GrainsWest Fall 2018

Fall 2018 Grains West 30 that produce more crop residue. It takes longer to break down and keeps the soil cooler—factors that can prevent or delay germination. As well, organic farmers are interested in non-chemical weed control measures. And following wet growing and harvest seasons, all farmers may be faced with ruts and soil compaction. “Salford makes a range of tillage tools that can provide light to heavy tillage depending on conditions,” said Ous- dahl. “In some areas farmers are looking for light vertical tillage that opens up the soil and smooths ruts. Whereas in other higher producing areas they might need something like our hybrid tillage tool, which provides full vertical tillage as well as a disc to handle more straw.” At Lemken Canada, managing director Laurent Letzter said while the company’s line of tillage equipment was originally designed for European farming condi- tions, Canadian farmers are utilizing it to repair ruts and manage heavy crop residue as well as to economically control weeds. “Canadian farmers need to realize the tillage equipment they are seeing today is dramatically improved from a generation ago. A wide range of tools that can be used under different conditions.” DON’T DO IT BECAUSE IT’S EASY In Saskatchewan, crop consultant Thom Weir said he fears farmers are getting too comfortable with tillage and not appreciating the benefits of conserva- tion farming. A consultant agronomist based in Yorkton, he works with Farm- ers Edge. He said a few wet growing seasons in Saskatchewan and Manito- ba over the past seven or eight years sparked interest in tillage. “The interest seemed to be just about everywhere in Western Canada,” said Weir. “With excessive moisture, farmers turned to tillage to dry out the soil. Some of the companies call their tillage equipment moderate, but they can be very aggres- sive tools. That wet cycle seems to be over, but farmers are still using their tillage equip- ment, he said. “I don’t know if they got lazy or what. Seeding canola into nice black dirt is pretty easy.” Weir also said there may be a gen- eration of farmers coming along that FEATURE At an equipment demonstration at the Ag inMotion Farm expo in Langham, SK, held this past summer, farmers were quick to assess the degree of soil disturbance produced by tillage tools.