FARGO, N.D. – Gauge wheels that plug with mud are a frustration when seeding into heavy, wet soils. The seeder loses depth accuracy, and frequent stops to clean the wheels wastes precious time. That’s exactly the problem the Smith family at Hazel, South Dakota, has battled for two decades. Their response has been to design […] Read more
Production
New gauge wheel simplifies seeding into mud
Reversible fan keeps it cool
FARGO, N.D. – Peak diesel efficiency is derived from high compression and high temperature in the combustion chamber. But that peak efficiency can blast out the exhaust stack when the engine overheats. Some engines survive overheating well. For others, it takes only one experience to score the pistons and cylinders, or cook the tension out […] Read more
Wild oats resistance building
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. – A 2007 weed survey of 300 Alberta fields found 40 percent of the wild oats were resistant to Group 1 chemicals. That compares to a 2001 survey of 250 fields showing 11 percent resistance and 15 percent in 2003. “If that trend continues we will have half the fields by 2010,” […] Read more
Rubber carrier tracks start to roll
FARGO, N.D. – Demand for non-driven rubber tracks continues to increase as farmers concentrate on completing field operations within their critical time windows and without wet weather interference. The other big factor is that farmers are focusing more on reducing soil compaction and field rutting. Compaction reduces yield, while rutting costs money in broken equipment […] Read more
Rotate crops for more than herbicide resistance
Crop rotations can deliver more than the obvious benefits. For example, fungi, bacteria, viruses and insects are often economically damaging only to a specific crop. “Change the species of the crop in the field and you change the environment for that pest,” says Tom Jensen of the International Plant Nutrition Institute in Saskatoon. Rotations between […] Read more
Bin patch passes test of time
FARGO, N.D. – It’s a fact of life that grain bins do not always seal as tightly as we would like. The slightest crack, invisible to the human eye, is an invitation for insects and moisture. Bolting one piece of galvanized steel to another piece of galvanized steel or to a concrete base will sooner […] Read more
Organic community honours pioneers – Organic Matters
Alfred Galarneau, Stewart Brandt and Joan Harrison have been honoured for their contributions to the organic community. Galarneau of Radville, Sask., was presented with an Organic Pioneer Award. About 30 years ago, he realized that consumers were paying a premium for grain produced without chemicals. He was already farming chemical free, and decided to pursue […] Read more
New Products
No-mix weed control; New on horizon; Weed control deployed; New fungicide ingredient No-mix weed control Syngenta has registered Broadband for use in spring wheat and barley. The pre-formulated herbicide controls grass and broadleaf weeds. As a single product, the control of both weed spectrums is new. In the past producers relied on tank-mixed products to […] Read more
Grain dryer reaches for the sky
FARGO, N.D. – Mathews Company representative Michael Larson says his firm’s dryer offers two attractions to farmers – fuel savings and immediate grain cooling. He said this was achieved by MC engineers in Illinois working with Mother Nature rather than trying to harness her. The highest capacity unit of the Vacuum Cool Tower Dryer from […] Read more
Rotary cutter manages residue
Kevin Dow is encouraging farmers to buck the trend toward one-pass harvesting systems. The president of Schulte Industries Ltd. wants to sell them a machine that requires a second trip across the field but offers better residue management and the promise of smaller fuel bills. Dow told producers attending the Agri-Trend 2008 Farm Forum Event […] Read more
