Farmer experiments with protein monitor

Aug 22, 2023

In farming, there are late adopters of technology, there are early adopters and then there’s Rick Rutherford.

As an example of his eagerness to try new things, Rutherford was ahead of the curve on yield mapping. He began using yield monitors and producing yield maps more than 25 years ago.

“I’ve got one in the office — 1997 was the first yield map that we generated,” he said.

Now, on his farm northwest of Winnipeg, Rutherford could be one of the first producers in Manitoba to experiment with a protein monitor in his combine.

John Deere offers the HarvestLab 3000 on its S700 Series combines. The sensor can measure the protein levels in wheat and barley on the go. It can also measure oil content in canola.

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Video: A chain harrow is a game changer

Utilizing a rotational grazing method on our farmstead with our sheep helps to let the pasture/paddocks rest. We also just invested in a chain harrow to allow us to drag the paddocks our sheep just left to break up and spread their manure around, dethatch thicker grass areas, and to rough up bare dirt areas to all for a better seed to soil contact if we overseed that paddock. This was our first time really using the chain harrow besides initially testing it out. We are very impressed with the work it did and how and area that was majority dirt, could be roughed up before reseeding.

Did you know we also operate a small business on the homestead. We make homemade, handcrafted soaps, shampoo bars, hair and beard products in addition to offering our pasture raised pork, lamb, and 100% raw honey. You can find out more about our products and ingredients by visiting our website at www.mimiandpoppysplace.com. There you can shop our products and sign up for our monthly newsletter that highlights a soap or ingredient, gives monthly updates about the homestead, and also lists the markets, festivals, and events we’ll be attending that month.