What’s on a farmer’s playlist?

Jun 06, 2019

Growers share what they listen to while operating equipment

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

How do farmers pass the time when they’re driving tractors, combines or other equipment for several hours during the day?

Farms.com posed the question to growers in Ontario to find out what keeps them entertained during their time in the field.

For David Giffen, a cash crop and sheep producer from Middlesex County, the FM radio remains king.

“It’s usually the radio for me,” he told Farms.com. “I mostly listen to 97.5 (Virgin Radio) or 92.7 (Today’s Country BX93). I don’t really listen to any news or sports on the AM dial.”

Ken Smith, a cash crop and beef farmer from Lambton County, listens to satellite radio when he wants the latest farm news.

For general news beyond the farm, Smith tunes up CBC radio, he said.

But when it’s time to listen to music, Smith turns to his iPod for some classic rock.

“My favourite artist is Bob Dylan, so I listen to a lot of his music,” Smith said to Farms.com. “I also like Leonard Cohen and Corb Lund.”

For Tracy Dafoe, a beef and dairy producer from Peterborough, FM radio is her entertainment while working in the field.

Her station of choice plays music that reminds her of her upbringing.

“We usually listen to (97.7) Moose FM out of Bancroft,” she said. That station “plays music from the ‘80s and older, which fits in with our age bracket.”

Keep the conversation going and let Farms.com know what you listen to while driving your farm equipment.

Case IH photo

Video: Spring weed control in winter wheat with Broadway® Star (pyroxsulam + florasulam)

#CortevaTalks brings you a short update with Cereal Herbicides Category Manager, Alister McRobbie, on how to get the most out of Broadway® Star.

Significant populations of grassweeds, including ryegrass and brome, can threaten winter wheat yields. Spring applications of a contact graminicide, such as Broadway Star from Corteva Agriscience, can clear problem weeds, allowing crops to grow away in the spring.

Broadway Star (pyroxsulam + florasulam) controls ryegrass, sterile brome, wild oats and a range of broad-leaved weeds such as cleavers. It can be applied to winter wheat up until GS32, but the earlier the application is made, the smaller the weed, and the greater the benefit to the crop. Weeds should be actively growing. A good rule of thumb is that if your grass needs cutting, conditions are right to apply Broadway Star.