Boom times for farmers a century ago were good for equipment makers, too

It’s one thing about farming that hasn’t changed 
with time. It’s one thing about farming that hasn’t changed with time

Last year was a pretty good one for most Prairie grain farmers — but things were hopping a century ago, too. This 1912 photo of the American Able Company storage yard in Winnipeg is proof not only of good times, but that farmers of that age — like their modern counterparts — were quick to

World Bank lends money for Mexican pork initiative

Reuters / The World Bank’s private-sector lender is loaning $40 million to Norson, a joint venture in Mexico of local investors and the world’s largest pork processor Smithfield Foods, to expand production and cut greenhouse gas emissions at its plants. The International Finance Corp. (IFC) said the loan will help Norson Holdings increase production, processing


The quest is on to improve rate of canola emergence

Canola seeds may be tiny, but they don’t come cheap. That’s prompted more farmers to use row-crop precision seeders in order to get more bang for their buck. There are many row-crop seeders on the market, but the problem is none of them do a perfect job, said Pipe-stone-area farmer Frank Prince, who offered his

John Deere sponsors 4-H scholarships

John Deere Canada is sponsoring a scholarship program for the 2013-14 school year to mark its long-standing support of 4-H Canada and to celebrate its 100th anniversary. John Deere is matching funds with 11 dealers in seven provinces to award up to 12, $2,000 scholarships. Applicants must be entering their first year of post-secondary education


If you can’t buy it, make it

Shopping for the right item to address a specific decorating dilemma can be a challenge. There are times when the item you need is so specific that it can’t be found in the mainstream stores, leaving you without a solution or having to pay top dollar for a custom item. I’ve had this issue with

This mixture of soap bits is one of our ways to recycle and reuse.

Reduce, recycle, reuse

My wife acts as the recycling police in our household; I dare not throw even the smallest piece of paper into the garbage without fear of reprimand and she constantly surprises me with her ingenuity when it comes to her efforts to reduce, recycle and reuse. One day I noticed a curious-looking bar of soap


Devloo Roto Mudscraper takes first prize in Inventor’s Showcase

Two farmer-invented solutions for seeding through muck and trash 
were recognized as top innovations for 2013

Call it the battle of the mud scrapers. Two farmer-invented devices for keeping packer wheels from gumming up in adverse seeding conditions took home the top honours in the Inventor’s Showcase at Ag Days. Winner of the 2013 Top Invention Award, Mark Devloo, said his father originally came up with the design for a rotating,

Don’t forget your map — there are 500-plus exhibits

One of the most read pages in the Manitoba Ag Days program is the Ag Days map. With more than 500 exhibits under one roof, it’s an essential aid for navigating the show and making sure nothing is missed. Farm equipment is always a crowd pleaser and Ag Days features displays from just about every



Changing energy landscape means opportunity for Canadian agriculture

Canada’s agriculture industry is in a unique position to meet changing global energy demands, Farm Credit Canada says in its latest Knowledge Insider report. The issue highlights shifts in the energy landscape, and what it may mean for Canadian producers and agribusiness owners. “Two things are for certain,” says Kellie Garrett, senior vice-president of strategy,