News aggregator

Byline: Braxten Breen, Farms.com Intern As anyone with trees on their property knows, pruning trees can be a difficult task. Pruning is about the removal of diseased or damaged branches, encourages airflow and healthy growth of the trees. It also shapes unruly trees to help improve their overall health. If you have a few fruit trees located around your farm, pruning those trees can affect the overall size and shape, quality and quantity, health, and safety of those trees. Experts advise that you should prune edibles in early summer for larger, healthier fruit. Keep in mind that dormant pruning invigorates a fruit tree, while summer upkeep allows for better airflow and light penetration. Pruning is both a science and an art, but it is important to ensure you have the right pruning tools. Loppers are ideal for trees, climbing vines and large shrubs. Better Garden Tools has your farm covered with the Heavy-Duty Ratchet looper and Sharpener. Ideally there is no need to use a chainsaw for a limb under a 3-inch (7.5 cm) diameter. The Better Garden Heavy-Duty Ratchet is perfect for this type of task as it can cut a limb up to a 2-inch (5 cm) diameter. All cuts should be made on the branch side of the stem collar, which grows out from the stem at the base of the branch. This protects the stem and other branches that might be growing and allows the tree to heal more effectively. The Heavy-Duty Ratchet looper has a 30-inch (75 cm) handle of tubular steel that requires yet to no strength to make a proper cut. High carbon steel blade that can be resharpened or even replaced. To help resharpen your looper, Better Garden Tools also offers a Sharpener for Ratchet Pruners and Loopers. It is lightweight, small, and above all easy to use; no angles are skill needed, just run the blade of your pruner/looper through the carbide “V” 5-10 times and your set! If you are a farmer with orchard trees around the farm or like to prune your farm sometimes, this is a great duo of tools for the job by Better Garden Tools.

Guelph, Ont.– The Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO) is pleased to hear that the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has upheld the legislation and intent of the Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act (2020), which has been under a court challenge since 2021. We understand that while the Act has been upheld, a ruling on sections of the underlying Regulation has been suspended. We will be actively monitoring further developments regarding this case. The Security from Trespass and Protecting Food Safety Act is a critical safeguard to protect farm animals, the food supply, farmers and others from risks that are created when trespassers enter places where farm animals live or when persons engage in unauthorized interactions with farm animals. The repercussions include the risk of exposing farm animals to disease and stress, as well as the risk of introducing contaminants into the food supply. Animal neglect, abuse and cruelty is never acceptable, and animal welfare is of the utmost importance to BFO and its members. BFO respects the right of individuals to peacefully protest. The Act does not interfere with the right of people to participate in legal protests on public property – but these individuals do not have the right to trespass on private property or to threaten farmers, their animals, or their livelihood. Trespassing, and even the threat of trespassing, on farms is detrimental to the mental health and well-being of our farmers. Everyone has the right to feel safe in their homes and their places of work. The Beef Farmers of Ontario represents 19,000 beef farmers in Ontario by advocating in the areas of sustainability, animal health and care, environment, food safety, and domestic and export market development. BFO’s vision is help foster a sustainable and profitable beef industry, and have Ontario beef recognized as an outstanding product by our consumers.

The Keep it Clean Product Advisory Webinar will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The webinar will provide an overview of why crop protection products registered in Canada may cause marketing concerns for export markets, and how the Canadian grain industry is working together to mitigate these risks. The webinar will also provide an overview of the 2024 Keep it Clean Product Advisory, covering the product and crop combinations that may cause market risks for cereals and pulses. The presentation will wrap up with a discussion covering the importance of best practices for pesticide application throughout the growing season. The following experts will be on hand to share more about the 2024 Product Advisory: Krista Zuzak, Director of Crop Protection and Production, Cereals Canada; Greg Bartley, Director of Crop Protection & Crop Quality, Pulse Canada;  Ian Epp, Agronomy Specialist, Canola Council of Canada.  Keep it Cleanrecommends to growers that you alwaysconsult with your grain buyers before applying any products on the Product Advisory to keep yourcrops market-ready and export-friendly throughout the growing season. Click here to learn more or to register for the event.

As spring arrives, Ontario's farmers are encouraged to adopt new stewardship practices to protect their crops and the environment. The Be Drift Aware campaign provides essential resources aimed at combating the issue of spray drift - the unwanted aerial movement of plant protection products. The Be Drift Aware campaign is a collaborative effort by the following leading farm organizations: Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and CropLife Canada. Spray drift is a significant concern for farmers, affecting crop yield, quality, and increasing input costs. It also poses a risk to neighboring fields, residences, livestock, and sensitive natural areas, potentially leading to disputes with neighbors. Recognizing the importance of addressing this issue, organizations like the Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and CropLife Canada have come together to create a central hub for information and best practices. The campaign's website serves as a one-stop resource for growers and spray operators. It features an online quiz and materials focused on three critical areas: understanding the importance of droplet size, spray height, and wind conditions. By adhering to these best practices, farmers can significantly reduce the risk of drifting and its associated problems. Marty Vermey, a Senior Agronomist, highlights the collective effort to pool information into a single, easily accessible location. This initiative represents a crucial step towards educating growers on everything from the basics of spray drift to advanced techniques in sprayer settings and nozzle selection. The Be Drift Aware campaign aims to reduce spray drift across Ontario by making information readily available to those who need it, when and where they need it. Visit the Be Drift Aware website for more information.

By Farms.com Ontario Farmers within the path of totality are gearing up for the forthcoming solar eclipse event, which is anticipated to bring a notable influx of visitors to rural areas. To aid farmers in protecting their property and addressing potential risks associated with increased visitor activity, here are key steps farm owners can take: Secure Your Property: Give top priority to farm security by identifying and addressing potential hazards that might attract unwanted guests. Secure equipment, hazardous materials, and prominently display "No Trespassing" signs. Keep records of security measures implemented for future reference. Understand Trespass Laws: Get acquainted with trespass laws in your area to ensure compliance and mitigate liability risks. Take reasonable steps to warn trespassers about potential dangers. Manage Guest Responsibilities: For farmers considering hosting eclipse-related activities or inviting guests onto their property, understand liability issues, insurance coverage, and permit requirements. Take necessary precautions to ensure guest safety and compliance with legal regulations.

By: Farms.com Manitoba's Finance Minister, Adrien Sala, unveiled the 2024 budget, emphasizing sustained support for the agricultural sector and enhancing rural community services. The budget has been applauded by Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP) for maintaining a 50% tax rebate on farm properties and making strides towards its complete removal. Efforts to tackle labor challenges have seen the restoration of the rural doctor recruitment fund and an increased investment in apprenticeship training. Notably, $135,000 will support a new veterinary strategy, showing the government's commitment to agricultural health. Budget 2024 also includes $146.9 million for Business Risk Management (BRM) program funding and introduces measures to support young farmers, such as increased loan amounts and rebates through the Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC). Rural healthcare and safety received a boost with a $13.7 million increase in policing grants and initiatives like a $300 security camera rebate for farmers. The commitment to hire 1,000 new healthcare workers and a 13.5% increase in health-related funding marks a substantial investment in Manitoba's long-term care and senior services. Additional highlights feature $30 million for the repair and upgrade of the railroad and Port of Churchill, developments in CentrePort Canada, and strategies aimed at enhancing Manitoba's agricultural trade and value-added sectors. This budget represents a comprehensive approach to supporting Manitoba's agricultural community, ensuring the sustainability of farming practices, and enhancing rural living standards.

The Keep it Clean Product Advisory Webinar will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The webinar will provide an overview of why crop protection products registered in Canada may cause marketing concerns for export markets, and how the Canadian grain industry is working together to mitigate these risks. The webinar will also provide an overview of the 2024 Keep it Clean Product Advisory, covering the product and crop combinations that may cause market risks for cereals and pulses. The presentation will wrap up with a discussion covering the importance of best practices for pesticide application throughout the growing season. The following experts will be on hand to share more about the 2024 Product Advisory: Krista Zuzak, Director of Crop Protection and Production, Cereals Canada; Greg Bartley, Director of Crop Protection & Crop Quality, Pulse Canada;  Ian Epp, Agronomy Specialist, Canola Council of Canada.  Keep it Cleanrecommends to growers that you alwaysconsult with your grain buyers before applying any products on the Product Advisory to keep yourcrops market-ready and export-friendly throughout the growing season. Click here to learn more or to register for the event.

Byline: Braxten Breen, Farms.com Intern As anyone with trees on their property knows, pruning trees can be a difficult task. Pruning is about the removal of diseased or damaged branches, encourages airflow and healthy growth of the trees. It also shapes unruly trees to help improve their overall health. If you have a few fruit trees located around your farm, pruning those trees can affect the overall size and shape, quality and quantity, health, and safety of those trees. Experts advise that you should prune edibles in early summer for larger, healthier fruit. Keep in mind that dormant pruning invigorates a fruit tree, while summer upkeep allows for better airflow and light penetration. Pruning is both a science and an art, but it is important to ensure you have the right pruning tools. Loppers are ideal for trees, climbing vines and large shrubs. Better Garden Tools has your farm covered with the Heavy-Duty Ratchet looper and Sharpener. Ideally there is no need to use a chainsaw for a limb under a 3-inch (7.5 cm) diameter. The Better Garden Heavy-Duty Ratchet is perfect for this type of task as it can cut a limb up to a 2-inch (5 cm) diameter. All cuts should be made on the branch side of the stem collar, which grows out from the stem at the base of the branch. This protects the stem and other branches that might be growing and allows the tree to heal more effectively. The Heavy-Duty Ratchet looper has a 30-inch (75 cm) handle of tubular steel that requires yet to no strength to make a proper cut. High carbon steel blade that can be resharpened or even replaced. To help resharpen your looper, Better Garden Tools also offers a Sharpener for Ratchet Pruners and Loopers. It is lightweight, small, and above all easy to use; no angles are skill needed, just run the blade of your pruner/looper through the carbide “V” 5-10 times and your set! If you are a farmer with orchard trees around the farm or like to prune your farm sometimes, this is a great duo of tools for the job by Better Garden Tools.

An Alberta attraction dedicated to farm equipment and rural life celebrates a milestone this year. The Canadian Tractor Museum in Westlock, Alta., turns 20 in 2024. “June 1 will be 20 years to the day the doors opened,” Steven Miller, a retired farmer and president of the museum’s board, told Farms.com. “It’s a testament to everyone in the community who saw a need for this all those years ago and have continued to support it since.” The doors to the 20,000-square-foot facility opened in 2004, but members of the community started laying the foundation for the museum in 1999. Local farmers and members of the Vintage Tractor Club attended a farm sale and didn’t like what they saw. “My neighbour was appalled that tractors were being shipped to the U.S. and elsewhere,” Brent Sterling, a retired farmer and original director on the museum’s board, told Farms.com. “He approached me about getting something going to have somewhere where we could display our equipment.” With the idea manifested, the work began to secure a site and get the necessary approvals and support to make it a reality. &

Ontario farmers intend to plant 3.137 million soybean acres -- a new record high, according to the 2024 Farms.com Risk Management Ontario farmer survey, conducted January 6th - March 16th, 2024, with a total of 412 respondents. The survey is projecting that Ontario farmers intend to plant 6.380 million acres of corn, soybeans and all wheat combined this year, slightly lower than last year. This is in line with the average at 6.3 million acres but slightly lower than 2019 at 6.415 million acres. Intended Ontario corn acres in 2024 are expected to fall 2.26% to 2.210 million acres slightly below the 5-year average vs. 2024 but soybean acres are up 7.7% at 3.137 million acres to a new record high! Lower inputs in soybeans with an IP premium of $5 - $6/bu is attracting more acres in 2024. Wheat acres are down 13.53%. Wheat acres are down due to a challenging 2023 soybean harvest, lower economics and it was a wet fall. The Farms.com Risk Management survey is projecting more corn, soybean and less wheat acres than Statistics Canada. “Corn acres in Ontario are holding despite being forecasted lower following a record yield in 2023, the second in three years with above average yields," says Moe Agostino, Chief Commodity Strategist with Farms.com Risk Management. The highlights in the survey show HRS wheat up 30%, oat acres +33.95% and SRW wheat down 13.30%. “Farmers in most areas had a good corn crop last year and that is holding corn acres on many farms where soybeans tend to be more variable on sand to variable soils,” explains Stephen Denys, Director of Business Management, Maizex Seeds. “In more clay soil-based counties like Essex, Lambton, Haldimand we have heard about more acres to soybeans versus corn given yield potential. This also applies to farmers who do not own a corn dryer and where drying costs were high last fall and not likely to change this year with the carbon tax. That said, corn will still pay the bills on many farms given the yield potential in a normal year. “ Lower inputs and higher premiums are attracting more soybean acres. Many smaller farmers are looking at switching to soybeans due to lower input costs and higher IP soybean premiums at $5-6/bu. “2024 Ontario wheat acres are down because of economics with a -$40+/acre loss without straw does not pay the bills,” explains Henry Prinzen, Chief Agronomist for Maizex Seeds. “Any borderline corn acres will go to soybeans, and to a large degree most farmers are sticking to a rotation but the $5-$6/premium to grow IP soybeans remains a sweet deal. If you do not own a planter or combine acres will switch to soybeans.” According to Agronomist Peter Johnson (aka Wheat Pete), “many of the farms with heavy soils are swi

An Alberta attraction dedicated to farm equipment and rural life celebrates a milestone this year. The Canadian Tractor Museum in Westlock, Alta., turns 20 in 2024. “June 1 will be 20 years to the day the doors opened,” Steven Miller, a retired farmer and president of the museum’s board, told Farms.com. “It’s a testament to everyone in the community who saw a need for this all those years ago and have continued to support it since.” The doors to the 20,000-square-foot facility opened in 2004, but members of the community started laying the foundation for the museum in 1999. Local farmers and members of the Vintage Tractor Club attended a farm sale and didn’t like what they saw. “My neighbour was appalled that tractors were being shipped to the U.S. and elsewhere,” Brent Sterling, a retired farmer and original director on the museum’s board, told Farms.com. “He approached me about getting something going to have somewhere where we could display our equipment.” With the idea manifested, the work began to secure a site and get the necessary approvals and support to make it a reality. &

The Keep it Clean Product Advisory Webinar will be held on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The webinar will provide an overview of why crop protection products registered in Canada may cause marketing concerns for export markets, and how the Canadian grain industry is working together to mitigate these risks. The webinar will also provide an overview of the 2024 Keep it Clean Product Advisory, covering the product and crop combinations that may cause market risks for cereals and pulses. The presentation will wrap up with a discussion covering the importance of best practices for pesticide application throughout the growing season. The following experts will be on hand to share more about the 2024 Product Advisory: Krista Zuzak, Director of Crop Protection and Production, Cereals Canada; Greg Bartley, Director of Crop Protection & Crop Quality, Pulse Canada;  Ian Epp, Agronomy Specialist, Canola Council of Canada.  Keep it Cleanrecommends to growers that you alwaysconsult with your grain buyers before applying any products on the Product Advisory to keep yourcrops market-ready and export-friendly throughout the growing season. Click here to learn more or to register for the event.

As spring arrives, Ontario's farmers are encouraged to adopt new stewardship practices to protect their crops and the environment. The Be Drift Aware campaign provides essential resources aimed at combating the issue of spray drift - the unwanted aerial movement of plant protection products. The Be Drift Aware campaign is a collaborative effort by the following leading farm organizations: Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and CropLife Canada. Spray drift is a significant concern for farmers, affecting crop yield, quality, and increasing input costs. It also poses a risk to neighboring fields, residences, livestock, and sensitive natural areas, potentially leading to disputes with neighbors. Recognizing the importance of addressing this issue, organizations like the Grain Farmers of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and CropLife Canada have come together to create a central hub for information and best practices. The campaign's website serves as a one-stop resource for growers and spray operators. It features an online quiz and materials focused on three critical areas: understanding the importance of droplet size, spray height, and wind conditions. By adhering to these best practices, farmers can significantly reduce the risk of drifting and its associated problems. Marty Vermey, a Senior Agronomist, highlights the collective effort to pool information into a single, easily accessible location. This initiative represents a crucial step towards educating growers on everything from the basics of spray drift to advanced techniques in sprayer settings and nozzle selection. The Be Drift Aware campaign aims to reduce spray drift across Ontario by making information readily available to those who need it, when and where they need it. Visit the Be Drift Aware website for more information.

By Farms.com Ontario Farmers within the path of totality are gearing up for the forthcoming solar eclipse event, which is anticipated to bring a notable influx of visitors to rural areas. To aid farmers in protecting their property and addressing potential risks associated with increased visitor activity, here are key steps farm owners can take: Secure Your Property: Give top priority to farm security by identifying and addressing potential hazards that might attract unwanted guests. Secure equipment, hazardous materials, and prominently display "No Trespassing" signs. Keep records of security measures implemented for future reference. Understand Trespass Laws: Get acquainted with trespass laws in your area to ensure compliance and mitigate liability risks. Take reasonable steps to warn trespassers about potential dangers. Manage Guest Responsibilities: For farmers considering hosting eclipse-related activities or inviting guests onto their property, understand liability issues, insurance coverage, and permit requirements. Take necessary precautions to ensure guest safety and compliance with legal regulations.

As many farmers would agree, soil sampling is an important aspect of modern-day farming. AMS, Inc., a family-owned company since 1942, now in its 4th generation, introduces the Auto-Field Sampler (AFS), a cutting-edge solution designed to modernize the agricultural industry's soil sampling process. The AFS, a hydraulic-driven soil core sampling machine, retrieves a 7/8-inch diameter soil core from depths of 0 to 12 inches within a mere 5.5 seconds. This performance may vary depending on the current soil conditions. The development of the AFS focused on simplicity and user-friendliness, requiring minimal operational knowledge to get started. This is a significant step forward compared to traditional manual soil sampling techniques. The AFS not only covers more acreage in less time but also drastically reduces the physical strain on the user, a common complaint with manual sampling. Operating the AFS is simple. From the comfort of your carrier vehicle's seat, using a simple control switch, you can drive the soil probe into the ground and retrieve it, all with the push of a button. Upon retrieval, the soil core is automatically deposited into a collection container designed for a composite sample. This container can hold between six to ten samples before reaching capacity. When full, the contents can be easily emptied into boxes or bags for further analysis. The container can then be reinserted into the AFS, ready for continued sampling.The AFS allows for the adjustment of sampling depths as required. The Auto-Field Sampler (AFS) from AMS, Inc. is a cool tool because it represents a significant advancement in agricultural soil sampling technology. By making soil sample collection faster, easier, and more efficient, the AFS is set to become an indispensable tool for modern agriculture.

Someone contact Bonnie Tyler because there’s a total eclipse coming. On April 8, a solar eclipse, when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, will occur in the afternoon. The event is scheduled to happen in Ontario beginning around 2:00pm. Niagara Falls, Ont., is noted as the best place to see the eclipse, with the sun being fully eclipsed for roughly three minutes from 3:20 and 3:23pm. Farmers will be watching with anticipation. “I’m looking forward to this one because it’s going to be a total eclipse,” Stuart McCall, owner of McGrows Farms & Gardens in Garson, Ont., told Farms.com. “I’m expecting some dramatic changes.” When an eclipse last occurred in 2017, McCall noted and graphed the changes on his farm. “We have a 10-kilowatt solar power generation system on the roof of the house,” he said. “Before the eclipse we were operating at around 8,700 kilowatts. When the eclipse hit, that (energy number) dropped to under 3,000 kilowatts. And that wasn’t even a full eclipse, so I’m interested to see what readings we get this time around.” The temperature in his greenhouse dropped about 15 degrees. And the re

Canadians are coming to grips with an increase to the national carbon tax. On April 1, the price on pollution increased by $15 per tonne from $65 to $80 per tonne. By 2030, it’s expected the carbon tax will cost $170 per tonne. Farmers like Ethan Wallace, a dairy and grain farmer from Huron County, are concerned about what the increased costs will mean to their operations. “This tax is a direct draw on producers’ income,” he told Farms.com. “It’s a consumption tax that’s meant to change our behaviour and move us away from fossil fuels. But in agriculture there’s no alternative. I can’t heat my barn or dry my grain or fuel my tractors with anything except fossil fuels.” For clarification, Canadian farmers are already exempt from paying the carbon tax on gasoline and diesel used in farm vehicles. In Ontario, the price of gas and diesel increased by about 3.3 cents and 4 cents per litre, respectively on April 1. And the carbon tax on natural gas went up to 15.25 cents per cubic metre. These increases and their potential impact on Canadian farms is a perfect example of why Bill C-234 needs to pass, Wallace said. The bill, which would remove th

The Grain Farmers of Ontario, representing 28,000 farmers, are calling on the federal government to exempt grain drying from the carbon tax. The carbon tax is set to increase on April 1, 2024, raising concerns for farmers facing limited options for drying grain. Grain Farmers of Ontario Chair Jeff Harrison argues that the tax unfairly penalizes farmers for a necessary process. Drying grain is essential for safe storage and consumption. Grain farmers lack viable alternatives to current drying technologies, and the rising tax adds to their financial burden. Harrison highlights the confusion among Canadians who see food bank lineups while the government increases food production costs. He emphasizes the provincial government's support for farmers, Premier Doug Ford issued a public statement on the carbon tax and Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson sent a letter to the federal government signed by Ontario commodity organizations. The Grain Farmers of Ontario urge the Liberal government to implement a grain drying exemption when the House of Commons resumes after Easter. This exemption would help alleviate the financial pressure on Ontario grain farmers.

Ontario farmers intend to plant 3.137 million soybean acres -- a new record high, according to the 2024 Farms.com Risk Management Ontario farmer survey, conducted January 6th - March 16th, 2024, with a total of 412 respondents. The survey is projecting that Ontario farmers intend to plant 6.380 million acres of corn, soybeans and all wheat combined this year, slightly lower than last year. This is in line with the average at 6.3 million acres but slightly lower than 2019 at 6.415 million acres. Intended Ontario corn acres in 2024 are expected to fall 2.26% to 2.210 million acres slightly below the 5-year average vs. 2024 but soybean acres are up 7.7% at 3.137 million acres to a new record high! Lower inputs in soybeans with an IP premium of $5 - $6/bu is attracting more acres in 2024. Wheat acres are down 13.53%. Wheat acres are down due to a challenging 2023 soybean harvest, lower economics and it was a wet fall. The Farms.com Risk Management survey is projecting more corn, soybean and less wheat acres than Statistics Canada. “Corn acres in Ontario are holding despite being forecasted lower following a record yield in 2023, the second in three years with above average yields," says Moe Agostino, Chief Commodity Strategist with Farms.com Risk Management. The highlights in the survey show HRS wheat up 30%, oat acres +33.95% and SRW wheat down 13.30%. “Farmers in most areas had a good corn crop last year and that is holding corn acres on many farms where soybeans tend to be more variable on sand to variable soils,” explains Stephen Denys, Director of Business Management, Maizex Seeds. “In more clay soil-based counties like Essex, Lambton, Haldimand we have heard about more acres to soybeans versus corn given yield potential. This also applies to farmers who do not own a corn dryer and where drying costs were high last fall and not likely to change this year with the carbon tax. That said, corn will still pay the bills on many farms given the yield potential in a normal year. “ Lower inputs and higher premiums are attracting more soybean acres. Many smaller farmers are looking at switching to soybeans due to lower input costs and higher IP soybean premiums at $5-6/bu. “2024 Ontario wheat acres are down because of economics with a -$40+/acre loss without straw does not pay the bills,” explains Henry Prinzen, Chief Agronomist for Maizex Seeds. “Any borderline corn acres will go to soybeans, and to a large degree most farmers are sticking to a rotation but the $5-$6/premium to grow IP soybeans remains a sweet deal. If you do not own a planter or combine acres will switch to soybeans.” According to Agronomist Peter Johnson (aka Wheat Pete), “many of the farms with heavy soils are swi

As many farmers would agree, soil sampling is an important aspect of modern-day farming. AMS, Inc., a family-owned company since 1942, now in its 4th generation, introduces the Auto-Field Sampler (AFS), a cutting-edge solution designed to modernize the agricultural industry's soil sampling process. The AFS, a hydraulic-driven soil core sampling machine, retrieves a 7/8-inch diameter soil core from depths of 0 to 12 inches within a mere 5.5 seconds. This performance may vary depending on the current soil conditions. The development of the AFS focused on simplicity and user-friendliness, requiring minimal operational knowledge to get started. This is a significant step forward compared to traditional manual soil sampling techniques. The AFS not only covers more acreage in less time but also drastically reduces the physical strain on the user, a common complaint with manual sampling. Operating the AFS is simple. From the comfort of your carrier vehicle's seat, using a simple control switch, you can drive the soil probe into the ground and retrieve it, all with the push of a button. Upon retrieval, the soil core is automatically deposited into a collection container designed for a composite sample. This container can hold between six to ten samples before reaching capacity. When full, the contents can be easily emptied into boxes or bags for further analysis. The container can then be reinserted into the AFS, ready for continued sampling.The AFS allows for the adjustment of sampling depths as required. The Auto-Field Sampler (AFS) from AMS, Inc. is a cool tool because it represents a significant advancement in agricultural soil sampling technology. By making soil sample collection faster, easier, and more efficient, the AFS is set to become an indispensable tool for modern agriculture.