Articles by Travis Warkentin

The Mini ROTT is approximately the size of a garden tractor but with the appearance of a regular tractor.

New training tool helps teach, demonstrate and predict tractor rollovers

The Mini Roll Over Training Tractor was developed by students, farmers and engineers

By Travis Warkentin October 28, 2020

A new training tool to help teach, demonstrate and predict tractor rollovers has been developed by Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), Red River Community College and the University of Manitoba School of Agriculture. The Mini Roll Over Training Tractor (ROTT) has been developed to educate people about the causes and dangers of rolling a tractor. According […] Read more

S3 Air Systems' User Friendly Option aeration system is billed as offering better airflow performance with less installation hassle.

Machinery & Shop, Machinery and Shop

Modular grain drying system simplified, affordable, lightweight

How S3 Air Systems' new UFO for vertical aeration works

By Travis Warkentin August 28, 2020

While most UFOs are typically known for their destructive crop circles, this UFO will actually promote better grain storage through proper aeration and potentially save commodities in the bin. S3 Air Systems’ User Friendly Option, or UFO aeration system, was designed with simplicity and ease of installation in mind with the ability to retrofit to […] Read more

John Deere's X9 combine and C16F folding corn head can harvest up to 7,200 bushels per hour of high-yielding corn, the company says.

Machinery & Shop, Machinery and Shop

John Deere announces new high-capacity X series combines

The X9 combines increase threshing capacity in all crop conditions while using less fuel

By Travis Warkentin August 26, 2020

Two new models of John Deere combines will be rolling off the production line for the 2021 harvest season. The X9 1000 and X9 1100 combines were engineered to offer broadacre farmers greater efficiency, especially when threshing in dense crops like canola and tough wheat. The X9 1100 boasts it can harvest up to 30 […] Read more

Chris Plett of CPC Ag Repair points out a common failure point on the unloading system when harvesting wet grain.

Equipment, Machinery & Shop

Is your combine field ready?

There are common fail points and things to check on combines following a wet harvest

By Travis Warkentin July 28, 2020

I can still hear it, the sound got louder and more prominent as we fought our way through the last days of the 2019 harvest season. One of the bearings on our straw chopper was nearing the end of its life, and luckily held together until the shards of the very last soybean stalk had […] Read more

The new steering system increases the combine operator’s  comfort and provides easy  access to controls.

Machinery & Shop, Machinery and Shop

Joystick-controlled steering offered on IDEAL combine

IDEALDrive offers more operator comfort and better visibility

By Travis Warkentin June 11, 2020

AGCO continues to improve its award-winning Fendt IDEAL combine. IDEALDrive is a joystick-operated steering system that will be available to North American farmers for the 2021 harvest season. The innovation is a direct result of the implementation of customer suggestions. How it works: IDEALDrive is a joystick-operated steering system that will be available to North […] Read more

Hardware to control downforce uses the seeder’s existing hydraulic system.

Equipment, Machinery & Shop, Machinery and Shop

Precision Planting tools maximize emergence and profits

SeederForce and SmartFirmer provide accuracy and key soil measurements

By Travis Warkentin May 27, 2020

A common problem that exists in seeders is the one downforce setting for the whole machine. A system like this can often lead to underapplying downforce pressure in areas of the field where soil is harder or more compacted. This leads to disk openers riding on top of, or partially in, the soil causing undesirable […] Read more

The inductor makes mixing, dissolving and measuring of chemicals simple and efficient.

Machinery & Shop, Machinery and Shop

How to build a water trailer to service your sprayer

The new machinery editor welcomes you into his shop

By Travis Warkentin May 12, 2020

Hi, my name is Travis Warkentin. I am so very excited to begin this position here at Grainews. I am a farmer and understand the weight of the material I will be responsible for covering. Farm machinery has always been important to me and I know it is to you as well. I hope to […] Read more

The blade inside the inductor tank was made by cutting out strips from a stainless-steel truck fender.

Machinery & Shop, Machinery and Shop

PHOTOS: Home-built water trailer setup

By Travis Warkentin May 12, 2020

One of the larger projects I have worked on has been a water trailer setup to service the sprayer. I spent countless evening hours scrolling the internet to find ideas that I would implement into the build. There always seems to be endless options and navigating through them all can be quite daunting. Therefore, I […] Read more

Having a seed tender gives the farm a huge boost in efficiency during seeding time. A third drive axle was added to handle the weight.

Machinery & Shop, Machinery and Shop

PHOTOS: Building a seed tender unit

By Travis Warkentin May 12, 2020

By far the biggest efficiency booster on my farm has been the addition of a seed tender, which has substantially cut down our air seeder and planter-fill time. Additionally, it has reduced the number of vehicles needed at the field. We used to take one tandem axle truck and two single axle trucks to service […] Read more

Machinery & Shop, Machinery and Shop

Seeding during the COVID-19 pandemic

Implement dealers are open for business while protecting staff and customers

By Travis Warkentin April 23, 2020

Whether we like it or not, COVID-19 is one more thing that will be on our minds this seeding season. Hopefully, its effects will be minimal to our agricultural community. Regardless of how the pandemic plays out, seeders will still roll across the Prairies this spring. Those same machines, once rolling, will inevitably break down […] Read more

Last year’s flour output up in most categories

U.S. grains: Corn and soy mixed, wheat down

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures close to unchanged

GFM Network News

Last year’s flour output up in most categories

U.S. grains: Corn and soy mixed, wheat down

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures close to unchanged

Author Archives Travis Warkentin

New training tool helps teach, demonstrate and predict tractor rollovers

Modular grain drying system simplified, affordable, lightweight

John Deere announces new high-capacity X series combines

Is your combine field ready?

Joystick-controlled steering offered on IDEAL combine

Precision Planting tools maximize emergence and profits

How to build a water trailer to service your sprayer

PHOTOS: Home-built water trailer setup

PHOTOS: Building a seed tender unit

Seeding during the COVID-19 pandemic

Grainews blogs

Great take-home messages from forage specialists

Podcasts

Canadian consumers bite into beef, (political) times are a-changin’, canola markets sizzle

Special Podcast Series

AgCanadaTV

AGCanadaTV: In Case You Missed It – Your National Ag News Recap for the week ending May 14, 2021.

GFM Network News

Grainews blogs

Great take-home messages from forage specialists

Podcasts

Special Podcast Series

AgCanadaTV

Daily Newsletter