Every car and light truck built since the 1996 model year comes with an OBD II (on-board diagnostics) plug-in port, which allows any mechanic to communicate with the on-board ECM. That’s the computer that controls the engine operating parameters. If there’s a problem, just plug in one of those OBD II (II because it’s the […] Read more
Right to repair
Ram offers colour-matched pickups
Harvest Edition models available in Case IH red or New Holland blue livery
Are you a Case IH or New Holland guy or gal through and through? If so, it’s now possible to extend your favourite brand colour right down to a new Ram pickup truck. Ram’s new Harvest Edition 1500, 2500 and 3500 models will be available with authentic farm equipment colours from those two brands. But […] Read more
John Deere offers performance guarantees in Europe
Maintenance agreements help owners in Europe stabilize machinery costs
What do you think the average field size is in Western Europe,” Thomas Höglmeier, segment manager for John Deere, asked the group of North American journalists clustered around him. A moment later he answered his own question: “Two hectares (about five acres) is the average field size,” he said. Höglmeier was leading a media tour through […] Read more
Form or function?
As a prairie farm kid in the ‘70s, there were times when my brother and I had had enough of “The Tommy Hunter Show” and “Sing-along Jubilee” and wanted to get a look at some different TV shows. (Not that they were bad shows, but you know what I mean. We were kids.) To try […] Read more
The century year
There was probably some cake in the lunchrooms during the afternoon break at Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan, plant and offices on July 27th last year. (Well, I’m guessing there was.) Why? Because that day marked the 100th anniversary of Ford truck production. A red letter day for the brand to be sure. To meet demand for […] Read more
John Deere Gators eat up engineering award
Last December, the ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers) awarded John Deere one of the coveted AE50 Awards for its new XUV835 and XUV865 Gators. Every year the ASABE hands out engineering awards to most innovative designs to appear in new ag equipment. The full list of AE50 award recipients is released along […] Read more
PHOTOS: Syn Trac tractor makes its world debut
This Austrian company introduces what its founder believes is the perfectly designed tractor
There were no shortage of uncommon equipment designs under the roofs of the nearly 30 massive buildings that housed the 2017 edition of Agritechnica in Germany in November, but none caught our eye as quickly as the revolutionary Syn Trac tractor. Standing beside the machine on display, Ana Putz, one of the company’s marketing staff and […] Read more
Reiter redefines the hay rake
Prototype leaves rocks on the ground while reducing leaf loss
At the end of one of the aisles in the grassland pavilion on the grounds of Agritechnica last November was a prototype hay rake that had many show goers stopping for a second look. Known as the Reiter Respiro, this model made its first public appearance at that event. Designed with a nine metre (29.5 […] Read more
PHOTOS: A look at Agritechnica 2017
Once again we have extensive coverage of this major equipment exhibition
Several weeks ago I noticed a post on Twitter from someone who described one western Canadian farm show as being “like Agritechnica, only smaller.” I assume that description was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. The truth is, there really isn’t any other farm equipment show remotely like Agritechnica. This show, held in Hanover Germany every two years, stands […] Read more
Farm long and prosper
David Yee, vice president of operations at PAMI (the Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute), titled his presentation to an audience at Manitoba Ag Days in Brandon on Wednesday referencing two iconic names: “Star Wars and Star Trek, How Precision Ag May Land in the Farm of the Future”. He believes the high-tech fantasy realities in those […] Read more