As I’ve already experienced with telcos, declining profitability often leads to declining service levels.

Can Canada’s banks and telcos maintain as reliable performers?

Investing for Fun and Profit: Also includes an update on the latest status of the Titanium Strength Portfolio

This is my 100th column over the past six years for Grainews. I hope you’ve enjoyed the wit and wisdom, albeit limited, and that my musings helped your off-farm investing success. This is also the first column written following the May 15 anniversary of the Titanium Strength Portfolio (TSP). At its outset, the purpose was […] Read more


The InputsPro mobile app enables users to filter data by crop and pest type, so they make informed crop protection decisions more quickly and efficiently.

Manitoba entrepreneur creates InputsPro for Prairie farmers

The new mobile app provides easier access to crop protection data

In 2021, Kristen Timmerman was studying agriculture in university when she set out to develop an ag-tech tool she says she believes was long overdue. The tool is InputsPro (inputspro.ca), a mobile app and website that provides farmers, agronomists, ag retailers and crop specialists with essential data culled from the government-issued crop protection guides for […] Read more

The BeanIoT thumb-sized “smart” sensors could be deployed in grain bins to measure temperature, humidity or insect movements.

Putting “smart” beans to work in the bin

New technology has game-changing potential for grain storage monitoring

A new technology coming out of Cambridge, England could provide an easy, flexible and cost-effective way for farmers to monitor stored grain, livestock barns, greenhouses or chemical storage sheds. The BeanIoT system deploys thumb-sized “smart” sensors to monitor whatever the user requires. In a grain storage shed or bin that might be temperature, humidity, or […] Read more


Seeding smartphone tips

Seeding smartphone tips

Cellphones have been dubbed “smartphones” but sometimes the way folks are addicted to them causes dumb problems. I’ve read three articles that suggest that cellphones are creating isolation, poorer communication and less robust relationships. Stress rises when there is a million-dollar crop to get in the ground, excess moisture, and too many jobs for the […] Read more

The Grain Moisture App.

New grain moisture app

Home-grown app simplifies on-farm grain moisture testing

My husband Jeff and I farm near Wawanesa, Manitoba. We are both interested in technology, and improving things on the farm. I had been tossing around the idea of learning to program with Apple products. While we were discussing the idea, Jeff mentioned an app that he would like: something that could replace all of […] Read more


The Agfinity Grain Calculator

The Agfinity Grain Calculator

Put this handy free app on your smartphone to convert grain prices in a hurry

Gone are the days of carrying around pocketbooks from the elevator with the conversion charts in the back of them for different crop weights and tonnages. Our smartphones have replaced almost everything to do with calculators or daily calculations. That’s why I was pleased to see the Agfinity Grain Calculator — an app that will do […] Read more