They are seven feet tall, four feet wide and three feet deep, and they’re here to help with this year’s crop. They are large vending machines that will be located in farm service centres across Western Canada, dispensing herbicides instead of pop and chocolate bars. On April 18, DuPont will introduce a system that when […] Read more
Production
New vending machines offer custom chem mix
New Products
GPS system AutoFarm and Raven Industries have developed a new GPS steering and application control system. The FarmPRO GPS system is the result of a product development agreement between the two precision ag companies. Designed for professional growers and custom applicators, FarmPRO combines the Viper PRO display and control system from Raven Industries and the […] Read more
Care vital for seed-row fertilization
It takes careful planning to properly place fertilizer with the seed. Seed row placement of fertilizer provides advantages but it comes with risks. Rigas Karamanos of fertilizer manufacturer Westco, based in Calgary, said producers should consider all factors that go into the safe use of seed- row-placed nutrients. “Just because it worked last year doesn’t […] Read more
Monitor binned crop for moisture, insects
High commodity prices and a strong winter shipping season have drawn out much of 2007’s harvested grain and oilseed inventory. But what is left needs to be physically protected from nature. Warming spring temperatures and the sun’s increased heat have started an air flow pattern within grain bins. As air moves up the sun-warmed sidewalls […] Read more
Barley competitiveness rated against yield loss
Barley is generally considered competitive as a crop but not all varieties are equal. Crop competitiveness can be broken into two categories: the ability to compete and the ability to withstand competition, said Paul Watson of the Alberta Research Council. The agronomist and weed scientist from Vegreville, Alta., said unlike wheat varieties, the competitiveness of […] Read more
New Products
JD manual update John Deere Publishing has revised four of its educational books: Combine Harvesting; Hay and Forage Harvesting; Tillage; and Preventive Maintenance. These manuals cover agribusiness management practices, agricultural machinery operation and adjustments, and equipment servicing and maintenance. They are designed to help growers at any skill level improve their operations. The manuals are […] Read more
Put the weather in your pocket
Windy? How windy? What direction, exactly? Barometer falling or rising? What was the dew point? Those are the kinds of questions that help producers and custom pesticide applicators make their operating decisions. The weather information is also an important risk management component for limiting liability through agricultural record keeping. Documenting the elements of weather, maintaining […] Read more
Beware of health risks when burning flax straw
Burning flax may be a traditional way to prepare for spring seeding, but the Lung Association of Saskatchewan says the health risks aren’t worth it. With spring around the corner, some farmers are going to be employing controlled burning to get rid of the straw from last year’s harvest. The Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission is […] Read more
Falcon prone to fusarium: wheat expert
The most popular variety of hard red winter wheat planted in Manitoba is highly susceptible to fusarium head blight, according to Anita Brule-Babel, a winter wheat breeding expert at the University of Manitoba. Testing of the winter wheat lines at the U of M’s research centres in Winnipeg and Carman, Man., has shown that CDC […] Read more
New Products
Bird deterrent Bird-B-Gone has a new product designed to keep nuisance birds off buildings. Bird Jolt FlatTrack is a low profile track system that emits a mild shock to birds when they land on its surface. The shock does not harm birds but will condition them to avoid the area. Bird Jolt FlatTrack can be […] Read more
