Reading Time: < 1 minute Ottawa | Reuters — Global ransomware attacks increased by 151 per cent in the first half of 2021 compared with 2020 and hackers are set to become increasingly aggressive, Canada’s signals intelligence agency said on Monday. The Communications Security Establishment (CSE), citing attacks on North American health facilities and a U.S. pipeline, said the scale […] Read more
Spy agency sees ransomware attacks soaring
Aggressive hacking expected to increase
U.S. EPA to propose expanding credit eligibility under biofuel program
Reading Time: < 1 minute New York | Reuters — The Biden administration is expected to propose expanding the kinds of renewable fuel production processes that are eligible to receive credits under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard program, three sources familiar with the matter said. The move could help increase production of advanced biofuels, which include lower-carbon products such as […] Read more
CNH buys software house NX9 to bolster ag business
Reading Time: < 1 minute Milan | Reuters — CNH Industrial has bought software engineering firm NX9, it said on Thursday, in a further step to boost digital innovation in its agricultural division as it prepares to spin off its truck, bus and engine operations. U.S.-based NX9 is a small software house specializing in so-called ‘ISOBUS’ technology for agricultural equipment, […] Read more
B.C. extends fuel restrictions following flooding
Agricultural and farm-use vehicles exempted as 'essential'
Reading Time: 1 minute Reuters — Government officials in British Columbia on Monday extended restrictions on the use of fuel by residents, saying it was needed for emergency vehicles as the region recovers from devastating floods. The order, first issued on Nov. 19, limits vehicles deemed “non-essential” by the government to 30 litres of gasoline or diesel fuel per […] Read more
P.E.I. potato exports to U.S. halted
Canada imposes new rules after potato wart findings
Reading Time: 4 minutes Canada has moved to halt exports of Prince Edward Island potatoes to the United States after findings of potato wart in the province last month — on what federal officials describe as the threat of a U.S. ban. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Monday it has “temporarily suspended” exports of fresh potatoes from P.E.I. […] Read more
Repair work on B.C. rail lines expected for days yet
CP expects to resume service 'mid-week;' some highways open only for essential travel
Reading Time: 4 minutes Canada’s big two railways expect repair work to continue into at least next week before service can resume through storm-battered areas of British Columbia to export terminals at Vancouver. Both railways, along with several major B.C. highways, have been shut this week due to damage from flooding and landslides spurred by a major multi-day storm […] Read more
GM aims to tackle chip shortage with new designs
Chip-making investments to be in U.S., Canada
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — General Motors aims to tackle the global semiconductor shortage with new designs built in North America, president Mark Reuss said on Thursday. Reuss told an investor conference GM is working with seven chip suppliers on three new families of microcontrollers that will reduce the number of unique chips by 95 per cent on […] Read more
CNH gets a new boss
Autonomous machinery is coming fast, but electrification not so much. Scott Wine, the new CEO in charge of Case IH and New Holland, sees a company in position to do business with a ton more farmers
Reading Time: 6 minutes It’s a very, very big ship that Scott Wine has taken the wheel of, so earlier this fall, Country Guide sought an opportunity to interview the new CEO of CNH Industrial, the parent company of Case IH and New Holland. Wine took over last January, so he’s got his feet under him now and we […] Read more
Deere’s striking U.S. workers accept revised offer
Operations to resume Wednesday night, company says
Reading Time: < 1 minute Production and maintenance workers at 14 Deere and Co. plants are expected to return to work starting Wednesday night after voting to approve a new contract. United Auto Workers (UAW), which represents over 10,000 Deere employees in the U.S., said late Wednesday its members voted 61 per cent in favour of new six-year collective bargaining […] Read more
Deere’s striking U.S. workers accept revised offer
Operations to resume Wednesday night, company says
Reading Time: < 1 minute Production and maintenance workers at 14 Deere and Co. plants are expected to return to work starting Wednesday night after voting to approve a new contract. United Auto Workers (UAW), which represents over 10,000 Deere employees in the U.S., said late Wednesday its members voted 61 per cent in favour of new six-year collective bargaining […] Read more