Organic producers have repeatedly said that varieties selected under conventional management may not be suited to organic production. In a presentation at Organic Connections 2006, graduate student Todd Reid’s research poster explored this question, asking if organic spring wheat breeding is necessary. In his research, Reid crossed different varieties of wheat and grew their descendants […] Read more
Production — page 81
Students score hat trick at Organic Connections – Organic Matters
Watch livestock water quality
Weather conditions last spring and summer affected the quality of surface water sources for livestock, says Bob Klemmer, a livestock development specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. It’s attributed to two main factors: too much water and not enough. While both situations can result in poor water quality and reduced cattle productivity, too much is still better […] Read more
Identify, control insects in grain bins
Producers report greater insect populations in stored grains this year than in the recent past. Farmers should monitor grain in bins and take preventive steps now to make it easier and less costly than finding the problem when trying to deliver the grain. “There are several insects that are causing problems in stored grain this […] Read more
New Products
Apache sprayer Equipment Technologies has launched the 2007 AS 710 self-propelled sprayer. It features a 750 gallon tank, 155 horsepower, six-cylinder engine and JCB four-speed power shift, torque-converted transmission. The 155 hp, six-cylinder diesel engine, efficient mechanical drive train, and lightweight design combine to offer low fuel consumption and a good power-to-weight ratio, according to […] Read more
Biofuel spinoffs boost community
SASKATOON – Bill Horan farms near Rockwell City, Iowa, but farming is only one part of his busy life. He is also a partner in Western Iowa Energy, a company that produces commercial biofuel from various farm-grown products. Speaking at Agri-Trend Agrology’s Farm Forum event held recently in Saskatoon, Horan said the first biodiesel refinery […] Read more
Potassium important for nitrogen fixation
Pulse crops such as peas, faba beans, beans and lentils need plenty of potassium during plant growth. In fact, they often take up twice as much potassium as cereals. A 40 bushel crop of peas requires about 110 pounds of potassium, while a similar yield of faba beans needs more than 200 lb. In contrast, […] Read more
Cross-slot drill improves humidity
Three years ago when agronomist Roger Ashley toured a canola field in Washington state that had been seeded with a cross-slot drill, he knew he could use those openers on the research farm back in Dickinson, North Dakota where he worked. “A farmer near Uniontown, Washington had tried a Baker cross-slot drill to seed winter […] Read more
Branding grain offers benefits, adds risk
MEDICINE HAT, Alta. – Product branding is an established marketing tool used around the world. And cereal farmers are looking into how they may be able to reap the benefits of that strategy. Mike Leslie with the Alberta Barley Commission said his organization is looking at the possibility of branding barley. “Brands are promises companies […] Read more
New Products
Weldcraft TIG torch Weldcraft’s air-cooled WP-17 TIG torch series now includes the patented diamond grip, which helps operators to better maintain a secure grip for torch control in all welding positions. The ergonomic torch body helps the operator maintain the correct relationship between the torch and weld joint and helps to reduce downtime associated with […] Read more
Autosteer simplifies lentil swathing
Swathing lentils is a big pain in the neck, literally. The cutter bar runs right down at ground level, often bouncing into the dirt. In wet conditions it clogs with mud, forcing the operator to continuously stop to clean it out. For aggressive operators who want every plant stem laid into the swath quickly, the […] Read more
