Regina’s Western Canadian Farm Progress Show is featuring 17 new inventions in its Royal Bank New Inventions area this year. Here are three: VBine Energy of Moosomin, Sask., has a patented windmill design it hopes will make high performance windmill electrical generation available to smaller businesses, especially those with masts and smoke or ventilation stacks […] Read more
Production
Bright ideas on display at Progress Show
Monster combine eats through crop
REGINA – North America’s largest combine was unveiled to the public at the Western Canadian Farm Progress Show in Regina last week. The New Holland CR9080 is the company’s new rotary line and drew a lot of attention at the three-day event. Producer Jim Thompson of Edmonton said the features that give the machine its […] Read more
Versatile vies to join big kids
The 425 horsepower tractor had been one of Versatile’s best sellers for years. But when Cummins discontinued the engine, that story came to an end. “It forced us to develop new tractors from scratch, specifically for the new QSM11 (305 to 400 h.p.) engines,” said Eric Allison, director of sales at Versatile. But that’s fine, […] Read more
Versatile tractors: what’s new and improved
Based on the new QSM11 11-litre, tier 3 engine from Cummins. Power ranges from 305 to 400 horsepower, with seven percent power bulge and 35 percent torque rise. The engines are approved for B20 diesel. The standard transmission is the Quadshift 12 x 4, with an optional 12 x 2 powershift that has single-lever control […] Read more
If it ain’t broke, you ain’t trying hard enough
When bumbling TV handyman/comedian Red Green, played by Steve Smith, uttered one his trademark lines: “If it ain’t broke, you ain’t trying hard enough,” he was speaking to people in general. But it’s a expression many engineers hold close to their hearts. And it’s the philosophy behind tractor testing at Versatile. Before the engineers are […] Read more
New self-seeding grass variety ideal for pasture
With the potential to grow as tall as the average farmer and with roots that stretch deep into the soil, grouse needle grass will be released as a Canadian variety within the next two years. The plant reaches two metres only under the right moisture conditions, but it easily grows to a metre under the […] Read more
Poly coat can reduce canola shattering
Canola producers may finally have protection against shattering and green seed. “Moisture migration is what causes shattering,” says Rene Mabon, product manager for Brett Young in Winnipeg. “What if we could encapsulate each canola pod with a thin polymer coating to prevent moisture migration? Might that allow the pod to stay on the plant until […] Read more
Polymer coating reduces hail losses in canola
North Dakota farmer Andy Mau first tried Miller Chemical’s polymer coating for Brassica crops in 2006, applying it to 150 acres of canola. It worked so well that he put it on his entire 900 acres of canola in 2007, which is when he discovered a major unexpected benefit – hail protection. “Last year, a […] Read more
Questions raised about coating
Although Jon Wert has applied the Miller Chemical polymer pod coating to his canola since 2004, he is no longer certain he’s benefitting. “The benefit was quite notable the first and second year,” said the farmer from New England, North Dakota. “But in the last two years, I have not seen any difference at all. […] Read more
Rolling soybeans can improve harvest
Post-emergent rolling of soybeans can improve harvest and, ultimately, yield. Manitoba Agriculture crop production adviser Brent Reid said producers should consider taking the time and investing the money in field rolling to get all the crop they can from the field. “Soybeans set their first pods very close to the ground. If you can’t reach […] Read more
