At 82, Amilcare Merlo is still planning the long-term future of the company that will be his legacy
In February I was invited to tag along with a group of dealers and their customers as they paid a visit to telehandler manufacturer Merlo’s assembly plant just outside the historic old city of Cuneo, Italy. When everyone had arrived, we stood on a balcony at the plant and watched several telehandlers go through a […] Read more
The green brand offers a glimpse of what’s to come in 2017
Next month, John Deere will host a formal event to pull the wraps off several new additions to its equipment line. What will be under the covers? In February, at the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky, the brand teased showgoers by unveiling a couple of new products that are bound to be included […] Read more
New machines designed to broadcast dry fertilizer are hitting dealerships for the 2017 season
For years, one-pass seeding systems that incorporate fertilizer application with the seeding pass had producers turning their backs on dry spreader systems. Many older designs of spinner spreaders lacked the precision that producers could now get from direct-seeding systems. But the logistical demands of getting everything done in one seeding pass have a few growers […] Read more
As Canada’s largest ag dealership chain turns 10, Country Guide sits down with its senior executives to look at how it got here, and where it’s going
Suspicion. Unease. Uncertainty. They were all sweeping across the West a decade ago when farmers began seeing their local Case IH and New Holland dealerships get gobbled up by a new and unfamiliar company. Then they started hearing the name — Rocky Mountain Equipment — but that didn’t help. Except as the outsiders buying their […] Read more
2016 saw manufacturers introduce several enhancements to their equipment. Here’s a look at the year’s highlights
During 2016, several Prairie-based seeding equipment manufacturers announced new design enhancements to meet customer demand. Here’s a look at the major announcements that will begin production for 2017 model-year machines. Seed Hawk Responding to problems reported on the iCon seeding system it introduced in 2014, Saskatchewan-based Seed Hawk — now owned by Swedish manufacturer Vaderstad […] Read more
This new ag robot concept uses swarms of small machines
A new research project underway in Europe may give farmers a reason to think swarms are a good thing. Far from swarms of locusts or other troublesome pests, the MARS (Mobile Agricultural Robot Swarms) project is working on creating swarms of small, autonomous robots that can seed farm fields on their own. The MARS project […] Read more
Versatile draws on inspiration from its past to position itself for future growth
It isn’t much of a surprise when Versatile shows up for the annual Manitoba Ag Days. The show, after all, is just two hours from the Versatile factory, so the company’s regular attendance is pretty much a given. Local farmers expect to see the brand put in an appearance there every year, and they’re never […] Read more
The brand is following through on a commitment to add new machines to its product line twice a year
BRP, the company behind the Can Am line of products, has expanded the choice of Defender Max UTVs for 2017 with the addition of two new machines, bringing the total number of Max models to four. The company says the Defender Max UTVs are “pickup truck-inspired” and will now offer seating for up to six adults. […] Read more
New fertilizer applicators rush onto the market
In 2016, farmers were introduced to several new machines capable of meeting their fertilizer spreading needs. Among them was the new self-propelled F4365 spinner-spreader from John Deere, a high-capacity machine designed primarily for large operators and custom applicators. The F4365 sports a 330-cubic foot New Leader dry spreader box, and can apply up to 1,100 […] Read more
Will a protectionist administration in the White House force our ag equipment industry to move south?
It was a stunning move. Ford’s CEO and president Mark Fields appeared on CNN in January to announce that his company was scrubbing its long-planned construction of a US$1.6 billion assembly plant in Mexico. Instead, Ford will invest U.S.$700 million in a Michigan facility and boost its workforce in that state by 700. It looked […] Read more
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