Farmer experiments with protein monitor

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.