Reading Time: 3 minutes The word “small” can be very misleading, especially when it comes to farm tractors, so shift your thinking with a look at today’s compact and utility tractors. We’re hoping you’ll see that when it comes to performance, you can’t let yourself be fooled by appearances. These five manufacturers are touting designs and specifications that have […] Read more
Machinery Guide: Compact and utility tractors
Don't be fooled by appearances when it comes to performance
The Hansons: A family that farms together…
“It’s good working with you people,” Ed said, “but it will be even better not to see you for the next six months.”
Reading Time: 5 minutes The Hansons’ never-ending harvest finally finished on Friday afternoon. They could barely believe they were really done. They’d spent the last three days racing against the rain in the forecast to get to the north end of the soybean field before it got too wet. “I never thought we’d finish this year,” Jeff told his […] Read more
When the SPCA comes knocking
Understanding your rights and duties
Reading Time: 3 minutes Recent media coverage of alleged abuse at Chilliwack Cattle Sales in B.C. has sparked questions about an owner’s obligations when dealing with animal abuse investigators. What are your rights and responsibilities when an investigator arrives at your doorstep? Inspector powers Animal cruelty is prohibited under the Criminal Code, which applies across Canada. In practice, most […] Read more
Guess who’s coming to dinner
Brian chuckled: 'You must have missed a meeting, Dale'
Reading Time: 5 minutes Last year the Hansons had invited way too many relatives to Thanksgiving dinner. The immediate family had snuck out to the shop to eat pie standing up and get away from the chaos. This year they promised: “just us.” So Dale was confused when he ran into Brian Miller at Tim Hortons. After the usual […] Read more
Small tractors nimble, but no shortage of power
Machinery Guide: John Deere 6R, Challenger MT500E, Massey Ferguson 7700, and Fendt 700 Series
Reading Time: 3 minutes The fall of 2014 will be remembered for all the improvements that manufacturers are making in small commercial tractors in the 120- to 220-horsepower class. Despite the trend towards “bigger, wider and more powerful,” these tractors are showing they can compete based on nimbleness, adaptability and durability. Below, we feature offerings from four different manufacturers, […] Read more
Hanson Acres: Who’s behind that wheel?
Nobody better tell Grandpa about this.
Reading Time: 5 minutes Donna had done her best to pass her position on the farm to her daughter-in-law gracefully. First, she’d passed on her role as bookkeeper to Elaine, going so far as to move the filing cabinet from the spot in Donna and Dale’s house where it had permanently crushed the carpet to Elaine and Jeff’s new […] Read more
The big boys on the block
Machinery Guide: The powerful, high-powered tractor market has several new entries
Reading Time: 3 minutes The high-powered parade in tractor technology continues. With each year, more manufacturers are rolling out more entries for this growing tractor segment. These machines are bigger and more powerful, and they are more capable than ever before. They work larger tracts of land, haul heavier loads and deliver on a longer list of heavy- weight […] Read more
Hanson Acres: Interpret this!
When the busload of Chinese farmers arrives on tour, they see more than any of the Hansons had planned
Reading Time: 5 minutes Dale’s shift running the swather was finally over. He’d never been so glad to see a truck pull into the field. He was shirtless when he climbed down from the cab to switch off with his son Jeff. “I had to strip down to stand it in there,” Dale said, wiping sweat from his forehead […] Read more
Four middle-range tractors to get the job done
John Deere 7R, Massey Ferguson 8700, Fendt 800 and 900, and Case IH Puma series models
Reading Time: 3 minutes In an era when everything seems to be getting bigger, equipment manufacturers are investing heavily in updating and upgrading the middle of the pack. These are tractors in the 220- to 325-horsepower category, which means they’re big enough to haul and to load, and to dig into most of the toughest jobs on the farm, […] Read more
Meeting your legal obligations if your farm is incorporated
Guide Legal: When businessmen become directors
Reading Time: 4 minutes When a business transitions from a sole proprietorship or partnership to a corporation, the move requires a shift in how decisions are made. In particular, making decisions solely as a businessman (or woman, of course) is different from making decisions as a corporate director, so it is important to know how directors’ decisions will be […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
