The far east heads west

There have been several bits of interesting news trickling out of Europe in the last few weeks—and I’m not talking about the mayhem that struck Norway. I’m referring to recent developments in the farm machinery world. While both John Deere and AGCO are set to unveil new products to the media at events in the […] Read more

Pickup projects

Pickup trucks have been on my radar a lot this past week. At home, I’ve finally decided that my 1995 three-quarter ton, 4X4, diesel needs a facelift. It’s going to have to stay around for a while, so it might as well look nice—or at least nicer. A little less than two years ago I […] Read more


Movin’ on to wireless internet

If you’re like me, having internet access has gone from being a luxury to a necessity. It’s hard to imagine life without it, now. And perhaps surprisingly, one of the most useful places for it has turned out to be inside the workshop. A couple of years ago, mechanical instructors at Brandon’s Assiniboine Community College […] Read more

Incorporating innovation

The Western Canada Farm Progress Show is now in the books for another year. The last couple of shows have seen significant changes, primarily because the organizers have been increasingly focusing on the new innovations presented by exhibitors.  Prairie manufacturers have been using the event to introduce their new products for several years now, so […] Read more


This week’s Regina farm show

If you’re a fan of farm machinery shows—and who isn’t—be sure to take in the Agritechnica preview presentation, which will be held during the second day of the Western Canada Farm Progress show. On Thursday, the 16th, representatives from Agritechnica, the world’s premier machinery show, will be making a presentation about their next show. It […] Read more

Got a match?

Now that the weather is finally cooperating, most prairie farmers are out working in their fields. But they have a lot of lost time to make up for. And it’s during those hectic days of playing catch up when things usually seem to go wrong. Sometimes instead of covering acres, you find yourself repairing a […] Read more


Cross Slot field demo

Last week—during a lull between a late spring blizzard and heavy rain showers—I had a chance to attend a field demonstration of Baker No-Tillage’s Cross Slot seeding system. The demo, held on a farm near Willow City, North Dakota, was one that would challenge the capabilities of any seed drill. The Cross Slot drill started […] Read more

We’ve come a long way, baby

Back in the 1970s, a cigarette brand, Virginia Slims, had a long-running ad campaign with the tag line “You’ve come a long way, baby”. Remember that? Something that happend to me last week made me think of that old line. A friend called one evening; and she said when going through her late husband’s large […] Read more


Skid steer competitions

New Holland just announced the introduction of its new 200 Series skid steer and compact track loaders. There are seven skid steers and three tracked versions in the line. According to the company, their designs are the result of extensive customer feedback. So these machines should be everything you’d ever ask for in a compact […] Read more

It’s auction season, again

It’s auction season, again. Every spring those few weeks between the start of milder weather and the day farmers need to head into the fields are packed with farm sales. This year, however, milder weather is a pretty relative term. Last week when I attended my first sale of the season, I had to come […] Read more