Even if you’ve been living in a cave for the past year, you’re likely aware of the controversy over trade U.S. president-elect Trump has created with his promises during the election campaign and his tweets since. Adopting a protectionist stance, he has promised to walk away from trade deals and impose new tariffs on imports. […] Read more
Does this mean war?
Deciding how to ride in style and on the style of the ride
Only a few years ago, farm management decisions began to include discussions around leasing versus owning farm machinery. There were, and still are, many factors to consider. What’s right for one farm may not be the best choice for another. And accountants warn that once a producer has made a decision, switching back and forth […] Read more
PHOTOS: Bigger FWA models from Versatile
The Winnipeg brand bumps its rigid-frame models up to 360 horsepower
With Final Tier 4, we’re finding our fuel efficiency is rising dramatically,” said Andrew Winkels, Versatile’s front-wheel assist tractor project manager, as we walked around a new 360 tractor in the company’s Winnipeg assembly plant. A new, Tier 4 Final, 9 litre QSL Cummins diesel is at the heart of the brand’s two new models, the 335 and 360. On this day Versatile was […] Read more
The news from the tractor world
A look at some tractor model updates, additions and refinements for 2017
Updates, redesigns and new track options. There’s plenty of news in the world of tractors. John Deere adds new 8R tractor, refines its 9R Series John Deere announced a change to its 9R tractors this year. The steel fuel tank previously used on these models has been redesigned for better rear visibility and changed to a composite material construction. […] Read more
A tractor manufacturer on the fast track
JCB re-engineers the Fastrac 8000 Series
JCB’s chief innovation and growth officer Tim Burnhope was beaming as he stood on stage in a theatre at the company’s Rocester England World Headquarters. He was there to introduce JCB’s newest ag machines to members of the farm media invited there from most of the countries the brand sells into. The biggest news Burnhope […] Read more
The evolution of JCB’s Fastrac
First unveiled to the public at the Royal Smithfield farm show in Great Britain in 1990, the Fastrac began production the following year. Offering 125 and 140 horsepower respectively, the first two models to see production were the 120 and 145. Final design of those two initial production models was somewhat different than the original […] Read more
Merry Christmas
Last December we bought a snow blower for the little tractor that’s assigned to take care of all the chores around the farmyard. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, we didn’t get much snow all through last winter, and the snow blower was only used in anger once all season. Even then, it really wasn’t necessary to […] Read more
Check it out
I received a press release from the Insurance Bureau of Canada last week that started off with the headline, “Auto thieves in western Canada love their Ford trucks”. According to the IBC’s statistics, the dirt bags that steal vehicles in this part of the country prefer to steal early-to-mid 2000s Ford Super Duty pickups. Remarkably, […] Read more
SeedMaster updates the UltraPro meter
The UltraPro II on-frame meter is slated for production on 2017 model year drills
Although SeedMaster’s Nova SmartCarts offer a typical bulk metering system using distribution towers to get product to drill openers, the brand’s president and founder Norbert Beaujot is a fan of Individual row metering when it comes to placing seed. Individual row metering significantly reduces the variability in product flow that occurs with bulk metering systems […] Read more
Ready-to-install workbenches
Canadian firm offers standard or customized workshop benches and shelves
It goes without saying, every farm workshop needs a good workbench with lots of counter space to mount vices and work on repairs. You could spend several days building a customized bench and storage shelves to fit a shop and save a few bucks. That’s a great option if you have the time, tools and […] Read more