Tillage equipment Archives - Page 5 of 12

There seems to be some correlation between certain zero-till practices and soil acidification.

Soil acidity a growing issue

Over time a natural chemical reaction to nitrogen can cause an acidic band to develop

By Gord Leathers February 1, 2023

Most of Manitoba’s soils are considered to be neutral, with pH around 7.0 and being neither acid nor alkaline. If anything there’s a tendency towards the alkaline. That’s why North Dakota State University cropping systems specialist Ryan Buetow’s warning at the recent Manitoba Agronomists’ Conference was unexpected. He says there are pockets of acidity showing

Standard choppers are frequently not large enough to spread residue effectively and harrows can create residue clumping, says agronomy consultant Phil Needham.

Crops

Excess crop residue a yield-robbing issue on many farms

It’s a problem everywhere — mismatched choppers and harrows that don’t fix the problem, agronomist says

By Jeff Melchior January 17, 2023

Throughout his travels as a consultant, Phil Needham has noticed producers continue to struggle with residue management to the detriment of crop emergence, plant counts and yield. Many residue management woes come down to two pieces of equipment: harrows and mismatched choppers on combines, said Needham, who operates an agronomy services company in Kentucky. “I

“There are waterhemp populations, mostly in the States, that are resistant to nine different herbicide groups. At that point, you have no options left.” – Kim Brown Livingston.

Crops, News

The end of the chemical era draws near for farms

The future of weed control is going to require a more balanced approach

By Don Norman November 17, 2022

Chemical herbicides have long been the jewel in the crown of weed management, but after seven decades of use, natural selection is turning back the calendar. Herbicide resistance in weeds was first discovered in the 1980s and the problem has steadily increased. With no new chemistries introduced in more than 30 years, it’s clear that

Through soil degradation and increased urbanization, we lose an area the size of Scotland every year. Just two per cent of the world’s land area produces 40 per cent of the world’s food.

Comment, Op/Ed

Comment: Soil matters – charting a path forward

Action is needed to preserve and improve soil health, but it must be judicious

By Don Lobb November 2, 2022

The following is an excerpt from a statement made by the author to the Standing Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry (Status on Soil Health in Canada) meeting, Sept. 22. Since the Senate of Canada “Soil At Risk” report was conceived by Senator Herb Sparrow four decades ago, generally soil management has improved and crop

Crops, News

Late harvest hampers fall weed control efforts

Narrow regrowth window, cooling temperatures play role in limiting applications

By Don Norman October 21, 2022

Manitoba’s weed specialist says this year’s late harvest has thrown a wrench into many farmers’ fall control plans. Normally, it is recommended that farmers wait four to six weeks after harvest to allow weed regrowth before spraying. “This year, we just don’t have the calendar days to do that,” said Kim Brown-Livingston, Manitoba Agriculture and

Crop Report, Crops, News

Canola harvest sees surge, soybeans start coming off fields

Manitoba Crop Report: Issue 22, October 4, 2022

By Manitoba Agriculture October 4, 2022

Overview Harvest progress sits at 63 per cent completed across the province, approximately 3 weeks behind the 5-year average of 86 per cent complete by week 40. The past week had a substantial increase in harvested canola area, with over 1.9 million acres now off the field. This brings the canola harvest from 30 to

‘The hog sector is transitioning to Canadian Pork Excellence, a set of programs that allow registered pork producers to demonstrate compliance with food safety and animal care requirements.’ – Cam Dahl

Comment, Op/Ed

Comment: Farmers and the ‘prove it’ generation

Be real about modern agriculture because there’s much to be proud of

By Cam Dahl September 12, 2022

What is a farmer’s relationship with environmental and animal welfare certification programs? Would it be right to say that it’s complicated? On one hand, farmers feel targeted by those in the activist community who reject the realities of modern agriculture. No genetically modified anything. No fertilizer. No pesticides. Small holdings with a few chickens, a

Oleksandr Shevchuk continues to invest in building a logistical infrastructure to farm 14,800 acres in central Ukraine.

Farmit Manitoba

Ukraine farmer soldiers on

By Ihor Pavliuk August 25, 2022

Contrary to my pessimistic expectations, Ukrainian farmers somehow manage to survive. They harvest and sow winter crops, and some even buy new machinery. Of course, for most farmers, things are not going very well but these people manage to adapt to the most difficult conditions of the war. In particular, I can say this about my current subject,

John Deere’s 8R autonomous tractor is pictured at Jensen Test Farm at Bondurant, Iowa, just northeast of Des Moines, on April 28, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Bianca Flowers)

Crops

Deere tapping into Apple-like tech model to drive revenue

'Hopefully the costs will be paid back in the long run'

By GFM Network News, Joseph White May 26, 2022

Bondurant, Iowa | Reuters — Deere and Co. has sold its tractors and other equipment to farmers for decades, but the world’s largest agriculture machinery manufacturer is tearing a page from the technology world’s playbook — combining cutting-edge hardware with software and subscription models to drive revenue growth. In a world with a dwindling number

Climate change requires all net CO2 emitters to cut output.

Op/Ed, Opinion

Opinion: Real GHG emissions solutions need open mind

First steps in ag climate fight are honesty and courage, not offsets and credits

By Alan Guebert May 16, 2022

[UPDATED: May 19, 2022] Last May, the Canadian National Farmers Union (NFU), submitted a detailed response to the Canadian government’s earlier “Draft Greenhouse Gas Offset Credit System Regulations.” The response, like the government request, went relatively unnoticed in U.S. ag circles. It shouldn’t have because the 23-page reply by the NFU was as shocking in

Daily Network News

Southern California honeybees show resistance to varroa mites

Pulse Weekly: SaskPulse optimistic despite input, crop price concerns

Canadian aquaculture should be classed as agriculture, industry groups say

Tillage equipment