Reading Time: 3 minutes Washington | Reuters — The Biden administration in the U.S. announced measures to crack down on child labour on Monday amid a steep rise in violations and investigative reports by Reuters and other news outlets on illegal employment of migrant minors in dangerous industries. U.S. officials said the Labor Department had seen a nearly 70 […] Read more
U.S. to crack down on child labour amid massive uptick
Food processing plants among alleged offenders
Nova Scotia to bridge Fiona funding gap for farmers
Provincial program offering up to $400K per farm
Reading Time: 2 minutes Nova Scotia farmers who didn’t qualify for federal disaster financial assistance (DFA) in the wake of Hurricane Fiona last September may be able to get in on a new provincial program instead. The province on Thursday announced $3 million for what it calls the Fiona Agriculture Response Gap Funding program, offering up to $400,000 for […] Read more
GM’s truck production cut signals a turn in U.S. auto sales
Company to idle Indiana plant for two weeks
Reading Time: 3 minutes Detroit | Reuters — New vehicle sales in the United States are expected to increase in February, but the decision by General Motors to cut production of large pickup trucks at a U.S. plant points to new challenges for Detroit’s automakers. The major Detroit pickup truck brands are sitting on growing inventories of unsold vehicles, […] Read more
The energy transition for tractors has already begun
Hydrogen is emerging as a potential diesel fuel replacement
Reading Time: 5 minutes This fall at the annual Bauma construction machinery show in Munich, Germany, Volvo Penta, a longtime engine supplier to the industrial and marine industries, unveiled its new eight-litre, dual-fuel hydrogen engine. The company claims the use of renewable hydrogen as a fuel means its new engine will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80 per […] Read more
CN’s mechanics, clerical staff taking strike votes
Railway not expecting impact on operations
Reading Time: 2 minutes Canadian National Railway says it’s not expecting any impact on its operations if its unionized mechanics and clerical staff are involved in a work stoppage, depending on the outcome of strike votes starting this week. Unifor represents about 3,000 CN workers in mechanical, intermodal and clerical positions across the country through five collective agreements, all […] Read more
Should we pay more attention to European tractor competitions?
Comparing apples to apples with North American machinery brands
Reading Time: 5 minutes Here in North America, many producers have a favourite farm machinery brand and wouldn’t think of buying anything else. Often there may be some practical reasons behind that choice. Parts and service availability, proximity to a dealer or maintaining a relationship with a dealer can pay dividends. But those factors can sometimes result in producers […] Read more
CNH sees headwinds easing in 2023 after strong fourth-quarter results
Long-running strikes end at two CNH plants in U.S.
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — CNH Industrial said on Thursday its 2023 net sales of industrial activities would grow by between six and 10 per cent, after the group posted stronger-than-expected results in the last quarter of 2022. The industry faced several headwinds in 2022, including a choppy supply chain and inflation, but late in the year these […] Read more
Feds back BHP potash mine for sustainable tech
Fund to provide $100M for electrifying equipment
Reading Time: 2 minutes Major miner BHP’s potash mine-in-progress in Saskatchewan has picked up $100 million in federal funding to go toward investments in low-emissions equipment. Federal Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne on Monday announced BHP’s Saskatoon-based Canadian arm will get backing from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) for the mine at Jansen, Sask., about […] Read more
Imperial Oil clears Edmonton renewable diesel plant for construction
Quick decision motivated in part by need for feedstocks such as canola oil, company says
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Imperial Oil on Thursday announced approval for an investment of $720 million to build Canada’s largest renewable diesel facility at its Strathcona refinery near Edmonton. The Calgary-based company said the facility will produce 20,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel and is expected to start production in 2025. Imperial expects regulatory approval for […] Read more
Germany considering withdrawal from crop-based biofuels by 2030
Lawmakers seek to boost biofuel made from wastes
Reading Time: 2 minutes Hamburg | Reuters — Germany’s government is considering proposals to phase out the use of biofuels produced from food or animal feed crops by 2030, the German biofuels industry association (VDB) said on Tuesday, adding the measure could increase carbon emissions. German environment minister Steffi Lemke said Jan. 17 she will soon send proposals to […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
