How to pick the right electrodes

Setting up a welder with the proper electrodes is key to doing a good job. For all three welding processes, MIG, TIG and Stick, there are multiple electrode choices. When using MIG for regular mild steel, which is the most common application on the farm, selecting ER 70S-6 welding wire is the best choice. “For mild steel the best choice would be ER 70S-6,” says […] Read more

AGCO further improves parts distribution

In early February, members of AGCO’s senior North American management team made the trip to Woodstock, Ontario, for yet another of that company’s ribbon cutting ceremonies. And there have been quite a few in the past couple of years, as the brand makes some concrete moves toward improving its manufacturing and parts distribution infrastructure. The […] Read more


Electric implement drives still appearing at Agritechnica

Manufacturers have been showing concept machines equipped with electric implement control at the show since 2009. This year was no exception

Aside from displaying new, market-ready machines, some manufacturers again used Germany’s Agritechnica machinery show to provide a glimpse into the engineering future. Tractors and equipment designed to use high-voltage electricity to power implement drives instead of traditional PTO or hydraulic systems have been appearing at the event since 2009. There were more concept machines advancing that technology […] Read more

Brand it

  It hasn’t been that long since Canadians were busy unwrapping Christmas presents under trees. And it’s a safe bet that prairie farm kids received their share of scale model farm toys and clothing branded with their—or Dad’s—favourite machinery name. Those toys, caps, T-shirts and the like actually generate a substantial amount of revenue for […] Read more


Scott Garvey pressure washing Jeep frame.

Frame-off restoration, part 1

We kick off a complete vehicle restoration project, starting with a full disassembly and clean up

Here, in the Machinery and Shop section of Grainews, we regularly detail different kinds of equipment repairs, and we’ve even gone as far as taking a step-by-step look at how to give a farm truck a major facelift. But in this new series, we’re going to take that idea a step further. This time we’re […] Read more

Merlo Turbofarmer 40.7 Hybrid

Merlo introduces a hybrid telehandler

The Italian manufacturer takes home a gold Innovations Award for its industry-first, diesel-electric hybrid

Beating out a field of 393 entrants vying for an Innovation Award at Germany’s Agritechnica in November, Merlo’s Turbofarmer 40.7 Hybrid telehandler was one of only four products deemed worthy of a gold medal, the show’s highest engineering accolade. The company’s president, Amilcare Merlo, made an emotional acceptance speech during the medal presentations at a special evening […] Read more


New F 150 is no lightweight

“When you spend nearly four decades at the top of the pickup truck market, you learn some things,” is the leadoff line on Ford’s release to the media introducing the 2015 F150. What Ford seems to have learned best is how to keep ahead of the competition when it comes to truck sales numbers. The […] Read more

IBIS sprayer at Agritechnica 2013.

Glimpses of Agritechnica 2013

Grainews was at Germany's massive, bi-annual farm machinery show. Here's what caught our eye.

Every second November, Agritechnica, the world’s largest farm machinery exhibition, opens its doors in Hanover, Germany. Held on the largest fairground anywhere, a site that was built, in part, to house a World Expo, the show has roughly 100 acres under roof. Crammed into the 27 massive exhibit halls this year were 2,898 exhibits, ranging from large […] Read more


Help for a good cause

It seems so many institutions in this country that once were entirely wards of the state now count increasingly on charitable donations to keep operating. Our local hospital, for instance. When the old building became unusable, the town had to raise several million dollars on its own before the province would commit any funds to […] Read more