While it’s not exactly as futuristic as 2001: A Space Odyssey, it’s no longer such a big stretch to imagine the day when a single operator anywhere in the world can remotely control 25 to 30 tractors, and when our crops effectively send us emails letting us know what they need. As professor and chair[...]


Biggest U.S. rail union rejects tentative deal, raising threat of strike
Washington/Los Angeles | Reuters -- Workers at the largest U.S. rail union voted against a tentative contract deal reached in September, raising the possibility of a year-end strike that could cause significant damage to the U.S. economy and strand vital shipments of food and fuel. Train and engine service members of the transportation division of[...]

MacDon to make draper headers for Case IH, New Holland
Canadian harvest equipment maker MacDon Industries will make draper headers for Case IH Axial-Flow and New Holland combines for the major manufacturers to sell through their own dealer networks in the new year. Case IH and New Holland, both owned by CNH, said separately Thursday they have partnership agreements in place with Winnipeg-based MacDon to[...]

Railways step up service as Ottawa eyes tackling grain backlog
Winnipeg | Reuters -- Canada's two big railways are stepping up service to reduce a backlog of grain shipments that have delayed exports and pushed oat prices to record highs, but the Canadian government said it may still step in with new regulations. Record crops of wheat and canola, along with frigid weather, overwhelmed Canadian[...]
CP's CEO quits ahead of reckoning
Prairie farmers can expect one of their two main railways to press harder for wider profit margins under a quick regime change announced Thursday. Canadian Pacific Railway's embattled CEO Fred Green announced his resignation Thursday morning, hours ahead of a shareholder vote in Calgary on nominations to the company's board, put forward by an activist[...]