep nutrition Because of dense wool, sheep are probably the most nutritionally abused of all farm animals, according to Colleen Sawyer, marketing and extension manager of the Saskatchewan Sheep Development Board. They can be grossly overweight under their fleece but extreme thinness is more prevalent and harder to detect, she said. “That’s why a hands-on […] Read more

Covering up Shur-Co, a manufacturer of roll-up tarps for farm trucks and grain semi-trailers, has introduced a tarp for grain carts. The Shur-Lok for grain carts comes in original design and junior models. The original has a hold-down system designed to ensure the tarp fits properly without ropes, cables, clamps or tie-downs. One person can […] Read more

Anhydrous ammonia Low cost, high nitrogen concentration and safer application management has increased the use of anhydrous ammonia while seeding. But using NH3 can be controversial, says Robert Maze, of the Alberta Farm Machinery Research Centre of Alberta Agriculture. “One of the long running debates among farmers has been whether cold liquid or hot vapor […] Read more

New canola Impulse is a new Argentine canola for 1997 developed by Svalof Weibull of Sweden. It features blackleg resistance, low lodging, early flowering and maturity and low chlorophyll count. In the 1996 Western Co-op trials, it yielded 18 percent more than the check variety and is adapted to a broad range of climate and […] Read more

Keep water clean Good livestock manure management is important to the health of calves and humans. “Cryptosporidium, an intestinal parasite, is relatively common in newborn calves with diarrhea,” said Murray Kennedy, parasitologist with Alberta Agriculture. Yellow, smelly, mucousy scours can contain billions of Cryptosporidium oocysts (eggs). This parasite is transmitted through ingestion of fecally contaminated […] Read more

Chemical monitoring TeeJet has introduced electronic chemical monitoring technology compatible with popular global positioning systems hardware and software. TeeJet controls are designed to measure the application rate and the pressure at the spray tip. Available as a pressure or flow-based system, the TeeJet 844 is designed to be simple to operate. A color-coded control panel […] Read more

Fighting flies with wasps Stableflies and houseflies are major pests for feedlot and dairy cattle. Work being done by Agriculture Canada’s research station in Lethbridge, Alta. might lead the way to better control with the help of natural predators. The painful bites of stableflies stress cattle, reducing weight gain in feeder animals and lowering milk […] Read more

New harrow Hinz Built Manufacturing has designed a new harrow product for ammonia, liquid fertilizer wagons and super seeders which eliminates compaction and rough terrain left by large tires. The two-row tine harrows are pulled behind the tires and are operated without hydraulics. The unit is designed for easy changing from transport to field mode. […] Read more