'J' Articles

It really does matter how you look at it. Watching those harvest bushels pour out of your auger may do your heart good, but your back and neck don’t fare so well.
 
That’s because traditional grain carts unload on the left-hand side, causing you to turn away from your tractor controls. Meanwhile, anyone in your buddy seat has to do his own contortions to stay out of your way while you try to accurately offload grain. All that straining and stretching to see what’s happening makes for a long, unpleasant day - and a sore, sleepless night. 
 
Thankfully, one simple common-sense improvement gives you a clear view of your auger without the aches and pains.



Right-side augers change everything! 

J&M Manufacturing’s right-side auger grain cart makes the most of your tractor’s cab layout. Easy access to controls and unobstructed visibility allow you to effortlessly aim your auger right into the semi-trailers. The increased comfort makes grain handling more operator-friendly— with fewer visits to the chiropractor. 



It works with the extended right-hand swivel of most tractor seats and provides a consistently clear view of your controls and monitors. No more groping around, hitting the wrong button, and spilling your valuable grain. 


 
Farmer Approved

Operators have noted the left-to-right change left them less fatigued at the end of the day. ...

Timing is everything. In the farming world, it is important to be ready to go when nature calls. Seed tenders are great tools to maximize efficiency and reduce downtime during the planting window. Similar to how grain carts keep the combines rolling at harvest time, seed tenders are designed to keep the drills in the field and maximize available seeding hours in the spring.

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If you’ve ever moved grain with a conveyor or auger, you know that standard screw jacks can be inconvenient and a hassle to hook up and connect with your tractor. And if you’ve ever said to yourself “there has to be a better way,” then you’re not alone. The Lift-EZ Hydraulic Jack is a safe and convenient way to connect your auger or conveyor to your tractor
 
We spoke with the product’s inventor, Bret Watson, the operations manager at Flaman’s Swift Current location, about where the idea for this product came from, and why every farmer could use one.



Tell me where the idea for this hydraulic jack came from?
Bret: I invented it two years ago with Bob Schafer. Bob has a service company that deals with farmers, and his customers were having trouble with their jacks getting damaged. They needed another option.
Bob and I were having coffee one day and we said to ourselves, “this is something we could do.” Bob is a mechanic by trade, and I have an engineering degree and manufacturing background. Hydraulics are readily available on back of a tractor so that’s why we chose that route.

 
What was the creation process like?
Bret: We started with some drawings on a piece of paper, then I used CAD to develop it and make a prototype. Then we fine-tuned it to make sure it was user-friendly. From concept to completion it took about 3-4 months.
 
Tell me about the jack and what makes it different.
Bret: With this jack, the farmer can back up to auger/conveyor, connect the jack hoses and then safely lower/raise the unit from the cab of his/her tractor. They can easily get everything aligned, then slide in the implement pin, raise the Lift-EZ jack and then they’re good to go. It uses the hydraulics that tractors already have, so it’s easy to add on. I haven’t seen anything like this for farm use before.
 

Tell me about the added safety features of this hydraulic jack.
Bret: The jack comes with a hydraulic safety valve, so if there is any damage to any hydraulic hose the jack won’t come down. You can adjust the jack from your seat safely. When you get out of the tractor, you don’t have to worry about the jack creeping down, the valve locks it and won’t allow it to come down unexpectedly, which of course could be very dangerous.
 
Can this jack go on any auger or conveyor?
Bret: Yes, it can be retrofitted to any auger or conveyor. The jack stub can be mounted at any height in order to replace any standard screw jack. It’s very user-friendly.
 
What inspires you to invent products like this?
Bret: I’m driven by solving problems and safety. This product came right from a farmer’s need. It’s a safer product and something that will help them.


The Lift-EZ Hydraulic Jack will be available at most Flaman locations in Saskatchewan. Please call your local Saskatchewan store to ask about availability or to speak to a product specialist. 

On November 27, 2015 the Edmonton Journal published . . .

“Today’s the Day.” Those three words have been dominant at Flaman Fitness in the past year. But for the national fitness company, they are not just a slogan, but a powerful message that Flaman wants to spread to all Canadians.

“It’s a message of hope that you can start your fitness journey any day,” says Steve Whittington, Flaman Fitness’ vice-president of marketing. “You don’t have to wait for a Monday or New Year’s Day. You just need to start. And it doesn’t have to be this grand gesture of a diet or a detailed workout plan. Just be a little more active each day and eat smarter. And we’re here to help you with that journey.”
The company launched the “Today’s the Day” campaign in October of last year and Whittington says customers have responded positively. A large proof of their success is the engagement that customers are having with the resources Flaman provides to help them. More people are coming to their website and reading their fitness blog.
But Whittington says customers can now look forward to a new, mobile-friendly website they’re launching shortly. A new section, called Learn, is loaded with fitness resources, including articles, workouts, videos and much more.
“Learn is for anyone, whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or just starting out,” says Whittington. “You can go here to get inspired and get great information on setting goals and improving your personal health.
“People are interested in the support we’re providing,” he adds. “We feel that this new site is o ering much more support for the customer and we hope it will resonate with them.”
Whittington believes that being selected for a Reader’s Choice Award in Edmonton again this year is reinforcement of the path the company is on to serve the customer first. And they want their message to reach beyond just their current customers.
“We have a health crisis in Canada,” says Whittington. According to 2014 statistics from Health Canada, 54 per cent of adults in the country and 23.1 per cent of youth in Canada are overweight or obese.
“As a national fitness brand with the reach that we have, I believe we have an obligation to join the fight to make Canada a healthier place.
“Maybe you didn’t run yesterday, but today’s the day you can!” says Whittington. “Every day can be a day that you can start. Fitness shouldn’t be solely about image, it’s about feeling better and living better.”
 
Here's how the page looked:


 

 I am fortunate to get to work with an amazing group of people here at the Flaman Nisku store. We are all kind of like one big, crazy, supportive family. It makes coming to work everyday enjoyable because I know that at some point today I will get the chance to talk to one of my co-workers and learn something from them or share a laugh....

In this episode of Trailer Talk Steve talks with Brad Harvey from Cjay Trailer. Brad fills us in about his organization and some unique new products only available from Cjay Trailers. Listen, learn, Enjoy!...