You could argue that the advent of more affordable glyphosate options increased the use of a pre-harvest pass on many western Canadian grain acres. Using glyphosate before harvest can kill late weeds and reduce the amount of green stems the combine encounters, making straight cutting easier. In conjunction with some solid advancements in pod-shatter resistance… Read More
Small tractor sales continue strong showing in U.S. and Canada: AEM
According to the most recent data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), unit sales of ag tractors and self-propelled combines in August put year-to-date numbers up over 2019, overall. Data from the report also show unit sales of both types of equipment were positive for the fifth month in a row in the U.S.,… Read More
Conservatives to turn up the heat on Bibeau with Rood
With the appointment of Lianne Rood as the shadow minister of agriculture this week, I think there will be a change in approach regarding agricultural issues between now and an election. Like her predecessor John Barlow, Rood has a strong background in agriculture and an eye on eventually being the minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food… Read More
RealAg Radio, September 11: Swather demand, a murphy switch, and a new voice on the issues panel
Happy Friday! Thanks for joining us! We’ve got a great line-up on the show today, including an issues panel and of course the top ag news stories of the day with your host Shaun Haney! On today’s issues panel you’ll hear from: Lyndsey Smith, from Ottawa, Ont.; Kelvin Heppner, from Altona, Man.; and, Christina Crowley-Arklie,… Read More
Canola School: Pre-harvest intervals and reducing residues
A pre-harvest interval is the amount of time that’s required between a product application and cutting the crop in anyway — not just harvest. A PHI can always be found on a product label, and following the recommendation can help the crop dry down faster and keep product residues within maximum residue limits. “When it… Read More
September WASDE resets goalposts — This week in the grain markets
Grain markets continued to push higher, led by corn and soybean prices, as a friendly September WASDE report continue to bring more bulls to the table. Going into the report, the complex was focusing on demand line items and supply updates after a tough August of weather, and while the latter was recognized a bit, the USDA did… Read More
Why Concrete Shower Panels Should be Used in a Farm or Ranch showers
Concrete shower paneling has become popular for a number of reasons, many of which are shared with traditional concrete showers. However, concrete shower panels are a definite step up from the traditional concrete walls you find in hospitals and prisons. Let’s learn why concrete shower panels should be used in farm or ranch showers.
Price
Most farms and ranches are cash-poor. This means you can’t afford to waste money on infrastructure if there are cheaper, effective solutions. Don’t rely on unsanitary shower curtains and flimsy plastic partitions. Invest in concrete showers that will handle use and abuse for years. They’re also faster and thus cheaper to install than tile walls. It is the better, overall value.
Sanitation
Concrete shower panels are popular in public facilities like gym showers and hospitals. They lack the grout grooves and gaps in the floor that allow mold and mildew to grow in residential showers. This makes them much more hygienic, too, since blood and other bodily fluids can’t accumulate. This makes concrete panels the best choice for farm and ranch showers. That’s true whether you’re washing off after walking through a cattle feed lot or rinsing off animals themselves.
A side benefit of concrete shower walls is that they are easy to clean. Just hose off. If necessary, wipe down with cleaning wipes or sponges. You can scrub them down with hard brushes if necessary without damaging them. That’s a point in their favor over glass shower walls or plastic barriers. They’re also impervious to industrial strength cleaning chemicals. If you’re afraid of spreading hoof and mouth disease through contact with infected feces, you’re able to thoroughly sanitize both the stalls where animals get rinsed off and the worker’s showers.
Affordable Style and Design Options
Many people recommend concrete walls and floors because you can mix in coloring agents to make it look like stone. Or you could use a mix of coloring agents and stencils to make it resemble tile. A different point in favor of concrete panels is that you can build in grooves, small shelves and soap holders. Everything is as durable as the original concrete panel and as easily cleaned. Install steps or seats for a fraction of the cost of building one out of stone, and it is as sanitary as the floors and walls. You can even have it made out of the same color or a different color, such as when you want a sharp color contrast between the concrete shower seat and the floor.
Or have the shower floor match the color of the rest of the floor in your living quarters. For example, you can use concrete panels to install a shower in the corner of a small residential building. You’ll only need to put in moisture resistant drywall, install the necessary plumbing, mount the wall panels, seal the joints and the floor, and you’re good to go. It will be much less conspicuous than adding a traditional shower pan and stall to the corner of a bunk house. It will also take up a lot less space.
A side benefit is the natural fit between concrete shower panels and minimalist glass wall shower stalls, if you want to mix and match. Or install a shower corner with an open floor drain. This can maximize convenience and accessibility while making the entire space feel more open. That is a definite plus when you decide to rent out worker housing as a guest house to earn extra money.
CN rolling ahead with electric semi trucks
Electric semi trucks are likely a long way from being deployed on farms, especially for long-distance hauling in a cold Canadian winter, but others in the supply chain are starting to adopt electric power to move goods around. They’re not switching to electric trains (yet), but CN Rail has ordered 50 all-electric tandem axle Class… Read More
StatsCan drops wheat and pea production estimates in latest satellite-based report
Statistics Canada cut its wheat and pea production estimates — and raised its lentil and soybean projections — in its annual September satellite-based crop report, published on Monday morning. It’s the second satellite-based set of crop production estimates issued by the agency in the last two weeks. Due to COVID-19, StatsCan chose to employ its… Read More
Farmland values up slightly in first half of 2020
Average farmland values in Canada crept up an average of 3.7 per cent in the term ending June, 2020, led by growth in Alberta, B.C. and New Brunswick, according to the most recent Farm Credit Canada (FCC) farmland values report. This increase is in line with mid-year results over the past five years, which showed… Read More