To till or not to till, that is the question. The question is simple but the answer isn’t. Ask different people for their opinions and you’ll get a variety of answers. The real answer might be “Maybe. But if you do, do it properly.” Grainews spent some time in an Arizona farm field with tillage […] Read more
Tillage 101: Getting the compaction out
Under the desert sun
When field testing prototypes, Canadian ag equipment, manufacturers—like all others—need to log as many hours on a machine as is possible in the shortest amount of time. If they stick to testing in Canada, snowfall pretty much sidelines the equipment for at least half of the year. But if they head far south of the […] Read more
John Deere upgrades its 6R Series tractors
Range offers models that span the 110 to 250 horsepower range
Last August John Deere updated its 2019 line of 110- to 215-horsepower 6R Series tractors, giving them a host of new features. The updated models include the 6110R, 6120R, 6130R, 6145R, 6155R, 6175R, 6195R and 6215R in both two- and four-wheel drive configurations with cabs. First and foremost, among the new optional features is the […] Read more
Hitting the powder
I don’t think there is anyone in this country that will be sad to see the end of winter, especially one like we just experienced. So with the snow receding, giving us the first look at grass and fields again, you might think I’d be turning my attention in this entry to seeding or something […] Read more
Manitou’s ‘NewAg’ agricultural telehandler
NewAg 737-130 PS+ multi-purpose model hits the show circuit
Telehandlers are slowly gaining popularity among Canadian farmers. While they aren’t yet taking the market by storm, manufacturers are beginning to give potential buyers more reason to consider adding a telehandler to a farm fleet, offering models tailored for farm environments and typical agricultural jobs. Bringing them to farm equipment shows helps catch farmers’ eyes. […] Read more
Reading “Classic Oliver Tractors”
Diving into the latest machinery book to come our way
One of the great things about working the machinery beat here at Grainews is I sometimes get a preview of the latest farm equipment book due to hit store shelves. This time Octane Press sent us a copy of one of their latest release, Classic Oliver Tractors: History, Models, Variations & Specifications 1897-1976, by Sherry […] Read more
Air line uses truck compressor
A glad hand connector on an air hose brings compressed air to the field
Having a source of compressed air in the field can be a pretty handy tool. But carting around a shop air compressor isn’t exactly easy, unless you have one permanently mounted in a service truck. For many farms, however, there is almost always an air compressor in the field. During seeding, spraying and harvest, the […] Read more
PHOTOS: Case IH debuts the AFS Connect Magnum tractor
Ramped-up digital features dominate in the 2020 models
Grouped together in a farm field in Maricopa, Arizona, a fleet of Magnum tractors sat outside some large white tents, which were set up to accommodate several weeks of Case IH dealer training days. The Magnums looked a lot the existing models from a distance, but that was an intentional ruse by the brand’s marketing […] Read more
Kon’nichiwa
When the press release from Versatile (Buhler Industries) first popped up in my email inbox with the name Kubota in the heading, I thought, “Here it comes!”. There’s a good reason I was bracing for a really big announcement between those two brands. The rumours around a deal between them have swirled through the ag […] Read more
Gas or electric?
18-volt batteries give electric chainsaws more power
Nearly every farm workshop, especially those on livestock or mixed farms, has a chain saw tucked away on a shelf, and it may only get used when there is a tree down on a pasture fence. If so, that dust-covered saw will probably not be willing to start easily when needed, especially if it’s been […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
