Seven reasons to consider controlled traffic farming

Seven reasons to consider controlled traffic farming

CTF benefits may make the practice worth another look

Each time you drive across your field, you’re squeezing the life out of the soil beneath your tires. Sound overdramatic? Studies show as much as 80 per cent of compaction happens during equipment’s first pass. The downsides of compaction are many and varied, and all ultimately lead to lower soil health and decreased crop yields. […] Read more

(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Canadian Pacific to buy Kansas City Southern in bet on trade

Biggest North American rail deal ever valued at US$25 billion

Reuters — Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) agreed on Sunday to acquire Kansas City Southern in a US$25 billion cash-and-stock deal to create the first railway spanning the United States, Mexico and Canada, standing to benefit from a pickup in trade. It would be the largest ever combination of North American railways by transaction value. It […] Read more


Modalities are essentially any technique or tool that is used to facilitate healing.

The value of healing modalities

Fit to Farm: Modalities are tools to be used in the process of progressive healing

We’ve all experienced some form of healing/therapeutic modality. Modalities are essentially any technique or tool that is used to facilitate healing. Examples could include massage/bodywork, NSAIDs/pain relief medication, ultrasound, acupuncture, TENs units, cupping, taping, etc. These modalities are tools to a larger process of healing. In theory they should be used as a stepping stone […] Read more



Toban Dyck: I may be too old to become a professional snowboarder

I’m young enough to explore opportunities and embrace change

This August, Jamie and I will have been on this farm for nine years. This is registering with me as a significant amount of time. Also, in March of this year, I will celebrate my five-year anniversary at Manitoba Pulse and Soybean Growers. I say celebrate, but, if any of my coworkers are reading this, […] Read more

Tips for the safe use of crop protection products

Tips for the safe use of crop protection products

Q & A with an expert

Q: How do I use crop protection products safely? A: Agricultural field pesticides are valuable tools to help growers control weeds, certain insects and crop disease. It is imperative that pesticides be used safely to protect both the applicator and the local environment. Each pesticide will have details as to its safe use on the […] Read more


Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau speaks to media in Winnipeg on Feb. 13, 2020. (Dave Bedard photo)

Yes or no now on AgriStability changes, ag minister says

Farm and commodity groups line up to press provinces for decision

Ottawa’s proposals for changes to the AgriStability farm income stabilization program require a yes or no answer from participating provinces, not more discussion, the federal ag minister said Wednesday. “It has been just over 110 days since we made the offer to the provinces to improve AgriStability,” Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Winnipeg MP Jim […] Read more

Free money … what’s not to love?

Free money … what’s not to love?

Investing for Fun and Profit: Leading to my 2021 market predictions

The essence of market economies is that millions of individuals making profit-oriented decisions, for the benefit of themselves, their families and communities, will allocate resources significantly more efficiently than government bureaucrats making the same decisions on behalf of millions of individuals. One of the key reasons is everyone’s circumstances are different and can therefore make […] Read more



The photo above shows compaction in a wheat field. Adam Gurr, who has been practicing CTF on his farm since 2011, has observed the most obvious source of compaction-related yield loss is a result of in-season traffic, most notably any seeding prep, seeding and sprayer traffic that occurs on wet ground.

Interested in controlled traffic farming? Start with small steps

CTF can prove both practical and beneficial, even with a step partway toward controlling in-field equipment traffic

For Prairie farmers who measure land in hundreds or thousands of acres, how much does it really matter if you drive your equipment a handful of inches this way or that way? A whole lot, says Adam Gurr, a Manitoba producer who completed a master’s degree in agronomy focused on controlled traffic farming (CTF) and […] Read more