GFM Network News

More News →

Author Archives

What were the canola yield robbers in 2020?
Canola, Crops, Features

What were the canola yield robbers in 2020?

Some farmers benefited from the environmental conditions while others were ready to put 2020 behind them

By
In 2020, canola fell more than 11 bushels short of the 52 bushels per acre yield target the Canola Council of Canada (CCC) hopes Canadian farmers can achieve by 2025. Though a handful of major factors held yield back last season, hot and dry conditions bit into the most acres, said CCC agronomy specialist Justine […] Read more
Seven reasons to consider controlled traffic farming
Crops, Features

Seven reasons to consider controlled traffic farming

CTF benefits may make the practice worth another look

By
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
As some producers are realizing the benefits of inter-row seeding and as soil compac­tion is becoming a more mainstream concern, con­trolled traffic farming and accurate-to-the-inch navigation are gaining attention. This photo shows inter-row seeding of canola using RTK technology.
Equipment, Features

Real-time kinematic technology use and costs

RTK technology offers ultra-precise, multi-year positioning, but its price remains a significant deterrent for Prairie farmers

By
When it comes to navigating through your crop, how accurate is accurate enough? It wasn’t so long ago that farmers scoffed at autosteer, saying “straight-ish” was straight enough. Now, as some producers are realizing the benefits of inter-row seeding and as soil compaction is becoming a more mainstream concern, controlled traffic farming and accurate-to-the-inch navigation […] 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.
Crops, Features

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

By
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
The homestead quarter Watson and her husband care currently clearing.
Crops, Features

Farming North of 60

Meet Your Farming Neighbours: A Prairie grain farmer finds new opportunities in the Yukon

By
Leona Watson’s upbringing on a large-scale Prairie grain farm didn’t prepare her for farming in a land where the permafrost shifts landscapes and the sun can shine 19 hours a day. Or did it? Six years after the born-and-bred farm girl followed her outfitter husband, Mac, as far north as farming allows, Watson sees a […] Read more
How to reach 52 bushels per acre of canola
Canola, Features

How to reach 52 bushels per acre of canola

Tips to take you beyond common management practices to maximize canola yields

By
Canadian canola yields have increased substantially over the last few decades. In the early 2000s, the five-year average was 25.3 bushels per acre. By 2010, that had risen to 33 bu/ac. Today, it’s about 41 bu/ac. While the upward trend is very positive, yield has been fairly flat for the last five years due — […] Read more
Kinze’s 24-row 4905 True Speed planter is shown above. The True Speed system allows corn and soybean farmers to plant at speeds up to 12 miles per hour without compromising singulation or seed spacing.
Equipment, Machinery and Shop

Kinze offers two high-speed planters for 2021 growing season

No compromises on seed singulation and placement with high speeds

By
Kinze Manufacturing will be releasing two high-speed planter models in time for the 2021 planting season — the 24-row 4905 True Speed planter and, because it is ready ahead of schedule, a 16-row configuration as well. “The 16-row configuration was originally planned for 2022, but testing went so well, we’re pleased that we are able […] Read more
The CCS option features a 50-bushel central fill seed delivery system.
Equipment, Machinery and Shop

John Deere 1745 planter offers versatility for corn and soybean producers

It’s compatible with older tractors and ideal for no-till farming, smaller or odd-shaped fields and narrow transport

By
Bigger isn’t necessarily best when it comes to choosing the right planter. For corn and soybean growers looking for a split-row configuration, planter-applied fertilizer capability and narrow transport, John Deere’s 1745 MaxEmerge 5 Planter, may fit the bill. “The 1745 is an economical planter in a split-row configuration that’s capable of planting soybeans on 15-inch (38 […] Read more
The MobiLab requires precise but not difficult sample preparation and processing.
Crops, Equipment, Features

iMetos releases its newest version of MobiLab

A fast, easy-to-use, portable soil lab that measures nutrients from soil and plant sap

By
To maximize crop yields depends on optimizing nutrient management: applying the right product at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place. Since no field is perfectly consistent, the challenge lies in figuring out what precise nutrients are needed where. Enter MobiLab, an easy-to-operate, portable lab that produces on-farm, lab-quality, soil […] Read more
Canadian Canary seed production translates to about $100 million in export values each year and totals more than 80 per cent of the world’s overall Canary seed crop. The photo above shows a Canary seed field ready for harvest.
Cereals, Crops, Features

Want to try Canary seed in your crop rotation? Caution is advised

Prices are up right now, but there’s no guarantee they’ll stay there

By
Canadian farmers, nearly all of them in Saskatchewan, grow approximately 300,000 acres of Canary seed each year for export as bird seed. Canadian Canary seed production translates to about $100 million in export values each year and totals more than 80 per cent of the world’s overall Canary seed crop. The cereal can pay producers […] Read more

Special Podcast Series

AgCanadaTV

AGCanadaTV: In Case You Missed It – Your National Ag News Recap for the week ending April 16, 2021.

Sponsored By:
More Videos →

Daily Newsletter

You'll receive current daily news every morning free, as well as market updates and special features.