Despite the cold and late start to 2008, the season wasn’t one of the worst for pest threats to cereal crops in Western Canada. Then ergot showed up. The situation may be similar this year, but it will depend on the weather. Ergot In 2008, where there was rain there was ergot. And where there […] Read more
Production
Ergot problem prevalent in 2008 cereals
Taming the wild soil microbe
OAK BLUFF, Man. – Biological growth promoters are nothing more than highly trained, naturally occurring soil microbes. How these commercialized bacteria boost crop yields more than their wild cousins that live naturally in the soil is a process that has remained largely behind the curtain. BioBoost is one such commercial product. It is classified as […] Read more
Salvage yards offer more than parts
ELSTOW, Sask. – Charlie Smith changed the name of his company. Despite knowing the value of brand recognition that comes with the name he has maintained for more than 20 years, Smith says the word salvage implies ideas he feels don’t properly describe his industry. “We are in the parts business, a service industry for […] Read more
Bug business competes with big boys
OAK BLUFF, Man. – The canola seed business is highly competitive. To stand out in an industry dominated by global corporations, small, regional seed companies need to differentiate themselves. “Brett Young Seeds realized in the early 1990s that if we were to compete with the big multinationals, we needed to find better genetics,” said Garry […] Read more
Soil microbes ready to work
Interest is growing in turning nuisance flax straw into high-priced fibre, but farmers will have to change their work habits to get the big bucks. “We have to manage flax straw like it’s a cash crop because that’s what it is,” says Alvin Ulrich, president of Biolin Research in Saskatoon. “When we view flax straw […] Read more
Rotary cutter gives flax the right fling
In his quest for better commercial flax fibre, Alvin Ulrich has tried a variety of tricks to get the straw to lie down in a thin, flat, uniform layer on the ground. Ideally, every piece of flax straw should have direct soil contact so soil microbes can climb on and start their retting process, but […] Read more
New Product – Patriot goes boom
The Patriot 3330 is a high capacity sprayer aimed at large acreage producers and custom operators. Maximum boom width has been increased to 120 feet. Horsepower from the same 6.7 litre diesel engine that powered its predecessor has been boosted by 12 percent. The rear engine machine keeps its cab forward design, spreading the weight […] Read more
Learn the basics in electrical circuits
Henry Guenter is a former service manager for Massey Ferguson. Many people are reluctant to tackle electrical problems in farm equipment. They can’t see the current passing through the wires, which can make it challenging to diagnose. Overcoming this fear of the unknown starts with understanding the basics of diagnosing problems with electrical circuits. At […] Read more
Winter pulses come with risk
Winter pulses could be a new option for farmers in northern regions. Plant breeder Kevin McPhee of North Dakota State University’s extension service told a pulse research workshop in Calgary that winter varieties of peas and lentils can produce higher yields, but there is also a greater risk of foliar disease. “We have seen on […] Read more
Where there’s no smoke there’s fire
Ted Dyck thought it was a shame that drain oil from diesel engines couldn’t be used to heat his shop. That was back in the mid-1980s before anyone imagined $140 per barrel crude. By 1987, Dyck was heating his shop with drain oil from diesel engines. His chimney was smokeless and there were no filters […] Read more
