Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

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?

Views: 315

Comment

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

Join Ontario Agriculture

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

Farm tractor struts its stuff on F1 track

A Valtra T236 reached 54 mph at the Red Bull Ring in Austria

Diploid Potato Breeding May Improve Yield and Storage

AAFC researchers have found that diploid potatoes offer improved genetics, high yields, and disease resistance, providing a resilient alternative for Canadian potato growers.

Boosting soybean protein: The essential role of zinc and sulfur in sustainable crop production

Soybean is a critical element of the global food supply: Between its use for animal feed and human consumption, it accounts for roughly two-thirds of plant-based protein meal output world-wide. Canada is a global leader in sustainable soybean production, with 70% of its crop, one of the country’s top three by value, exported annually. According to Brazilian scientist Gabriel Montanha, soy production has “exploded” in recent decades to meet demand – but there hasn’t been a corresponding increase in soybean’s protein content. “To ensure soy remains a sustainable crop, we need to increase the protein content of soy seeds,”  says Montanha, who is doing a postdoctoral fellowship at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France. “It's critical we find ways want to generate more protein without increasing the amount of land we’re currently cultivating.” Montanha and colleagues used the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), and Brazil

New insights into lung health risk for female farmers

Exposure to a mix of common airborne agricultural contaminants could lead to lung effects in females, a new University of Saskatchewan (USask) study has uncovered. Farmers are exposed daily to a variety of potential contaminants such as endotoxins (substances associated with certain bacteria) in dust, which are well-known to trigger lung inflammation and asthma. However, how endotoxins specifically impact women’s health is not well understood, particularly when there is also exposure to a herbicide called glyphosate, widely used in agricultural work. Now, USask researchers have detected lung effects in female mice models just five days after a combined exposure, simulating the same quantity of endotoxins and herbicide farmers could breathe over a work week. The team was able to take detailed images of the affected lungs thanks to the powerful X-rays of the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at USask. These images showed that fluid had built up in the lungs during this short exposure perio

Wet harvest? Protect Stored Cereals from OTA

Wet harvest conditions across parts of the Prairies have put added focus on how cereal grain is managed in storage. Cool, wet weather has slowed harvest progress in some areas, with reports of tough cereals and grain quality concerns. For growers bringing grain off at higher moisture levels, careful drying, cooling and monitoring will be especially important this fall. Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin that can develop in stored cereal grain when moisture and temperature conditions are favourable for fungal growth. Unlike deoxynivalenol (DON), which develops in the field as a result of Fusarium infection, OTA develops during storage. Grain stored above safe moisture levels, condensation or water entering the bin, contaminated dust or soil, and residues from previously stored grain can all contribute to OTA development. Even a small pocket of damp grain can create problems. That means managing the entire grain mass, not just relying on an average moisture reading. Make Storage Manage

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service