Features
Equilibrium moisture content (EMC)
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 morePinPoint 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 moreAlberta targets ag emissions
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 moreUsing 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 moreThousand 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 moreSeeding 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 moreCover 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