A perennial problem of farmers wanting to purchase new or used direct seeding equipment is "will it work on my land?" As reported in our last newsletter, SSCA has initiated a service called Farmers Helping Farmers. With the cost of direct seeding equipment and add-on components, farmers want to make sure the equipment they purchase will work in their specific conditions. This database covers seeding equipment, air tanks, openers, packers, residue management equipment, weed control techniques, and even crops.
Experience is probably the best tool when making decisions, but how does one make use of experience when you are unfamiliar with that piece of equipment, component, or crop? In addition, outside of their immediate neighbours, most farmers will not be aware of anyone who have used the equipment or crop they are interested in. This database tries to address this problem by putting the farmer in touch with other farmers who have used the piece of equipment in question within the same region or soil type. Farmers are very forthright in their opinions about the success or shortcomings they experienced with equipment and are usually willing to share their experience with other farmers.
To access this database, simply contact any of our regional staff or use the 1-800-213-4287 number. There is no fee involved for conducting a database search of the item in question. We will then give the farmer a list of names and phone numbers of farmers who have used that item. The farmer can then contact them directly and find out their experiences with that item. This information can be a very valuable tool, especially when choosing a new opener.
If you are from the Southwest Region, you have received a questionnaire which many of you have completed and returned. There are now over 150 surveys entered onto computer from this region with more to come. We are now receiving many surveys from other regions in the province and from those who attended our Annual Direct Seeding Conference this year. Shortly, we will have a very comprehensive database of information from across the province that farmers can access and make use of. If anyone is interested in participating by completing a survey, simply contact your closest Regional SSCA Soil Conservationist. Although we will release the participants name and phone number to other farmers, we do not release names to private industry for commercial purposes.
We encourage our members to participate in the survey if you haven't already done so. Perhaps you will need to use the service at some point yourself. Good luck with your seeding operation!