Crop Scene Investigation - 34 Solved: What happened to Karl's corn planter? Sunday, December 4, 2011 Five of the row units on Karl's six-row planter had developed an inch and a half gap between the gauge wheel and the frame. This loose assembly allowed dirt to get into these gaps and caused the gauge wheels to lift on five of the units during planting.Pioneer Hi-Bred agronomist Scott Fife explains that the lifting motion caused the five affected row units to have a different planting depth than the row unit that worked properly.The unaffected unit planted seeds at the proper depth, allowing plants to grow more vigorously and to almost double the early-season height of the other five rows."On Karl's planter, the bushings inside the gauge wheel assembly were so worn and loose that there was a lot of play between the gauge wheel and the frame. Normally, it would be really tight," explains Fife.He says it's very important to give planters a thorough inspection before heading to the field in the spring. "If you grab hold of the gauge wheel, you can determine if it's loose and fix the problem before it's too late and the evidence shows up in your field." Congratulations to Gary Brugmans, Chesterville, for his correct answer. BF Are you getting the most out of your manure? Crop Scene Investigation - 35: What happened to Nevin's soybean seed?
Festival of Guest Nations returns to Leamington Thursday, September 18, 2025 On Sunday, September 14, 2025, Seacliff Park in Leamington, Ontario, will come alive with music, food, and celebration as the Festival of Guest Nations returns to honour the migrant worker communities who play a vital role in Essex County’s agricultural economy. With more than 20 years... Read this article online
Ontario’s most problematic weed -- Canada Fleabane Cuts Corn and Soybean Yields Wednesday, September 17, 2025 At the , Dr. Peter Sikkema of the University of Guelph highlighted the persistent challenge of Canada fleabane, one of Ontario’s most problematic weeds. Once easily controlled with glyphosate, the weed has now developed resistance not only to glyphosate but also to multiple herbicide... Read this article online
Augusta Van Muyen selected as the 67th Grape King Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Grape Growers of Ontario and Farm Credit Canada have announced that Lincoln vineyard manager Augusta Van Muyen has been chosen by her peers as the . Currently, the vineyard manager at Tawse Winery, Van Muyen, followed a path to success that took her across Ontario and the world.... Read this article online
Grain Growers of Canada calls on Carney to Prioritize Upgrades to the Port of Vancouver Wednesday, September 17, 2025 Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) is calling on the federal government to urgently prioritize major upgrades to the Port of Vancouver and its connecting rail infrastructure. The organization warns that without these improvements, Canada’s economic growth and global trade reliability are at... Read this article online
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