Last week I wheeled my rental car into Jackson, Minnesota, home of AGCO’s Rogator and MF and Challenger Tractor assembly in North America. I along with several other machinery writers were there at the invitation of AGCO’s marketing staff. We were told we would get an early preview of the launch of one of the […] Read more
The greening of AGCO
Turning that workshop project into a business
When he took his on-farm invention to a trade show, John Gehrer found demand
For a lot of farmers, the off season is a great time to get equipment ready for the next season and make those put-off repairs. It also often means doing a bit of experimenting to see if it’s possible to make the little things work a little smoother. For John Gehrer, owner of the Never […] Read more
John Deere 5R tractors get upgrades for 2019
Green utility segment tractors continue to see more high-end options
Since John Deere introduced the 5 Series family of tractors several years ago, the number of available models has grown substantially, along with their options range and available level of sophistication. That’s no surprise. This horsepower class is the biggest seller in North America for most brands, and Deere has populated its line with tractors […] Read more
VIDEO: Antique tractors ‘trek’ for charity
Grainews machinery editor Scott Garvey talks with Earl Reimer of the Eden Foundation about its collaboration with Mennonite Heritage Village for Tractor Trek, an event involving over 40 antique tractors that hit the road on June 8 to raise money for charity. [VIDEO] eQuipTV: Manitoba Tractor Trek 2019 [VIDEO] equipTV: Tractor trekking ingenuity Video editing […] Read more
Eastbound and down
When I sat down to write my blog entry this week, I started into a serious discussion of the major topics affecting farmers lately: the China syndrome, inaccurate press coverage of key ag topics in some non-farm publications—due to a significant lack of understanding of the issues by those reporters covering them—and so on. Then […] Read more
New Loftness fertilizer spreaders
12-ton models designed for both fertilizer and lime
Loftness Specialized Equipment recently added two new 12-ton spreaders to its FertiLogix product line: the FB1210 and L1230. The L1230 is designed for both lime and fertilizer. Both are variable rate ready with hydraulically driven conveyors and spinners. Both models use dual stainless steel spinners that the brand claims produces a highly consistent spread pattern. […] Read more
Taking in the classics
When I first started writing about tractors and machinery, I was only looking at older machines, anything vintage, rare, unique or just plain interesting. Or perhaps more accurately stated, anything that was interesting to the editors I was supplying articles to, which meant almost anything old on Canadian farms. That’s because my first customers as […] Read more
PHOTOS: Tagging along on Tractor Trek 2019
A wide variety of classic tractors took part in this year’s event
The vintage tractor-collecting hobby may not be as strong as it used to be. A look at the selling prices of older restored machines indicates that demand for them is down from its high over a decade ago. That has been attributed to a hobby dominated by an aging demographic. But an event in southern […] Read more
DOT spends the winter in Arizona
Autonomous platform moves from R&D to commercial sales
Continuous field testing of prototype machinery can be a challenge for Canadian ag equipment manufacturers, because our long winters limit access to fields. A good option is to head to southern portions of the U.S. where milder climates make year-round testing possible. Only that way can engineers rack up the maximum number of hours on […] Read more
Out of the Morning
In a radio broadcast to the people of occupied France during World War II, Winston Churchill reassured them that liberation would come. “Sleep well,” he said, “For morning will come”. On June 6, 1944 as the sun rose, morning had truly dawned. It was D Day. The largest seaborne invasion fleet ever assembled began to […] Read more