Equilibrium moisture content (EMC)

Natural air grain drying is governed by the principle of Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC): the moisture content that grain will attain if exposed to air of a specific relative humidity and temperature for a long enough duration. Each grain will have a different EMC based on the moisture of the outside air. For example the […] Read more

When to run the fans

Reports about the best times to run aeration plans have been conflicting, and sometimes confusing. Moisture sensor cables can bring 
all the information together

Farmers can hardly be blamed for being a bit confused about using aeration to dry their grain in the bin. They are told to turn their fans off at night, or only run them at night or run them continuously until that grain is down to the moisture level they want. Proponents of each method […] Read more


PinPoint lives up to its name

The PinPoint spraying system allows farmers to keep spray 
pressure constant, even while turning corners

PinPoint is a recently released spraying system that is generating a lot of interest among farmers, because of some advanced features that they haven’t seen before, such as individual nozzle shut off and turn compensation. Farmers have been using other products like Aim Command and Sharpshooter for a while, and these popular sprayer control systems have allowed them […] Read more

Alberta targets ag emissions

Carbon offset programs are not a new concept to many Canadians. Individuals and organizations have been purchasing carbon credits to mitigate their own greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for years, and the use of carbon offset programs by major industrial emitters is an accepted business practice. But carbon offset programs have become more relevant to agricultural […] Read more


When farmers fight

All kinds of situations can lead to heated conflict between farming neighbours.Talking things over is often the best solution

It began the summer Grant’s pigs started running through David’s wheat and into his vegetable garden. There were a half dozen of the little porkers, razor backs with nary a streak in their bacon but they could wreak more havoc than a herd of buffalo, David muttered. If he chased them out of his cabbages once he […] Read more

Using pod sealants

Looking for a way to keep canola pods from shattering during the harvest? 
Pod sealants may not be a magic cure, but they could provide peace of mind

When pod sealants arrived on the market in Western Canada a few years ago there was considerable interest from farmers who were experiencing problems with pod shatter in canola. Pod shatter is a big concern when straight combining canola, especially if harvest is delayed. There have been reported yield losses up to 50 per cent relative to […] Read more


Thousand kernel weight

Still seeding “a bushel and a half” per acre? Try moving to 1,000 kernel 
weight calculation for more precise seeding rates

Every spring Prairie farmers wait to head to the field to begin spring seeding. The drill is ready to go, and the seed is loaded. The seeding equipment heading to the field has likely been updated from 20 years ago, but has the amount of seed needed calculation also been updated? What’s in a bushel? […] Read more

Seeding canola at low rates

Some canola growers are thinking about seeding rates in terms 
of plants per acre rather than pounds of seed per acre

Successfully seeding and establishing hybrid canola can be achieved at lower seeding rates by carefully selecting the canola variety, choosing the right equipment, and paying attention to machinery settings and operation. Other steps to successful canola seeding are: Targeting final plant stands according to seed size. Handling the canola in the most efficient and gentle […] Read more


Cover crops becoming more popular

With our short growing season, we have several options for cover crops in Western Canada. Kevin Elmy’s been trying some new ones on his farm

Across the United States, cover crops have been increasing in popularity. Between drought, delayed seeding, the high cost of putting the crop in, long growing season, high levels of inputs and leaching concerns, cover crops are taking hold. Most farmers planting cover crops are finding fewer nutrients in water run off, less erosion, less input […] Read more

Better insect management

When we talk about insect control we start to appreciate that it is a complex problem. There are many factors, like economic threshold, optimum application timing, pre-harvest interval, effect on beneficial insects, and making the crop less of a target for pests. Most of my discussions with farmers are focused on spraying as a direct […] Read more