French manufacturer Kuhn says its new 5640 field cultivator line features a redesigned frame that “optimizes” weight and strength, meaning farmers should see better performance in wet field conditions.
Tag Archives crop residue
Kuhn introduces the 5640 field cultivator
Wider 56- and 60-foot working widths introduced
Restore productivity on your eroded knolls
Landscape restoration, cover cropping, residue redistribution and adjusting crop inputs are some management practices that can help
The eroded knolls or hilltops common in Prairie farmland are typically the least productive, often yielding considerably less than other parts of a field. Curtis Cavers, an agronomist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada based at Portage la Prairie, Man., says there are ways to boost crop productivity in these problem areas. Cavers provided an assessment […] Read more
Retain your rain
Farmers can get creative to manage water efficiency on Prairie fields
Growers often dismiss the unpredictability of precipitation as pure luck — but they can stack the odds in their favour with the right strategies. “There’s a lot of different dynamics going on with the water balance in the Prairies,” says Phillip Harder, research director and hydrologist at Croptimistic Technologies. In addition to summer rains during […] Read more
Research confirms value of taller crop stubble
Technology is available to help set up, measure and monitor on-farm research projects
Leaving taller crop stubble in the fall can improve the odds of higher crop yield in the following year, says Saskatchewan crop consultant Mike Palmier. His field observations in the 2021 growing season, followed by on-farm research trials through 2022 and 2023, produced data to support a recommendation to leave taller crop stubble. Even a […] Read more
Strip tillage reducing erosion risk
For this Alberta farmer, the practice is one tool to protect vulnerable crops from the blast of prevailing winds
John Kolk hasn’t ironed out all the wrinkles involved in getting a crop seeded and growing while reducing or eliminating the risk of soil erosion, but the southern Alberta farmer has made “significant progress.” In recent years, a combination of practices that include cover crops and strip tillage have helped to hold the soil in […] Read more
Opposing exposure to erosion
Early indications in Alberta research are that soil stays put, with no adverse effect on crop performance
Strip tillage and cover crops are two techniques being tested in southern Alberta applied research trials, seeking practices that will help reduce the risk of soil erosion. Farmers on the Prairies — and across North America — have made huge strides over the past 40 years in reducing soil losses by applying conservation farming practices […] Read more
Do your homework on alternative feeds
What looks to be another dry year will mean added emphasis on byproduct feeds
Alternative or non-conventional feeds, such as grain screenings, cull potatoes or distillers’ grains, can be an economical means for beef cattle producers to supplement forage and grain inventories while continuing to meet animal nutritional requirements. However, due to variability in supply, nutrient composition and quality of these feed ingredients, there can be pitfalls if not […] Read more
Drought preparedness through soil and crop management
After each dry year, adapt your drought plan based on your experiences and what you learned
As spring approaches, the agricultural community is becoming increasingly concerned about potential forecasts of drought across the southern Prairies. And rightly so; the print and electronic media have posted numerous drought-related articles. Wide areas of southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan and their dryland farms, irrigated farms and ranching areas could be affected. But what helpful […] Read more
Curb risk from moisture stress for less
A Manitoba agronomist offers up some tips for farmers on a budget
With swings between wet and dry extremes in recent years, Prairie farmers have seen more water stress problems in their fields. Not only do they make crops less productive, but they can also crank up the stress levels for farmers. “Historically, our two main risks in crop production long term have been excess moisture and […] Read more
Crop residues’ rewards versus risks
Leaving crop residue after harvest can be beneficial — but poses some challenges
John Berger marked the completion of his 57th harvest on his family farm near Nanton in southern Alberta this fall. By most accounts, it was another productive year on Berger’s 5,000-acre grain farm. Still, something didn’t sit quite right with the long-time farmer. Whenever he toured the nearby countryside post-harvest, he noted many farm fields […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
