Agriculture Machinery & Farming Equipment

Kubota has introduced its second-generation M7 tractor series, the M7-2.

Kubota updates its flagship M7 tractor line

The M7-2 series brings new technology and introduces the Deluxe model

By Scott Garvey February 27, 2019

Reading Time: 2 minutes It was a poorly kept secret in 2018 that Kubota was about to introduce an updated version of its most powerful tractor, the M7 Series, into North America. In fact, the brand showed a newer M7-2 at the Agritechnica machinery show in Germany in 2017. Now, however, the updated tractor line has finally arrived on […] Read more

Crops, Machinery, Markets

Baltic Dry Index near 2-1/2-year lows

By Phil Franz-Warkentin February 21, 2019

Reading Time: < 1 minute The Baltic Dry Index (BDI) has dropped sharply over the past two months, as declining global demand for commodities — especially from China — weighed on the economic indicator. The BDI, compiled daily by the London-based Baltic Exchange, provides an assessment of the price of moving major raw materials by sea, including grain. The BDI […] Read more

Repairing today’s farm machines is now a much more complex matter than it used to be, both in how to and who can do it.

Equipment, Machinery

The ‘right’ solution

Manufacturers and dealers make their case in the divisive “right-to-repair” debate

By Scott Garvey February 20, 2019

Reading Time: 6 minutes Here at Country Guide we’ve discussed the so-called “right to repair” machinery debate, most recently when a joint press release from a major dealer association and AEM, the association that represents most North American ag equipment manufacturers, announced concessions to allow for more access to the “brain” of machines to facilitate repairs. Our previous discussion […] Read more

Crops, Machinery

Buhler cutting overhead to boost margins

By GFM Staff February 18, 2019

Reading Time: < 1 minute Tractor and farm equipment maker Buhler Industries has added financing from its majority owner to a regime of cost cuts in a bid to lift its quarterly results out of the red. Citing “depressed” sales due to “weak” commodity prices, the Winnipeg company on Thursday booked a net loss of $4.4 million on $57.3 million […] Read more

A Tinder-inspired app meant to help farmers match up potential partners for their cattle is demonstrated at a farm in Hampshire, Britain on Feb. 12, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Matthew Stock)

Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Livestock, Machinery, Reuters

‘Tinder for cows’ matches livestock in mood for love

By Matthew Stock February 13, 2019

Reading Time: 2 minutes Petersfield, England | Reuters — A Tinder-inspired app is helping farmers match up potential partners for their cattle. Called “Tudder” — a mix of dating app Tinder and udder — it lets farmers swipe right on cattle they like the look of. They are then directed to a page on the SellMyLivestock website where they […] Read more

A 2013 Ford F-150. (Ford Media video screengrab via YouTube)

General, Machinery, Reuters

Ford recalls 1.48 million pickups over transmissions

By Ben Klayman, David Shepardson February 13, 2019

Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — Ford Motor Co. said on Wednesday it was recalling about 1.48 million F-150 pickup trucks in North America due to a potential transmission downshift issue that could increase the risk of a crash. Ford said select 2011-2013 model year trucks with six-speed automatic transmission could experience an unintended downshift into first […] Read more

Crops, Machinery

CP mainline through Rockies reopened after crash

By GFM Staff February 9, 2019

Reading Time: 2 minutes Canadian Pacific Railway’s mainline through the Rocky Mountains has reopened to traffic following a grain train derailment that killed three railroaders Monday. Calgary-based CP announced late Friday its mainline through Field, B.C. was reopened at midday Wednesday “in close collaboration with Transport Canada, and upon completion of all necessary safety checks.” Meanwhile, CP said Friday, […] Read more

Australian farmer David Ricardo has developed a farm machinery maintenance and service app.

Machinery, Machinery Guide

Easy service scheduling for farm machinery

Australian smartphone app puts farm fleet service records on your device

By Scott Garvey February 7, 2019

Reading Time: 2 minutes Growing up on the farm, I can remember the small garage in the yard had a long list of oil change dates written on the inside wall by the door. At the time, that seemed a fully adequate maintenance record. After all, there were only two tractors to keep track of. Today, however, tracking equipment […] Read more

Crops, Machinery, Reuters

CP grain train ‘began to move on its own’ before fatal derailment

By Reuters February 5, 2019

Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg | Reuters — A Canadian Pacific Railway train was parked for a change of crew when it unexpectedly rolled down a steep embankment and derailed in British Columbia’s Rocky Mountains on Monday, killing three crew members, a transport regulator said. The train, hauling 112 cars of grain, was parked for two hours at the […] Read more

Crops, Machinery, Reuters

Biofuels group suing U.S. EPA over small refinery exemptions

By Reuters February 5, 2019

Reading Time: 1 minute Washington | Reuters — Biofuels group Growth Energy filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday, challenging the agency’s renewable fuel mandate for 2019 as failing to address rising waived biofuel volumes. “EPA’s inaction on addressing lost gallons due to small refinery exemptions in this rulemaking is a clear violation of […] Read more

Daily Network News

Southern California honeybees show resistance to varroa mites

Pulse Weekly: SaskPulse optimistic despite input, crop price concerns

Canadian aquaculture should be classed as agriculture, industry groups say

Machinery