A John Deere air cart seeding system in the field.  Photo: John Deere

Deere & Co. to buy Monsanto’s Precision Planting farm equipment business

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago/Reuters – Monsanto Co’s Climate Corp subsidiary on Tuesday announced a definitive agreement to sell its Precision Planting farm equipment business to Deere & Co for an undisclosed sum. The deal also allows nearly real-time data connections between certain John Deere farm equipment and Climate’s farming software programs, Climate FieldView. Climate will keep its digital farming […] Read more

(Greg Berg photo)

John Deere to acquire European farm equipment maker Monosem

Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters – Deere & Co. shares rose about 2 per cent on Monday after the company said it plans to acquire Monosem, a European family-owned farm equipment manufacturer that specializes in “precision planters” designed to increase crop production. Deere would not comment on the transaction’s financial details or Monosem’s revenues, but it does expect the […] Read more


John Deere’s long-awaited four-track tractors were finally introduced to farmers in August.

John Deere lays down some new tracks

Machinery Guide: The four-track John Deere 9RX tractor makes its official debut

Reading Time: 3 minutes At a dealer convention way back in August of 2014, John Deere gave farm media a glimpse of what was then its pre-production prototype 9RX tractor, a 9R Series articulated model that rode on four tracks instead of tires. It made me ask, why break with standard practice? Why reveal a machine not yet ready […] Read more

Digital pursuits in the world of agricultural technology

Digital pursuits in the world of agricultural technology

The list of tools to collect, manage and transfer farm data is growing. Here’s a look at some of the recent additions

Reading Time: 4 minutes Lehmann If your focus is on gathering more data rather than managing it, drone technology may be for you, and a new contender has recently stepped up with a high-tech offering. France’s Lehmann Aviation made a move to break into the North American data-gathering market this spring with the launch of what it calls “an […] Read more


tractor interior

PHOTOS: Compact, utility tractors are tough and ‘big at heart’

Machinery Guide: Kubota M6, Kioti PX, John Deere 6R, McCormick X6, New Holland T6 and Case IH Farmall 100A Series' tractors

Reading Time: < 1 minute Size always matters when it comes to tractors. But that doesn’t always mean bigger is better. In fact, smallest is often best, especially with the incredible technology, nimbleness and gutsy flexibility of today’s small tractors. Six different series of compact and utility tractors are included in this month’s MachineryGuide, with the manufacturers offering the same […] Read more

Case IH Farmall tractor

PHOTOS: Dramatic changes for tractors in the 120- to 220-horsepower range

Machinery Guide: Case IH Farmall 100A, New Holland T6, McCormick X6 and John Deere 6R Series

Reading Time: < 1 minute Only six months have come and gone since our last look at tractors in the 120- to 220-horsepower range, and yet the field of models, configurations and options has changed dramatically.  In less than a year, three different manufacturers have launched new looks, new features and new designs in these smaller, yet durable lines. The […] Read more


It was last August that Claas of America introduced its latest entry, this time into the all-purpose tractor market. Claas is widely known for its Lexion combines and, with the Xerion tractor series, the company is forecasting it will achieve the same success in the high-horsepower market. Not only is the Xerion series powerful, it also provides speed for efficient transport, plus reduced compaction and overall enhanced manoeuverability. The company says its designers have worked hard to create something new specifically for the needs of North American farmers, which includes improved power transmission, dual wheels and enhanced hydraulics. The Xerion design includes three different models, all with a Mercedes-Benz engine: the 5000 and 4500 are equipped with a 12.8-litre engine and the 4000 comes with 10.6-litre engine, capable of running at 530, 490 and 435 hp, respectively. In spite of all that power, the Xerion line is still easy to operate, with six steering modes and three driving programs.

PHOTOS: Tractors with BIG horsepower

Machinery Guide looks at offerings from New Holland, Claas, Massey Ferguson, John Deere and Case IH

Reading Time: < 1 minute There’s really no telling how much bigger these machines will get. Just when it appeared that 500 hp was a safe upper limit, manufacturers pushed right through. Below, Machinery Guide looks at five big tractor series, some with tracked technology and others with cab or transmission enhancements for 2015. All boast big horsepower, which in […] Read more

Krone Easycut F 360 CR Glide

Forage equipment sees major technology boon

Machinery Guide looks at forage equipment from Krone, New Holland, Vermeer, Claas and John Deere

Reading Time: 4 minutes Don’t stop with the models we’ve highlighted from the five manufacturers below. We’re bringing you news on some of the most innovative and efficient models, but forage equipment as a sector is experiencing a major technology boom. Most manufacturers have unveiled multiple new designs in the past 12 months, particularly Deere, New Holland and Vermeer. […] Read more


manufacturing production line

Manufacturing talent

Executives at the major equipment manufacturers know their brands can’t succeed without the right people on the payroll

Reading Time: 5 minutes Among the Big Four farm equipment brands, John Deere owns the largest slice of the North American market, and the bosses at its world headquarters in Moline, Illinois, have no intention of letting that change any time soon. In December they revealed their updated, long-term corporate strategy to investors, outlining how they intend to keep […] Read more

Yetter 5000 Stalk Devastator

Farm equipment to help speed up your day

Machinery Guide looks at innovative equipment from Bobcat, Sunflower, Yetter and Brandt

Reading Time: 4 minutes With spring on the horizon, Country Guide is providing a quick update on new equipment that doesn’t plant or harvest, or haul or spray. Even so, these are innovative designs that can prove just as valuable in the broader scope of all that’s happening on the farm these days. So have a look, and if […] Read more