“Factors that affect crop yield are intrinsically linked to the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil.” —Roger Lawes. Roger Lawes says variable-rate applications are not widely adopted because “farmers have struggled to use the technology and they have been overwhelmed with information.” Part of the problem, says the agronomist with Australia’s CSIRO, is that […] Read more
The first step in setting up a precision farming system that will pay off is to first identify what influences the variability in yield within your fields
High carryout, lower exports and a world “awash” in feed grains are weighing heavily on Canadian pea prices. $6 will be a good price over the next few months
Speakers in the pea marketing panel at the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers meeting at Crop Week this month said if you can get $6 per bushel, you might want to take it. “If you can find someone who will pay $6 for your peas, it might not be a bad idea to let them go,” says […] Read more
Flax is no longer listed on an exchange, so price discovery can be a challenge. A new service aims to fill the information void.
Flax growers can get free flax market information — something that can be hard to find — online at www.saskflax.com. Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission (SaskFlax) announced the new “market support program” at its annual conference in Saskatoon earlier this month. Enter the website, and click “Marketing” at the bottom left. The service is free, and […] Read more
Your Wheat Needs A Champion
You need a champion for your wheat, and right now that champion is the CWB — whether you like it or not. While pro-choice supporters wait for an open market, they and their pro-board rivals must pressure the directors, using constructive criticism, to make sure the board does the best job it can to open […] Read more
Save yourself $20 per sample and do your own germination tests. All you need are paper towels, Ziploc bags and styrofoam plates
January is a good time to test your bin-run seed for germination, says Ieuan Evans, senior Agri-Coach with Agri-Trend Agrology. “Some cereals and other crops have delayed germination,” he says. “They will not germinate unless they have been stored for a few months.” When you buy certified seed, you have a guarantee of germination. With […] Read more
Triple mower cuts 29 feet
If your hay operation includes two or three mowers, each with its own tractor and driver, you might consider a triple mower system so you can cut nearly 30 feet with one tractor. You have two choices to make this work. One, you get a tractor with 150-hp or more than can also drive backwards. […] Read more
Versatile is back
Rostselmash company of Russia, the new majority owners of Buhler Versatile, have relaunched the Versatile brand. These 4WD tractors have been rolling off the line in Winnipeg steadily since 1966, but the past couple decades the Versatile brand has been whittled down by owners who wanted their own stamp on the hood. Ford. New Holland. […] Read more
If your wheat crop starts with low-vigour seed and inconsistent seeding depth, it has no chance of reaching its yield potential, says Phil Needham
Phil Needham is originally from Lincolnshire, England, where average wheat yields are 120 bushels per acre. Results this year are closer to 130. Sure, climate is a factor. European farmers have a long growing season with 20 to 25 inches of annual rainfall in many of the major wheat-producing regions. But the mindset of European […] Read more
John Deere’s new 5D and 6D Series tractors are simple and economical to go head to head with low-cost imports from Asia
Grainews ad sales manager Cory Bourdeaud’hui was at a John Deere product launch in Sarasota, Florida in October. The launch was for utility tractors and yard tools, and not for field tools. But you have yards to maintain, and you do need these things. Cory listed five highlights and left it in my hands to […] Read more
Gleaner combines made their name with the sideways — or transverse — rotor design. The new R6 Series carries on this tradition
This is the age of common platforms, yet AGCO sticks with the Gleaner transverse rotor design in its latest R6 Series. “This is the combine design concept that has defined the Gleaner brand for 30 years,” says Reid Hamre, communications manager for AGCO. The R6 Series has two models. R66 has a 300-bushel grain tank […] Read more
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