When farm trucks go to work, they’re usually carrying pretty heavy loads, often over less-than-ideal roads. Because of this they need to be in good condition, but it’s easy to overlook maintenance on trucks that sit idle for long periods. Some farm trucks also enjoy an exemption from the same mandatory periodic inspections commercial truckers […] Read more
Is Your Heavy Truck Roadworthy?
How To Pick The Right Farm Truck
Heavy truck manufacturers build a pretty wide variety of new models for the tandem- axle market, and the features they offer run the gamut from basic to downright luxurious. But most tandem-axle farm trucks log only a few thousand kilometres each year. So, do you really need to buy a new one to get the […] Read more
How To Cut With Oxyacetylene Systems, Part 1
For this season’s Shop Class Series we interviewed Cal Shaw, a welding instructor at SIAST’s Palliser Campus in Moose Jaw, along with reviewing training material and published text books to get background information for these how-to articles. Drawing on all that expertise, along with input from a few other expert sources on topics such as […] Read more
AGCO Introduces New Fendt 800 Series
AGCO was one of several manufacturers to use AG Connect Expo, held in Atlanta, Georgia, in early January, to debut new products. The centrepiece of its display at the show this year was the all-new 800 Series tractors in the Fendt line. The new features packed into the 2011 models build on the already impressive, […] Read more
Mandatory Biodiesel Content Coming
It’s widely expected that the federal government will impose a mandatory two per cent (B2) biofuel content in all diesel sometime this year; farm fuel will soon be a little different than it is now. But with all the concern around biodiesel’s detergent properties, its tendency to allow bacterial growth in long-term storage and its […] Read more
The Real Cost Of Going Greener
Probably the hottest farm equipment topic in the last few months has been the Interim Tier 4 (IT4) engine emissions regulation that came into force at the beginning of January. This new and very stringent standard had everyone in the industry wondering how much of an impact it would have on new equipment prices. Best […] Read more
Do you have a favourite machine?
Over the last several weeks I’ve passed by a lot of new-machinery exhibits at shows and trade fairs. Looking at those displays really emphasizes just how impressive and diverse modern technology has become. But when talking to farmers or machinery enthusiasts, it often seems to be an older machine—usually a tractor—that really holds their respect. […] Read more
CNH Introduces Larger Air Carts
In 2009, CNH introduced their first air drills with independently- linked openers at the Western Canada Farm Progress Show in Regina. They were shown in both Case IH red and New Holland blue. Last year, both brands again used the show to introduce new seeding equipment — their larger air carts, the P1070 New Holland […] Read more
New Deere Drills Are No Fawns
John Deere has introduced two new sizes of its 1890 air drill, which will be available for the 2011 season. Now available in wider 50-and 60-foot widths, the 1890 and 1890 SFP (Separate Fertilizer Placement) drills have grown considerably from the maximum 43-foot width previously offered, giving farmers a choice of sizes from 30 to […] Read more
Coming Soon: NH3 As A Farm Fuel
It’s not rare to see a tank of anhydrous ammonia (NH3) in a farmyard. But it would be to see a farmer fuelling up a tractor from it. Even though it’s a well-known source of fertilizer, few realize it is also a potential engine fuel. And as off the wall as that might seem to […] Read more