A rail car from SGCC’s fleet. (Dave Bedard photo)

Three shortlines to buy Saskatchewan’s grain cars

Reading Time: 2 minutes The Saskatchewan government has picked the three buyers who will divvy up its provincially-owned fleet of grain hopper cars. The province, in its March budget, announced a request for offer (RFO) for the Saskatchewan Grain Car Corporation’s (SGCC) fleet of rail cars as it winds down that operation. The province said it would give “first […] Read more



SeedMaster’s Norbert Beaujot sees DOT technology as one solution to a shortage of skilled operators.

Not just a driverless tractor, but no tractor at all

A global launch at Ag in Motion could change the way you farm

Reading Time: 4 minutes While farmers have been waiting impatiently for equipment designers to commercialize the driverless tractor, Prairie inventor and entrepreneur Norbert Beaujot has found a way to ditch the tractor altogether. And he’s rolling it out for the first time in July 18 to 20 at Ag in Motion (AIM), Western Canada’s outdoor farm show now in […] Read more

A group of companies headed by Bosch has created a new digitally integrated cab designed for use in a variety of off-road machines. It builds on technologies used in the automotive sector.

A Genius in the tractor cab

This systems supplier is integrating cutting-edge automotive safety systems into off-road equipment cabs

Reading Time: 4 minutes A few years ago I had the pleasure of interviewing the industrial designer who styled the cab and body of the first Challenger 65 belted ag tractors, which were then part of the Caterpillar brand before coming under AGCO ownership. Before coming to Cat, the designer had spent several years working for General Motors and […] Read more


(Deere.ca)

Farmers keen early adopters, StatsCan report shows

Reading Time: 3 minutes CNS Canada — Canadian farmers in most sectors are strong proponents of data-driven technology, according to a report Wednesday from Statistics Canada. The latest release from StatsCan’s 2016 Census of Agriculture showed farmers were particularly keen to jump into new technology if it improved the efficiency of their operations or their bottom lines. StatsCan spokesperson […] Read more

Photo: Scott Garvey

Seven new product reveals from John Deere

In early June John Deere invited members of the farm media to its Harvester Works facility in Moline, Illinois, to see the full line of equipment it was introducing in 2017. And all of it was parked on the lawn in front of that combine manufacturing facility for reporters to photograph and learn about from[...]
Read more


(Machinerie.com)

Coop federee to exit machinery parts distribution

Reading Time: < 1 minute Citing “a period of pronounced decline” in its farm machinery business, Quebec farm co-operative La Coop federee plans to get out of parts distribution by next fall. The co-operative announced May 30 it plans to “gradually” close its Dispro farm equipment and parts distribution centre at Trois-Rivieres over a 12- to 15-month period from September[...]
Read more

Photo: Scott Garvey

Diagnosing and repairing a problem leak

I’m always reminded of that famous Forrest Gump saying when working on an older machine or vehicle. Opening up a component like a transmission or transfer case, or looking behind the dashboard, is like opening a box of chocolates. You never know what you’ll find. The latest repair job to come into the Grainews Garage[...]
Read more


K-Line manufacturing of Australia is making its first foray into the North American market with its Speedtiller disc.

A new machinery brand for Canada

Australian manufacturer K-Line makes a big jump into the North American market

Reading Time: 3 minutes If you were a farm equipment manufacturer in a country that is its own continent, where would you look to make your first expansion into the international market? For the Australian company K-Line, the choice was easy. Head to North America. “It’s really one of the best moves we’ve made, as far as our company[...]
Read more

Deere and Co. plans to pay about US$4.9 billion for German manufacturer Wirtgen Group, whose WR250 soil stabilizer is shown here. (Wirtgen.de)

Deere to buy German road construction firm

Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Deere + Co. said on Thursday it would buy privately held German company Wirtgen Group for about US$4.88 billion to expand its road construction operations as it looks to cut down its dependence on its slowing farm business. Deere’s share rose 3.1 per cent to US$126.29 in premarket trading, and were set to[...]
Read more