RED DEER Ñ Researchers are almost ready to recommend how to change manure spreading standards in Alberta. Seven years of research shows some Alberta soil contains too much phosphorus, even though nitrogen levels are adequate under provincially set manure management guidelines. ÒWe felt that a soil that had roughly 50 milligrams of phosphorus per kilogram […] Read more
Production — page 88
Manure standards may change
Excess phosphorus damages environment
RED DEER ÑMany animals are fed more phosphorus than they can digest so it is excreted in their manure, said Rick Corbett of Alberta Agriculture. The buildup of phosphorus in soil from heavy manure applications is considered an environmental hazard because of its potential to pollute water. Reducing levels in manure starts by adjusting livestock […] Read more
WANTED: compatible, compliant controllers
Farmers are questioning the long-term compatibility of the electronic control equipment they buy. There is not yet an abundance of information at the retail level in North America about compliance with International Standards Organization, or ISO, guidelines. The world of farm equipment is moving toward CANbus ISO 11783 compliance in the foreseeable future. The criteria […] Read more
Ditch digging made easy with help from a pro
The instructions from Ditch Pro are simple. Let the elevation feature guide you to the high point of your ditch and then press a button. Next, drive to the low point and press a button. By the time you tune the radio to your favourite station, all calculations and programming are complete and you’re ready […] Read more
Active hydraulics stabilize air drill wing
REGINA Ñ The 80 foot Seed Master air drill attracted a lot of attention at this yearÕs Farm Progress Show. As possibly the largest direct seeding drill available commercially for sale in North America, the size means it comes with some unique design concerns. Norbert Beaujot, president of Straw Track in Regina, said such a […] Read more
Get the most from nitrogen with split application
PERDUE and KINDERSLEY, Sask. – With concerns about high nitrogen fertilizer prices, low commodity prices and early season moisture conditions, some producers have been trying to hedge their input risk. They have been applying only a basic fertility program, then topping up their fertilizer when the crop is up if moisture conditions improve. Research by […] Read more
Opposites attract
If you’ve ever seen small metal filings swarm a magnet, you can envision how highly charged chemical droplets are attracted to leaves and stems in a field crop. That is the basic theory behind the MaxCharge technology recently developed by Electrostatic Spraying Systems in Georgia. ESS owner Bruce Whiting said each individual nozzle on his […] Read more
New Products
New tractor series New Holland’s new TG Series 2 tractors offer improved pulling power and hydraulic capacity, with four models beginning at 175 pto horsepower. With up to 255 pto hp and 44 pto hp growth, the tractors respond with up to 56 percent pto torque rise. The six-cylinder, turbocharged 8.3 litre engines increase horsepower […] Read more
Essential scouting kit tools
When it comes time to scout fields for disease, insects or other pest concerns, Ron Howard recommends developing a scouting kit to take into the field. Howard is a plant pathologist with Alberta Agriculture in Brooks and part of his presentation at the recent Crop Diagnostic Field School organized by the Southern Alberta Research Association […] Read more
Study looks at feed values
A Belgian swine researcher is seeking ways to reduce the costs of production and better estimate growth rates. Pascal Leterme recently joined the Prairie Swine Centre outside Saskatoon to lead three studies on pulses, flax and peas. One study began last fall and is funded by prairie pulse grower associations. It is examining the nutritional […] Read more
