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Innovating to Help with the Growing Demand for Canola

With spring just around the corner, I’m getting excited as I get more calls about the start of seeding season. Spring is a season of renewal with new plants sprouting out of the ground. With a warmer tinge to the air, it has us thinking about the future, including all the innovations our SeedMaster team has on the horizon.

Traditionally the SeedMaster double knife opener system has worked really well in a lot of soil types. But there are customers who don’t want a double knife, there’s specific pockets of soil types where maybe a double knife doesn’t work as well. So, we’re working on some different options on the opener line to be able to expand our reach and expand our offering for our dealers to go to different customers that aren’t using a double knife system.

Our SR drill has been a popular product, when it hit the commercial market, it sold out. We bumped the order number up for it this year, but that doesn’t mean we’re just sitting there waiting for this design to become outdated. We’re looking at ways to bring that single rank technology to the market. We will be expanding it to different market areas and reacting to the different demands that we’re hearing from customers.

One of the products that excites me the most is the developments we’re making on our air cart. I’ll admit the air cart has fallen behind in recent years but that just means it was time for an update. There’s still lots of nice features on it, like hydraulic lids, conveyors, and sectional control, but there’s other companies in the marketplace that have brought some new technology to the fields. So, we’re working on adding some of those new features to our air cart. Incorporating our Ultra Pro II metering system, the best canola metering system on the market, is a continued priority in our air cart development.

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AJ Armstrong Takes the Helm as Manitoba Seed Growers President

Video: AJ Armstrong Takes the Helm as Manitoba Seed Growers President

The Manitoba Seed Growers Association (MSGA) held its first annual SeedLink Conference in Brandon last week, where a new president was appointed to take the helm of the organization.

A.J. Armstrong of Armstrong Seeds in Boissevain took the gavel from Past-President Tom Greaves. In a sit-down interview, Armstrong shared insights into his personal journey within the seed industry. Born into a family deeply rooted in seed cultivation, he took the reins of the family business in 2003, building on a legacy initiated by his father in 1980.

Regulatory modernization emerged as a significant focus of the conversation. While acknowledging the complexities of the process, Armstrong expressed optimism about the potential benefits for seed growers once the regulatory framework is finalized.

Discussing the dynamics of working with family in a business setting, he stressed the importance of open communication.

Operating with a streamlined team that includes his mom as the bookkeeper, his father as the “gopher” handling specific tasks, and a dedicated employee for day-to-day operations, the Armstrong family has successfully navigated the intricate balance of personal and professional relationships.

Open discussions about roles, responsibilities, and business plans contribute significantly to the smooth functioning of a family-operated seed business,” he said.

SeedLink is a new event; the decision to explore a return to a two-day annual meeting format sparked enthusiasm among industry partners, including key players and sponsors like SeCan, FP Genetics, Canterra Seeds, and numerous others.