Agriculture and Forestry

Small grain varieties generally have the highest yields and milling quality during the first couple years after their release. Consequently, the varieties grown on a farm should change over time. This makes it important to keep up with newly released varieties and determine how they will do locally. Plant newer varieties on a small section of land. Then plant the most consistent performers on the majority of land, phasing out the older varieties that show signs of succumbing to disease and insect pressures. Find the best quality grain and seed here!

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Seed treatments control fungi residing on the seed surface or inside the seed and are effective against pathogens that reside in the soil and cause seed roots, damping off and roots rots. Most seed treatments do not control bacterial pathogens and none control seed-borne viruses. Need to know more about grain and seed? Visit us here!

Pesticides are used to control organisms which are considered harmful. Pesticides save farmers money by preventing crop losses to insects and other pests; in the US, farmers get an estimated four-fold return on money they spend on pesticides. Each use of a pesticide carries some associated risk. Proper pesticide use decreases these associated risks to a level deemed acceptable and may increase quality of life and protect property and the environment. Find more about pesticide and farm news here.

Agriculture may be one of the oldest professions, but the development and use of machinery has made the job title of farmer a rarity. Instead of every person having to work to provide food for themselves, less than 2% of the U.S. population today works in agriculture, yet that 2% provides considerably more food than the other 98% can eat. It is estimated that at the turn of the 20th century, one farmer in the U.S. could feed 25 people, where today, that ratio is 1:130 (in a modern grain farm, a single farmer can produce cereal to feed over a thousand people). With continuing advances in agricultural machinery, the role of the farmer will become increasingly specialized and rare.

The first powered farm implements in the early 1800s were portable engines – steam engines on wheels that could be used to drive mechanical farm machinery by way of a flexible belt. Around 1850, the first traction engines were developed from these, and were widely adopted for agricultural use. Where soil conditions permitted, like the US, steam tractors were used to direct-haul ploughs, but in the UK, ploughing engines were used for cable-hauled ploughing instead. Steam-powered agricultural engines remained in use well into the 20th century, until reliable internal combustion engines had been developed. Need more information about farm supplies and equipment? Find here for details.

The classic farm tractor is a simple open vehicle, with two very large driving wheels on an axle below and slightly behind a single seat (the seat and steering wheel consequently are in the center), and the engine in front of the driver, with two steerable wheels below the engine compartment. This basic design has remained unchanged for a number of years, but enclosed cabs are fitted on almost all modern models, for reasons of operator safety and comfort.There are also lawn tractors. Cub Cadet, Husqvarna, John Deere, Massey Ferguson and Toro are some of the better-known brands.

It is alwayas important to start with good quality seed. Examine seed lots carefully before purchasing or when using stored seed. A seed laboratory can conduct standard seed quality tests at a low cost. Seed lots with low test weights, low germination rates or discolored kernels often produce less vigorous plants, even when this seed is treated. Find the best quality seed here!

Seed treatments promote seedling establishment, help ensure yield and reduce quality losses due too mnay diseases and insects. The ability of seed treatments to control many fungal diseases has made them one of the biggest success stories of plant disease prevention. For instance, seed-borne smuts historically caused tremendous yield and quality reduction in grain-growing regions worldwide. Use of effective seed treatment has reduced the severity of many smuts to the point that their occurence is now rare.

One of the most important decisions an organic grower makes is crop and variety selection. Not all vegetables do well in all locations. Vegetables commonly grown in your area are your best bet for success. Trial and error will also help determine which vegetables are best suited to your area. Find here for more information.