2024 Cropping Alternatives (Crop Budget Planning) now available online

Sep 03, 2024

Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation has released the 2024 Cropping Alternatives (Crop Budget Planning), an essential resource for farmers.

This annual Crop Budget Planning is tailored to specific soil zones and covers a broad range of dryland and irrigated crops and forages. It includes estimated costs and returns for the 2024 growing season, which can be customized to reflect the unique production, pricing and cost factors of individual farming operations.

This initiative is part of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation's ongoing commitment to providing decision-making tools that address both profitability and risk management within the crops industry.

The current versions are available for free download here.

Video: Turning Better Feed Into Better Herds: Innovation in Forage Harvesting

What happens when a dairy farmer gets frustrated with equipment that isn’t doing its job? In this episode, we sit down with Horning Manufacturing founder Leon Horning to hear how a problem in the feed bunk led to a globally recognized forage equipment company.

Born out of a third-generation dairy operation in Pennsylvania, Horning Manufacturing started with one goal: helping cows get more nutrition from silage. Leon shares how his father, Leon Sr., built the first kernel processor rolls in the family farm shop after seeing whole corn kernels pass through cows undigested — costing valuable feed efficiency and milk production.

We explore the company’s journey from a side project on the farm to an international manufacturer serving dairy farmers, beef operators, and custom harvesters around the world. Along the way, Leon discusses the evolution of pull-type forage harvesters, the engineering behind Horning’s “plug-and-play” kernel processor kits, and why reducing downtime during harvest can make or break a season.

The conversation also dives into Horning’s row-independent corn heads, practical equipment design, real-world customer stories, and how innovations born in the field continue to shape the company today.

Whether you’re a producer, equipment enthusiast, or simply love stories of grassroots innovation, this episode offers a fascinating look at how one farm family turned necessity into industry-changing technology.

Contact Horning Manufacturing today at 717-354-5040
https://www.horningmfg.com/