New Ploughing Record Set!

This is no record that will make the evening news, or ever the local newspaper, but a first none the less.

My cousin joined me in the field for first ever 10 furrow round. Up until now this field had never seen more than my 5 furrow plough. But on this Sunday that all changed when 5 more 18" furrows joined in the fun.

We had quite a team out there. This particular field has been in my family for 4 generations, and that first generation turned the soil one furrow at a time, while walking behind the plough and a team of horses. How times have changed.

Although I firmly believe this form of tillage is a net benefit to the soil, there is no shortage of differing opinions. So why do I plough? After all it takes a great deal of time an fuel, and the land will need to be worked at least 3 or 4 more times before planting. Well I have noticed a few things.

After the plough:

- the soil soaks up a heavy rain much quicker, less water pooling.

- the soil holds more water and shows remarkable resistance in times of drought

- that packed area from being on the land when its too wet gets broken up and begins to return to its original state

- I get the fertilizer deeper in the soil, so it won't wash out and supports deep root growth

- I generally get 3 to 10 bus/acre increased yield

- And above all, I really like to plough.

Since I don't own any no-till equipment I am required to work all my ground before planting. The ploughed soil always works nicer, its soft and creates an exceptional seed bed.

There are down sides, this ground can blow. If the weather conditions are just right in the spring, the sky will be black with dirt. Its a terrible thing to see.

Despite the costs and down side risks, rumour has it that plough sales are on up swing. This is one statistic that does not surprise me.

But if ever there was an implement that created such a wide swing in opinions, Its the plough, some love it, others won't touch it.

Love it or hate it, you can't beat a scene where two cousins are turning soil on a Sunday afternoon!

Well, maybe if we had two combines, but we don't....yet?

Comment

You need to be a member of Ontario Agriculture to add comments!

Join Ontario Agriculture

Welcome to
Ontario Agriculture

Sign Up
or Sign In

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

OFCAF Producer Perspective on Virtual Fencing – Cody Claypool

On a cold Alberta night, few jobs are less appealing than heading out to move polywire so cattle can keep making the most of a swath-grazing field. For producer Cody Claypool, virtual fencing offered a way to reduce that winter labour while still controlling how his herd accessed feed and helping capture the full value of swath grazing. Instead of bundling up in the dark to shift electric fence, Cody could check his cattle’s movements from the comfort of home — even in the middle of the night — and make management decisions from his phone. That practical fit is what made the technology worth trying on the Claypool operation, where Cody manages a herd of approximately 400 cattle and is always looking for ways to make grazing more efficient without adding more hours to already full winter days. Cody’s parents first learned about virtual fencing at an Alberta Stockgrowers meeting, where RDAR CEO Mark Redmond and Olds Researcher Briana Elliot gave presentations. Their interest was piqued

British Columbia organizations coming together to boost skills and talent training in Canadian food and ingredient ecosystem

As Canada works to reach its full opportunity to do more with what it grows, there’s an increasing need to train and produce skilled workers across the food production and value-added agriculture value-chain. Today, to help address this need, Protein Industries Canada is announcing a new project with BC Food & Beverage (BCFB), the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Cultivated Food Labs (CFL), to develop and deliver a new coordinated skills training program. Canada’s ability to Make More Here presents an opportunity to unlock $25 billion in GDP and upwards of 17,000 new innovation-based jobs. BCFB, UBC and CFL are combining their expertise to ensure enough skilled talent is ready to fill these jobs, providing companies across Canada with the workforce needed to help reach new growth potential and new markets. “A strong and resilient agri-food sector depends on a highly skilled workforce,” said the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada

Barn Boards and Baling Wire

One morning when we still lived on the farm, I looked out the front window and saw the barn door was open. A horse was standing by the corn crib not 10 feet from the road. It wasn’t my horse, but still I had that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. We had rented out a stall to an Amish neighbor to board his horses for a month while he was doing some logging nearby. He paid the rent with several loads of firewood. As a bonus he spread some of that high-octane Percheron exhaust on the garden, so it was a good deal all around. The neighbor arrived within a few minutes to tend to the wayward horse, so it all ended well. But that sinking feeling brought back memories of all those times in my youth when somebody left a door or a gate unlocked and the cows got out – usually onto the road and almost always at the most inconvenient time. Chasing cows at three o’clock in the morning is not fun, especially when your school bus is due to arrive at 7 a.m. We came home recently after being

Grain Safety is Literally a Matter of Life and Death

BeGrainSafe Week encourages safe grain handling practices through education, rescue training, and awareness programs aimed at reducing preventable farm accidents across Canada.

Pre Harvest Glyphosate Timing Protects Crop Markets

Growers are encouraged to follow proper glyphosate application timing to reduce residue risks, protect grain quality, and maintain market access for canola, cereal, and pulse crops.

More…

Badges | Report an Issue | Terms of Service