Tractor, sprayer and combine cabs can contain so much electronic equipment that it makes them look like space shuttles. Simplification, however, is on the way in the form of a standardized protocol first developed in Europe 20 years ago. The benefits of data manipulation can be enormous during seeding, spraying and harvest. In the off […] Read more
Production — page 90
All eggs in one basket improves view on life
Crop spraying keeps up with times
RED DEER – Aerial application technology has advanced rapidly in the past 15 years. “Aircraft GPS systems can have fairly sophisticated LCD screens and with current light bars, (spray planes) can fly within a couple of feet of their swath,” Agriculture Canada scientist Tom Wolf said during an agronomy update conference this winter in Red […] Read more
Alberta bug roundup discovers early risers
As the temperature climbs and crops start to emerge, various insects are chewing fields in parts of northern Alberta. Jennifer Otani, an Agriculture Canada pest management biologist, said she has seen flea beetles in her research field plots and farmer’s fields near Beaverlodge, Alta. Numbers range from zero to 25 flea beetles per card within […] Read more
Aluminum booms handle abuse
Farmers typically stay away from aluminum fabricated equipment because the lightweight metal has a reputation for brittleness and the welds can tool-harden and then crack. In many circumstances, the bad reputation is justified. But when it comes to spray booms, engineers have devised a design that allows aluminum booms up to 140 feet to bounce […] Read more
On-line insurance ‘way of the future’
In the hail insurance industry, business is only as good as the rates, says Murray Bantle of Canadian Hail Agencies and Lombard Canada, from the companies’ head office in Saskatoon. “Hail insurance is a commodity,” Bantle said. “It’s totally price competitive. Farmers want the best price, period.” He said the hail insurance industry on the […] Read more
Seed swath grazing crops early
With grain and oilseed planting close to finished, producers with livestock may be looking at seeding some fields for swath grazing. So when is the best time to seed grazing crops? “Several studies across Alberta and Saskatchewan tend to tell the same story,” said Mark Johns, forage specialist with Alberta Agriculture at Stettler. “The later […] Read more
New Products
Automatic steering An enhanced version of FieldPilot from Midwest Technologies is available. With FieldPilot automatic steering, operators can boost productivity and efficiency without compromising accuracy. FieldPilot enables more ground to be covered in less time because faster travel speeds are possible than with manual steering. It enables an extended workday by eliminating visibility problems and […] Read more
Hose boom offers ‘pure convenience’
BIGGAR, Sask. – Since Richard Elenko mounted a hose boom on his water trailer, filling his sprayer has become a simple and efficient job. “Everybody has a water tender. Some guys use a truck, some guys use a trailer. And most guys mix their chemical through a handler,” said Elenko, who farms north of Biggar. […] Read more
Hail insurance on the web
Buying hail insurance can be described as an art form. Some also call it a balancing act and others say it’s a science. Whatever it’s called, the challenge is the same. Producers carefully conduct an accurate analysis of each field, figure out its economic potential and then determine what level of hail insurance is most […] Read more
No-till technology can be effective in organic farming – Organic Matters
Traditionally, no-till and organic have been considered opposing strategies. As both systems mature, we have the opportunity to learn from each other and move together to more sustainable production. New technology now tested in the United States combines the advantages of no-till with the benefits of organic production. Organic producers rely on green manure crops […] Read more
