It’s not often a farmer gets to show off — and explain — what’s happening in his wheat field on national television during primetime hours. Humphrey Banack of Round Hill, Alberta had the opportunity this fall when he hosted comedian Rick Mercer and his CBC camera crew for a day of combining wheat (if you... Read More
Category: Video
Whether it’s your favourite ag website, the radio or newspaper, Twitter, your area sales rep or the local ag extension office, farmers in Canada and most developed countries have many sources to turn to for expertise. Never mind scarcity, information overload is often a problem. But imagine farming without electricity, without a computer, without the... Read More
It was the Interactive Combine Adjustment (ICA) technology that won John Deere an Ag Innovation Award at Agri-Trade this year. ICA was first released in 2014, and is designed to minimize losses, while optimizing straw and grain quality. The operator is offered the choice between single and multiple optimization targets. Then, s/he receives suggestions for... Read More
Potentially containing a mycotoxin known as DON (deoxynivalenol), fusarium-affected wheat can be a challenge to market, and a safety hazard to handle. But, new work suggests sorting tactics could help improve sample quality. Rex Newkirk is the vice president of research and innovation at Canadian International Grains Institute (CIGI) and has been heavily involved in... Read More
31-33% moisture: that's when corn reaches physiological maturity, or black layering, according to Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). But, harvesting corn above 28% can result in damage to the grain, difficult marketing and the burdens of attempting to dry in storage. This late in the season, stalk quality may make the... Read More
Time-permitting, we love finding unsuspecting (or surprisingly agreeable) individuals for a segment we refer to as Talking to Farmers. The clips are often filmed at trade shows and conferences, and the interviewees are never given more than a hint at the questions they’ll be asked. This year, at the Agri-Trade Expo in Red Deer, we... Read More
John Deere has expanded its range of high horsepower tractors, with the recent introduction of the 9R/9RT 4WD Series. The Series includes the 9420R, 9470R, 9520R, 9570R, 9620R and 9470RT, 9520RT and 9570RT, ranging --- as the names suggest --- from 420 to 620 horsepower. Designed for large arable farms with hillside terrain and tough... Read More
If you happen to pass the TRCW-24, you’ll need a second glance — it’s huge. A standard disc blade is an overwhelming 36? in diameter, and somehow, there’s an even bigger option: the 1,100 lb, 42? disc. The implement is designed for deep plowing, mixing, aerating and plowing through heavy trash. Indeed, the machine can... Read More
Successful winter wheat crops depend on the process of vernalization in order to spur the wheat to shift from vegetative to reproductive growth. The process is initiated by the presence of cold temperatures and, surprising to many, is not dependent on seedling growth. "Wheat's a pretty interesting crop," says Peter Johnson, cereal specialist for the... Read More
New Holland's new Harvest Suite cab design is an impressive demonstration of what can happen when a company actively collaborates with its consumers. The Suite, equipped in all 2015 CR series combines, was developed with nearly four years of customer consultations, resulting in increases in leg room, a sloped floor design, more than 110 cubic... Read More