Reading Time: 5 minutes Through mid-winter, the push from machinery executives for the U.S. government to reach a deal on NAFTA seemed to be gearing up. AEM (the Association of Equipment Manufacturers) was sending out that message even louder and clearer than it had been on behalf of its member companies in the ag and construction machinery sector. An […] Read more
NAFTA indecision
Washington may be divided on NAFTA, but machinery manufacturers certainly know where they stand
Walmart patents hint at future where its drones tend the farms
Reading Time: 3 minutes New York/Chicago | Reuters — Walmart’s patent filings hint that it may see a future where farmers use its drones to not only spot crop problems but selectively apply chemicals or even disperse pollen to bring shoppers the freshest and cheapest food possible. The world’s largest retailer applied for six patents last year on drones […] Read more
The heart of the deal
How significant is the local dealer in determining what you buy?
Reading Time: 5 minutes One evening a year or so ago I sat in a hotel lounge in rural England with a couple of other ag machinery writers. We were gathered there for a machinery event and were all staying in the same hotel. We spent part of that evening discussing the differences between farmer perceptions of machinery in […] Read more
Enjoy stable diesel market while you can, analyst says
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — The short-term outlook for the diesel market in North America calls for current prices to remain largely untouched through spring planting — but it could change drastically after that. According to Tom Kloza of the Oil Price Information Service in New Jersey, prices for diesel could even get higher than crude oil. […] Read more
Deere strengthens its tractor promise
More models and a unique fuel guarantee to boost Deere’s European presence
Reading Time: 3 minutes Several years ago, John Deere was one of the earliest brands to give the digital component of its equipment a strong emphasis. Without a doubt they were ahead of all the major brands, which have since recognized the growing importance of that technology. Now, Deere is again getting ahead of curve by using the data […] Read more
CN apologizes as farm groups, Ottawa press on rail service
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada’s largest railway has taken the unusual step of apologizing for its pace of grain delivery in recent weeks and pledging “immediate steps” to improve its grain handle. After parting ways with its CEO Luc Jobin on Monday, Canadian National Railway (CN), through interim CEO Jean-Jacques Ruest, said Wednesday it “apologize(s) for not meeting the […] Read more
CN CEO Luc Jobin steps down abruptly
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Canadian National Railway (CN) CEO Luc Jobin stepped down abruptly on Monday, as the board looks to “energize” the railroad’s leadership amid a major supply crunch that has hurt profits and angered customers. “The board believes the company needs a leader who will energize the team, realize CN’s corporate vision and take the […] Read more
Steel shock drives wedge into sluggish NAFTA talks
Reading Time: 3 minutes Mexico City | Reuters — Negotiators trying to rework the NAFTA trade deal on Thursday were hit by the prospect of a battle over U.S. steel tariffs that could make it more complicated to build autos in North America, one of the most sensitive issues at the talks. U.S. President Donald Trump said he would […] Read more
Trump pushes Big Corn, Big Oil to break biofuels deadlock
Reading Time: 3 minutes New York | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump urged representatives from the rival oil and corn industries on Thursday to break a deadlock in talks over the future of the nation’s biofuels policy by accepting a deal involving reforms sought by both sides. Trump has arranged a series of talks between Big Corn and […] Read more
Farmers seek ‘urgent’ action from Senate on rail service
Reading Time: 3 minutes Groups representing Canadian grain growers touched down in Ottawa Thursday to urge quick passage of legislation to avoid a sequel to the grain handling logjam of 2013-14. Representatives from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Grain Growers of Canada, Keystone Agricultural Producers, Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan, Alberta Federation of Agriculture and B.C. Agriculture Council went […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
