Hello everyone! Looking for a little bit of help finding some good John Deere independent Repair shops that work on Combines! I have a ton of respect for them and all that they do. They help keep prices at the big JD stores down. Appreciation post for them but also wanted to see who all is out there, interesting to see some of the local businesses that people have grown from helping us day to day with repairs!

This may be a dumb question, but are creamer, or "C", potatoes just the small ones of a normal harvest? Or are there varieties that are designed to yield more, smaller tubers? Are there cultural techniques that yield more creamers?

I grow an acre or so of late season chef potatoes each year. I have a customer wanting creamers. Can I just sell them the golfball sized ones that we normally leave in the field at harvest?

Thanks!

Hi everyone, I’ve designed a 72ft x 72ft farm layout that alternates banana and papaya rows spaced 6ft apart. Within each row, I’ve intercropped trees like fig/sweet lime and custard apple/guava/pomegranate to optimize space and yield. • Banana spacing: 18ft x 12ft • Papaya rows: Between banana rows (6ft apart) • Intercropping for diversity in banana and papaya row where trees are 9ft apart

I’d love to hear feedback on the design, specifically regarding:

1.	Canopy management

2.	Root structure compatibility

3.	Water requirements

Is this design practical, or are there areas I should tweak? Thanks in advance for sharing your insights!

Hello, I am a farmer from India and would like to know the procedure for purchasing agricultural chemicals such as pesticides, insecticides, and fertilizers in your country.

Do you directly go to a shop and ask for these products, or is there a regulatory process in place?

Is it common to consult an agricultural specialist before making a purchase? I'd appreciate any insights on how this works in your region.

Hi all, not trying to start anything political here. I'm just not a farmer but am curious about something.

From what I read it seems that farm subsidies are basically untouchable. Very few lawmakers want to remove them because they'd get punished next election. I've also read that a massive amount of that subsidy money goes to Big Ag. And of course no matter how they're distributed, the subsidies cost a ton of money.

If all of that's the case and if Big Ag is devastating to small traditional farms, would it make sense to just cut subsidies for the giant, conglomerate farms and leave subsidies in place (or heck, increase them a little) for regular, non-corporatized farmers?

It seems to me that that adjusting subsidies in that sort of way could go a long, long way toward leveling the playing field for small famers, keep them in the game so they don't feel like they have to sell out to Big Ag, and at the same time cut subsidy spending overall by removing the subsidies from the giant corporations that don't need them anyway.

Am I nuts? And if I'm not nuts, why aren't small farmers making all sorts of noise about something like this?

Here in India, thought there are organization which work on carbon sequestration, it is impossible for a farmer to individually join and earn carbon credits. It seems like the entire project is a scam with government tie ups limited to certain regions. Farmers are made to enroll in the program and in turn these organizations sell them saplings (mostly timber cultivation). Wanted to know how it works in different parts of the world. Pls do share your thoughts.

Good idea to chisel plow corn stubble in December in central mi? My tractor has been down otherwise I would've tilled a couple months ago

Anyone sell their product to online farmers market- type services? Like Barn2Door, Farm to People (NYC based), etc.?

What are the positives and drawbacks of working with these buyers ?

My wife and I are discussing taking over my family farm/ starting our own operation and taking over when my dad retires. She's not all in on the idea yet, with her biggest stumbling block being how we would manage money. We both currently work regular 9-5 jobs, paid twice a month. She would keep her current job and i would work the farm. My dad essentially gets paid once a year from the mill, so she worries about going from two W-2 jobs to one source of steady income and one once a year payment. For those in similar situations, how do yall manage personal income as the owner? Just budget out what you make? "Pay" yourself a salary each month? Planning on discussing these kinds of things with my parents soon but wanted to see how others get by. TIA

This question came up for a friend's family's land. There is no need of a well as there are irrigation ditches. The system would NOT be run by generator. Not sure what else would be a major factor in cost. Any assistance is appreciated.

Organizations say they will no longer participate in strategy discussions, saying it does not align with producers' needs

Glacier FarmMedia—Agriculture Canada says consultations on its Sustainable Agriculture Strategy will continue even after six major organizations withdrew from the advisory committee last week.

However, with the federal government in disarray after the Dec. 16 surprise resignation of former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland, the strategy may never see the light of day.

Pundits suggested her resignation, along with several others in recent weeks, indicates non-confidence in prime minister Justin Trudeau, and an election could come sooner rather than later.

Trudeau had not spoken publicly at time of writing.

Freeland resigned just hours before she was to deliver the fall economic statement and days after she said Trudeau asked her to leave finance for another portfolio.

The statement was to be tabled later Dec. 16, but without a speech from the finance minister.

In it, farmers were looking for possible announcements on extended interswitching and capital gains measures.

In the meantime, the Canadian Canola Growers Association, Canola Council of Canada, Cereals Canada, Grain Growers of Canada, Pulse Canada and Soy Canada issued a statement Dec. 16 regarding their concerns about the strategy.

They said Canadian agriculture is already the most sustainable in the world, and the strategy must contain measures that are practical, science-based, market driven and beneficial for the entire sector as well as the environment.

“Together, we have consistently voiced that there is a lack of industry alignment regarding the targets and actions proposed in the SAS. As a result, we have collectively decided to step back from the advisory committee, as the strategy’s direction does not fully represent the interests of our members,” they said.

The organizations also said they would continue to work with the government on market access, research, innovation and supply chain resiliency.

None would comment further.

Annie Cullinan, spokesperson for agriculture minister Lawrence MacAulay, said farmers are facing many climate threats, and customers are looking for quality, sustainable products. She said the six organizations said they will not participate in the strategy at large, not just the advisory committee.

“It’s deeply disappointing that these organizations have chosen to step away from this important initiative,” she said. “Every opportunity was taken by minister MacAulay to ensure the voices of grain and oilseed farmers would be heard loud and clear in the strategy. We will continue to work hand in hand with farm groups who believe in the importance of improving environmental sustainability in Canadian agriculture.”

The strategy is supposed to be a roadmap to balance environmental sustainability, profitability and competitiveness, but consultations began two years ago and the plan hasn’t yet been released.

Also Dec. 16, Canada’s premiers met in Ontario to discuss the country’s approach to the 25 per cent tariffs that U.S. president-elect Donald Trump says he will impose on Canadian goods as soon as he is in office.

The premiers said they are concerned that Freeland’s resignation leaves a hole in the negotiating team.

Alberta premier Danielle Smith said Canadians should go to the polls. She said a prime minister with a four-year mandate would have more clout in the negotiations.

Parliament was set to rise for the holiday break on Dec. 17 and return Jan. 27.Organizations say they will no longer participate in strategy discussions, saying it does not align with producers' needs

https://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/daily/farm-groups-back-away-from-sustainable-ag-strategy/