Attachment sorts intercropped plants for harvesting

Proponents of intercropping (growing two or more crops in the same field simultaneously) claim that system allows for a significant reduction in the typical input costs associated with controlling pest and disease problems in a monoculture environment, and it can significantly boost field yields at the same time. But there are obvious hurdles to overcome[...]

CX6 Smart Seeder goes into production

Anyone walking the aisles of a farm show in Western Canada dur­ing the past couple of years has probably noticed a prototype of the Clean Seed CX6 Smart Seeder on display. It’s made the rounds to several shows during that time. But when the first production model was introduced to the public in early April[...]


Being precise

I suspect the idea of a plowing match started with a group of farmers sitting around claiming each could steer a team of horses pulling a plow in a straighter line than the other. Although, I may be wrong. When plows vanished from the prairie landscape here, so it seems did plowing matches. And any[...]

New John Deere guidance receiver

John Deere has again updated its satellite guidance product line with the introduction of the StarFire 6000 receiver and new SF3 signal correction. In a June press announcement, the company claims these new product offerings will give customers “greater precision capabilities, accuracy and uptime.” “The StarFire 6000 Receiver offers a full range of differential correction[...]


Going driverless

Last winter I met with a group of university engineering students and their professor in a small garage behind a house in Regina. They were one of 15 such teams working on creating an autonomous tractor and planter to enter in the AgBOT Challenge in Indiana last May. As it happened, they ended up winning[...]

New grain bag loader from Loftness

Last May, Loftness Specialized Equipment introduced its new XLB10 “premium” grain bagger, which, the company claims, makes it easier on operators when it’s time to install bags. A remote-controlled jib crane and trolley system use electric motors to lift bags off the ground and slide them into place on the tunnel. A retractable bag loading apron[...]


John Deere debuts new air drill and air cart

This year John Deere unveiled a wider air drill and all-new air cart at Canada’s Farm Progress Show in Regina. The new addition to John Deere’s 1870 line of air drill toolbars stretches the maximum available working width to 76 feet, joining the existing 40- and 56-foot versions. The 76 footer is a five-section design[...]

Low price or good quality?

People have always shopped for bargains, but I suppose you could credit today's low-price, big-box store concept that is a magnet for bargain hunters to Sam Walton. His creation, Walmart, spearheaded the trend. As a result, I wonder if he's changed the way all of us consumers now think. We seem to always concentrate on[...]


Getting a back-stage pass

One of the great things about my job as machinery editor is I sometimes get a chance to go behind the usually-closed doors of research and development shops at the manufacturers. Those workshops are where all the great new features that appear on farm equipment every year are born and evolve from concept to market-ready[...]

Thanks for stopping by

The last two weeks have been a bit of a blur for those of us involved with the Grainews UTV Challenge. Not only did we organize the event and test nine different machines from seven manufacturers, we put them on display at the Ag in Motion farm show near Saskatoon after the judging was completed.[...]