8 The Business of Prairie Agriculture Better Farming | November/December 2024 Beyond the Barn BAYER EXPANDS BUTEO LABEL FOR MUSTARD CROPS Mustard growers in Western Canada will have a new crop protection tool available for next year. Bayer has expanded its label of BUTEO start insecticide seed treatment to include use on mustard. “This product has been trusted by canola growers for a few years for (striped and crucifer) flea beetle control, and we’re excited to be able to help more farmers have that same level of protection,” Bryan Bryson, marketing portfolio lead for Traits and Licensing with Bayer CropScience, recently told Better Farming. Canadian farmers planted 637,037 acres of mustard in 2023, StatCan says. Seedlings are especially vulnerable to flea beetle damage as the pest can locate and defoliate seedlings shortly after emergence. If left untreated, the flea beetles can cause poor plant stand, delayed maturity, and reduced yield. In Western Canada, these pests can cause yield losses up to 10 per cent, costing growers about $300 million each year. Canola farmers have been using BUTEO since 2020. The Group 4D insecticide delivers rapid uptake and systemic translocation from cotyledon to leaf margins. This enables a quicker-growing canopy and uniform flowering even in conditions where flea beetles thrive. A BUTEO label expansion to include mustard seemed like a natural progression, Bryson said. “We identified there was a need for this kind of product in mustard given that these beetles attack it as well as canola. Expanding the label helps farmers protect those acres and gives them another tool at their disposal.” BUTEO start insecticide seed treatment will be available for mustard growers for the upcoming 2025 growing season. BF The Brandt Group of Companies (Brandt) plans to launch its new 1345B U-Trough Auger at this year’s Agri-Trade Equipment Expo in Red Deer. The farm show takes place from Nov. 12 to 15 and the event will be the first time the company reveals the new auger to farmers. Better Farming recently connected with Curt Borys, director of product marketing at Brandt, who said, “This product was completely redesigned and thoroughly tested to ensure that we were providing performance and reliability for producers.” He emphasized that “this product is unique because it was designed to make things easier and more comfortable for the operator. “We worked with multiple customer groups and adjusted the design based on their feedback. “In doing this, we wanted to make sure we understood the customers’ needs, so that we could provide the best solution for them with this product.” According to Brandt, some features of the new auger include: Intakes use oversized flighting and a funnel-shaped hopper to improve grain flow efficiency and keep the tube full, moving up to 9,000 bushels per hour; 13" U-trough allows more grain to move above the flighting for higher output and less damage in a wider range of conditions; Purpose-built discharge flares open to handle peak capacities to prevent risk of plugging and direct grain flow downward; Upgraded three-bearing gearbox provides higher load tolerance, while the solid driveline and chain coupler ensure smooth, reliable operation; Triple-banded belt delivers maximum traction, while the true parallel-link belt tensioning system maintains ideal power transfer; Centralized operator control station includes the ignition, throttle, electric clutch, and EZMOVE operations in one convenient location; Compact EZMOVE is integrated into the frame to eliminate obstructions and make relocating from bin to bin easier. Borys said, “We’re excited to receive feedback from a large customer audience at Agri-Trade. We’re always looking for ways to help our products have success on every farm.” BF NEW AUGER ROLLS OUT IN RED DEER Brandt Group of Companies photo
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