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	GrainewsMachinery &amp; Production Tips - Grainews	</title>
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	<description>Practical production tips for the prairie farmer</description>
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		<title>Deere settles U.S. right-to-repair lawsuit with $99 million fund, repair commitments</title>

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		https://www.grainews.ca/daily/deere-settles-u-s-right-to-repair-lawsuit-with-99-million-fund-repair-commitments/		 </link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2026 15:47:36 +0000</pubDate>
				<dc:creator><![CDATA[Reuters]]></dc:creator>
						<category><![CDATA[Machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reuters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Deere]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Right to repair]]></category>

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				<description><![CDATA[<p>U.S. agriculture equipment maker Deere on Monday agreed to pay $99 million into a settlement fund for farms and farmers that are part of a class action over costs and access to repairs. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/daily/deere-settles-u-s-right-to-repair-lawsuit-with-99-million-fund-repair-commitments/">Deere settles U.S. right-to-repair lawsuit with $99 million fund, repair commitments</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
]]></description>
								<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>U.S. agriculture equipment maker Deere on Monday agreed to pay $99 million (C$137.7 million) into a settlement fund for farms and farmers that are part of a class action over costs and access to repairs.</p>
<p>The case is part of broader scrutiny in the U.S. over so-called <a href="https://www.manitobacooperator.ca/news-opinion/news/manitoba-bill-15-farm-equipment-right-to-repair/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">right-to-repair practices</a>, with regulators and plaintiffs arguing that some manufacturers limit competition by controlling access to <a href="https://www.manitobacooperator.ca/daily/american-farm-bureau-deere-sign-right-to-repair-memo/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">repair tools and software</a>.</p>
<h2><strong>What does the settlement cover?</strong></h2>
<p>The settlement fund covers eligible plaintiffs who paid Deere’s authorized dealers for repairs to large agricultural equipment from January 2018, according to a document filed on Monday in the federal court in Chicago, Illinois.</p>
<p>In the settlement, Deere also agreed to make available to farmers for 10 years “the digital tools required for the maintenance, diagnosis, and repair” of large agricultural equipment, including tractors, combines, and sugarcane harvesters, the filing showed.</p>
<p>The proposed accord requires a judge’s approval.</p>
<p>“This settlement addresses the issues raised in the 2022 complaint and brings this case to an end with no finding of wrongdoing,” Deere said in a separate statement.</p>
<h2><strong>Deere faces FTC suit</strong></h2>
<p>Deere also <a href="https://www.agcanada.com/daily/deere-must-face-ftcs-antitrust-lawsuit-over-repair-costs-us-judge-rules" target="_blank" rel="noopener">faces a separate lawsuit</a> brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. A U.S. judge ruled in 2025 that Deere must face that lawsuit, which accused the company of forcing farmers to use its authorized dealer network and driving up their costs for parts and repairs.</p>
<p>Deere is blocking farmers from acquiring the “tools and information necessary to repair their equipment in a timely and cost-effective manner,” the FTC had said in a court filing in April. Deere has denied the wrongdoing.</p>
<p><em> — Reporting by Carlos Méndez, Mrinmay Dey in Mexico City and Mike Scarcella in Washington</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/daily/deere-settles-u-s-right-to-repair-lawsuit-with-99-million-fund-repair-commitments/">Deere settles U.S. right-to-repair lawsuit with $99 million fund, repair commitments</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
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		<title>Soft North American farm machinery market hits Agco profits</title>

		<link>
		https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/soft-north-american-farm-machinery-market-hits-agco-profits/		 </link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 01:00:45 +0000</pubDate>
				<dc:creator><![CDATA[Scott Garvey]]></dc:creator>
						<category><![CDATA[Equipment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[combines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[earnings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[equipment market]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[equipment sales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[farm equipment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fendt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[finances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financials]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Massey Ferguson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[North America]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tariffs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tractors]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.grainews.ca/?p=180307</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[<p>North America was the weakest of Agco&#8217;s sales markets in the latest fiscal year for the farm equipment manufacturer, Scott Garvey reports. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/soft-north-american-farm-machinery-market-hits-agco-profits/">Soft North American farm machinery market hits Agco profits</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
]]></description>
								<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In its fourth quarter earnings call in early February, <a href="https://www.agdealer.com/manufacturer/agco" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agco</a> executives made it clear North America was home to the company’s weakest global sales market, making it a money-losing region for the company.</p>
<p>“North American sales decreased by $33 million year over year, and operating margins remain below breakeven,” said Damon Audia, Agco’s senior vice-president and chief financial officer.</p>
<p>Agco experienced a nine per cent drop in sales in North America over 2025, one per cent less than the 10 per cent overall market decline. The company attributes that drop to farm income declines in the United States and tariff costs, which <a href="https://www.producer.com/crops/agco-worries-about-outlook-for-north-america/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">it expects will continue</a> into 2026.</p>
<p>The company’s softer sales came largely from lower demand for sprayers and mid-range tractors.</p>
<p>“Farmers are delaying new equipment purchases due to elevated input costs and tighter profit margins,” said Audia.</p>
<p>“The U.S. government’s $12 billion farmer bridge assistance program has helped shore up farmers’ balance sheets but has not translated into new equipment purchases at this time.”</p>
<h2>Less decline</h2>
<p>While Agco’s financial statements pool all of North America into one market segment, sales reports from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers shows Canada had <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/daily/canadian-tractor-sales-slumped-in-2025-combine-purchases-up/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">significantly less decline</a> in tractor and combine sales than the U.S.</p>
<p>This means much of the North American market decline appears to be attributable primarily to reduced U.S. sales.</p>
<p>Other, stronger global market regions, however, helped push the company’s overall operating profit to an average 7.7 per cent for 2025.</p>
<p>“Our adjusted operating margins are among the best in Agco’s history and the strongest for this point in the (farm machinery sales) cycle,” said chief executive officer Eric Hansotia.</p>
<div id="attachment_180309" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="max-width: 1210px;"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="wp-image-180309 size-full" src="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/31185126/287981_web1_DSC_0319.jpeg" alt="Agco sees the smaller-tractor market as likely to run counter to the current downslope in tractor sales. Photo: Agco" width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/31185126/287981_web1_DSC_0319.jpeg 1200w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/31185126/287981_web1_DSC_0319-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/31185126/287981_web1_DSC_0319-220x165.jpeg 220w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class='wp-caption-text'><span>Agco sees the smaller-tractor market as likely to run counter to the current downslope in tractor sales. Photo: Agco</span></figcaption></div>
<p>“We nearly doubled our adjusted operating margins from prior (demand) troughs.”</p>
<p>Because <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/farm-equipment-market-unlikely-to-pick-up/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">low North American </a><a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/farm-equipment-market-unlikely-to-pick-up/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">demand</a>, particularly in the U.S., is expected to continue through 2026, the company is planning to continue its reduced manufacturing output, hoping to lower machinery inventory here to a six-month supply.</p>
<p>“You’re going to see North America down in a loss margin in the high single, low double-digits for 2026,” said Audia.</p>
<p>“Europe should stay right around that 15 per cent (profit) margin for the full year.”</p>
<p>A big factor in that loss is tariff costs imposed by the U.S. government.</p>
<p>“The absolute tariff costs for 2026 will be around $105, $110 million,” he added. “That’s what’s compressing our year-over-year margins.”</p>
<h2>Gains of other sorts</h2>
<p>Despite that negative financial news from this side of the Atlantic, the company actually saw a gain in market share in North America, and executives expect another two to three per cent marketshare gain in 2026 as the company’s newest machines debut.</p>
<p>“Agco turned in the highest market share in our history in 2025” globally, Hansotia said.</p>
<p>“It was the largest one-year gain for market share in North America.”</p>
<p>One North American segment that is likely to run counter to the declining sales trend is smaller tractors.</p>
<p>“The North American small tractor market offers a more positive counter balance as livestock and hay economics look comparatively resilient,” Audia said.</p>
<p>“And the older (farmer-owned) fleet points to emerging opportunities in 2026. We expect smaller tractors to be up modestly.”</p>
<div id="attachment_180310" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="max-width: 313px;"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-180310 size-full" src="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/31185127/287981_web1_erichansotia-303x303.jpeg" alt="Eric Hansotia, Agco’s CEO. Photo: Agco" width="303" height="227" srcset="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/31185127/287981_web1_erichansotia-303x303.jpeg 303w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/31185127/287981_web1_erichansotia-303x303-220x165.jpeg 220w" sizes="(max-width: 303px) 100vw, 303px" /><figcaption class='wp-caption-text'><span>Eric Hansotia, Agco’s CEO. Photo: Agco</span></figcaption></div>
<p>Overall, though, the company expects large ag equipment sales numbers in North America to fall further, by as much as 15 per cent.</p>
<p>On the other side of the Pacific, <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/daily/giwa-trims-western-australian-crop-forecasts-still-predicts-record-harvest/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australia</a> has seen gains for the company.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.grainews.ca/daily/eu-crop-monitor-sees-lower-soft-wheat-and-rapeseed-yields-in-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Europe</a>, however, is likely to remain the brightest spot for Agco, with a possible five per cent sales increase expected due to solid farm incomes there causing positive sentiment among producers.</p>
<p>“Farmer sentiment (in Europe) is relatively positive,” said Hansotia.</p>
<p>“<a href="https://www.agdealer.com/equipmentcorner/agritechnica-2025-wrap-up-the-big-iron-big-ideas-and-big-winners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">At</a> <a href="https://www.agdealer.com/equipmentcorner/agritechnica-2025-wrap-up-the-big-iron-big-ideas-and-big-winners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Agritechnica</a>, the feedback we were getting was more positive than we expected.”</p>
<p>While the company doesn’t expect the global machinery market to significantly improve this year, it should boost profit margins due to production cost reductions and overall total global sales stability outside of the U.S.</p>
<p>“We expect global industry demand to be relatively flat compared to 2025,” said Hansotia.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/soft-north-american-farm-machinery-market-hits-agco-profits/">Soft North American farm machinery market hits Agco profits</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
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		<title>New Leader introduces &#8216;high-output&#8217; NL710 nutrient applicator</title>

		<link>
		https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/new-leader-introduces-high-output-nl710-nutrient-applicator/		 </link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:05:55 +0000</pubDate>
				<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jeff Melchior]]></dc:creator>
						<category><![CDATA[Equipment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Commodity Classic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crop nutrients]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[farming equipment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fertilizer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Leader]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spreader]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[variable rate technology]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.grainews.ca/?p=180269</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[<p>New Leader Manufacturing&#8217;s new NL710 single-bin precision fertilizer spreader is billed as comparable to its dual-bin NL720 in productivity. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/new-leader-introduces-high-output-nl710-nutrient-applicator/">New Leader introduces &#8216;high-output&#8217; NL710 nutrient applicator</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
]]></description>
								<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.agdealer.com/manufacturer/new-leader" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New Leader</a> Manufacturing introduced the latest addition to its N7 series of precision nutrient applicators at the Commodity Classic in Austin, Texas late last month.</p>
<p>The NL710 is a single-bin <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/new-leader-demos-a-broadcast-spreader/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fertilizer spreader</a> the Iowa company says is comparable in productivity and profitability to its dual-bin NL720.</p>
<p>“It’s a high-precision, high-output, wide fertilizer spreader that is user-friendly and low-maintenance,” says Benjamin Boelter, director of product development with New Leader.</p>
<p>The machine’s 120-foot spreading capacity is a rarity in the U.S. market, he says, with most manufacturers opting for 90 feet.</p>
<p>“We also increased the throughput … so you don’t have to slow down to get a wider pattern, so we have more material that can go through the machine.”</p>
<p>The applicator features a spread pattern “wizard” that makes automatic output adjustments.</p>
<p>“You don’t have to make manual adjustments on the machine to change the spread pattern. That’s all taken care of internally for you,” says Boelter.</p>
<p>The machine’s variable rate spreading capability includes four options: 120, 90, 80 and 70 feet.</p>
<p>Boelter uses turn compensation as an example of its variable-rate capabilities — say, when “spreading on the left hand side of the spreader needs more material than the right hand side. Our machine can adjust for that,” he says.</p>
<div id="attachment_180271" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="max-width: 1210px;"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-180271 size-full" src="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/30175144/287001_web1_twp_NL710_NewLeader_Rear_newleader-e1774915050914.jpg" alt="A view of New Leader’s NL710 in action." width="1200" height="1600" /><figcaption class='wp-caption-text'><span>A view of New Leader’s NL710 in action.</span></figcaption></div>
<p>“As you spread with VRT, as you’re going through the field and your rates are changing and your speed is changing, the amount of product dropping on your spinner is changing. So we have built into our software (the ability to) make the adjustments as you’re going through those rates to keep your spread pattern at a very good precision.”</p>
<p>According to the company, the NL710 also features:</p>
<ul>
<li>A 33 per cent more efficient high-output design.</li>
<li>Uniform spread pattern with advanced swath width control.</li>
<li>Tool-free maintenance and zero grease points for reduced downtime.</li>
<li>Ability to pattern test and set the machine using only three pans.</li>
</ul>
<p>The applicator was designed for productivity, efficiency and low maintenance, says Boelter, but the fundamental goal was simplicity.</p>
<p>“We tried to make it very simple for the operator to use. So one of the, I would say, most unexpected things from an operator standpoint is we added a lot of capability, but it’s actually easier to use from a control standpoint than what’s in the field today.”</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/new-leader-introduces-high-output-nl710-nutrient-applicator/">New Leader introduces &#8216;high-output&#8217; NL710 nutrient applicator</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
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		<title>Deere taps startups to explore sensing, AI tech for farm uses</title>

		<link>
		https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/deere-taps-startups-to-explore-sensing-ai-tech-for-farm-uses/		 </link>
		<pubDate>Sat, 28 Mar 2026 06:22:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<dc:creator><![CDATA[Don Norman]]></dc:creator>
						<category><![CDATA[Equipment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ag tech]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Agriculture technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[artificial intelligence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Deere]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[drones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Deere]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[maintenance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[precision farming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Robotics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sensors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[soil science]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[telematics]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.grainews.ca/?p=180242</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[<p>John Deere has named five companies to its 2026 Startup Collaborator Program, exploring emerging technologies for farm use including soil sensing, AI and predictive equipment monitoring. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/deere-taps-startups-to-explore-sensing-ai-tech-for-farm-uses/">Deere taps startups to explore sensing, AI tech for farm uses</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
]]></description>
								<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://www.agdealer.com/manufacturer/john-deere" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Deere</a> has named five companies to its 2026 Startup Collaborator Program, part of a corporate development initiative aimed at exploring emerging technologies in sensing, analytics and robotics.</p>
<p>Launched in 2019, the program pairs Deere with hand-selected startups for year-long, project-based collaborations designed to test how emerging technologies perform in agricultural and construction use cases. It is not primarily an acquisition or investment vehicle.</p>
<p>“We’ve intentionally designed it that way,” said Colton Salyards, who manages the program within Deere’s corporate development and strategy group.</p>
<p>“The program was never designed to be an investment or an acquisition vehicle.”</p>
<p><strong>WHY IT MATTERS: </strong><em>Emerging sensing and AI technologies could eventually improve soil analysis, equipment uptime and precision decision-making on </em><em>farms</em>.</p>
<p>Instead, Deere and each startup define a joint project, outlining objectives on both sides and evaluating how a given technology might perform in agricultural or construction use cases.</p>
<p>With the addition of this year’s five companies, Deere <a href="https://www.producer.com/crops/canadian-quantum-sensing-startup-receives-deere-nod/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">will have worked</a> with 42 startups through the program.</p>
<p>Each year, Salyards said, public announcements of the cohort generate significant inbound interest from startups hoping to participate. The response can be “overwhelming,” but the companies selected stand out.</p>
<p>“There’s a key reason why we’ve selected them,” he said.</p>
<p>“There are use cases across agriculture that we believe could be of tremendous customer value.”</p>
<h2>Sensor sensibility</h2>
<p>Among the 2026 cohort is Australian firm resonAg, which is adapting miniaturized MRI-based sensing technology — technology originally developed for medical imaging, and later adapted for industries such as mining and oil and gas — for use in advanced soil sensing.</p>
<p>Deere is exploring how that sensing capability could support precision agriculture applications.</p>
<p>“This is of huge importance for precision agriculture,” he said.</p>
<p>“Imagine a planting system that can sense and act in real time to conditions across the field.”</p>
<p>Another company, AIRS ML, is developing edge-AI systems that combine machine sensor data with on-device machine learning to predict equipment failures in real time. The goal is to improve uptime by identifying potential maintenance issues before they lead to breakdowns.</p>
<div id="attachment_180244" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="max-width: 1210px;"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-180244 size-full" src="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/28001045/286307_web1_Screenshot-2026-03-28-at-12.36.49AM.jpeg" alt="One of Aerobotics’ software products, TrueFruit Grade, is billed as “turn(ing) your smartphone into an advanced fruit measuring tool.” Photo: Aerobotics video screengrab via YouTube" width="1200" height="901" srcset="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/28001045/286307_web1_Screenshot-2026-03-28-at-12.36.49AM.jpeg 1200w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/28001045/286307_web1_Screenshot-2026-03-28-at-12.36.49AM-768x577.jpeg 768w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/28001045/286307_web1_Screenshot-2026-03-28-at-12.36.49AM-220x165.jpeg 220w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class='wp-caption-text'><span>One of Aerobotics’ software products, TrueFruit Grade, is billed as “turn(ing) your smartphone into an advanced fruit measuring tool.” Photo: Aerobotics video screengrab via YouTube</span></figcaption></div>
<p>The remaining companies in the cohort include:</p>
<ul>
<li>IoTag, which focuses on telematics and mixed-fleet performance insights.</li>
<li>TorqueAGI, which is developing AI foundation models for robotics.</li>
<li>Aerobotics, which applies drone imagery and computer vision to specialty crop production.</li>
</ul>
<p>While not designed as an acquisition vehicle, the program has, in two instances, led to <a href="https://farmtario.com/news/deere-taps-tractor-hailing-tech-in-bid-to-break-ground-in-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">investment</a> or <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/daily/deere-bear-flag-aim-to-automate-tractors-as-fast-as-possible/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">acquisition</a> when the strategic fit aligned. Salyards emphasized that integration into Deere equipment is not the default outcome.</p>
<p>“This is one vehicle among many that we use to understand what innovative companies are out there,” he said.</p>
<p>“Ultimately, it helps us determine how well those technologies could fit for our ag and construction customers.”</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/deere-taps-startups-to-explore-sensing-ai-tech-for-farm-uses/">Deere taps startups to explore sensing, AI tech for farm uses</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
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				<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">180242</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Trump tells farmers that tractor companies should lower prices</title>

		<link>
		https://www.grainews.ca/daily/trump-tells-farmers-that-tractor-companies-should-lower-prices/		 </link>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 21:19:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gram Slattery, P.J. Huffstutter, Reuters, Trevor Hunnicutt]]></dc:creator>
						<category><![CDATA[Machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reuters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Donald Trump]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tractors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.S. farmers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.grainews.ca/daily/trump-tells-farmers-that-tractor-companies-should-lower-prices/</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[<p>U.S. President Donald Trump announced new measures on Friday to support U.S. farmers who are reeling from the administration&#8217;s trade policies and the Iran war and suggested farm equipment makers cut prices </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/daily/trump-tells-farmers-that-tractor-companies-should-lower-prices/">Trump tells farmers that tractor companies should lower prices</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
]]></description>
								<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><em>Washington | Reuters</em> — U.S. President Donald Trump announced new measures on Friday to support U.S. farmers who are reeling from the administration’s trade policies and the Iran war and suggested farm equipment makers cut prices &#8211; a call that sent their shares lower.</p>



<p>“I want John Deere and Case and all of &#8211; they’re great companies, Caterpillar… I want these companies to give it to you in the form of lower tractor and equipment costs,” Trump told hundreds of farmers and ranchers gathered under drizzle at an event on the South Lawn of the White House.</p>



<p><a href="https://www.agcanada.com/daily/deere-lifts-full-year-profit-forecast-as-construction-sales-rebound-shares-soar" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Deere &amp; Co</a> shares dropped two per cent after the statement. <a href="https://www.agcanada.com/daily/cnh-industrial-flags-weak-2026-profit-on-sluggish-farm-machinery-demand" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Case IH manufacturer CNH Industrial</a> fell one per cent while Caterpillar Inc was down nearly 1.2 per cent in late-session trading.</p>



<p>The three companies could not immediately be reached for comment.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Trump seeks support from struggling farmers</strong></h3>



<p>Trump called for lower prices in an aside during a speech that otherwise focused on shoring up support among the Republican president’s loyal constituency of rural voters, who have backed Trump in all three of the last presidential races.</p>



<p>For the fourth straight year, U.S. crop producers are facing tight margins, high production costs and low commodity prices &#8211; and are struggling financially &#8211; despite near-record government payments.</p>



<p>The Trump administration is distributing $12 billion (C$16.7 billion) in aid to U.S. farmers — a move that farm trade groups and agricultural economists have said is helpful in the short-term but will not fully compensate farmers for financial losses that have topped $30 billion in recent years.</p>



<p>On Friday, Trump said he would seek even more such aid for farmers from Congress. More than 50 farm-interest groups, such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, are urging Congress to approve additional aid in a military funding package.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Trump pledges new loan guarantees</strong></h3>



<p>The event happened as the administration <a href="https://www.agcanada.com/daily/u-s-finalizes-biofuel-blending-quotas-for-2026-27-cuts-rins-for-foreign-feedstocks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">finalized new biofuel blending mandates</a> for U.S. oil refiners, requiring them to mix more of the fuels made from corn and other agricultural products into the nation’s gasoline and diesel than initially proposed, in an apparent win for farmers.</p>



<p>Trump also said the U.S. Small Business Administration would open up new loan guarantees for farmers and food suppliers.</p>



<p>Farmers are entering the critical spring planting season under a cloud of uncertainty as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran disrupts global trade, causing fertilizer and diesel costs to spike.</p>



<p>The long-term U.S. trade relationship with China also remains unclear amid the ongoing trade war launched by Trump’s administration with the country, the world’s top soy importer.</p>



<p>Rural voters constitute a fifth of the U.S. electorate, and they favored Trump by a two-to-one margin over Democrat Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.</p>



<p><em> — Additional reporting by Bhargav Acharya</em></p>



<p></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/daily/trump-tells-farmers-that-tractor-companies-should-lower-prices/">Trump tells farmers that tractor companies should lower prices</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
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				<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">180240</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>War hits farm equipment makers&#8217; share prices</title>

		<link>
		https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/war-hits-farm-equipment-makers-share-prices/		 </link>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<dc:creator><![CDATA[Scott Garvey]]></dc:creator>
						<category><![CDATA[Machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[opinion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Deere]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[equipment manufacturers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[equity markets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fertilizer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ford]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fuel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Global trade]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[stock markets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trade]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[U.S. dollar]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.grainews.ca/?p=180211</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[<p>There could be a very rocky road ahead for the U.S. economy, and valuations of U.S.-based corporations, such as major equipment makers, could continue to take a beating, Scott Garvey writes. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/war-hits-farm-equipment-makers-share-prices/">War hits farm equipment makers&#8217; share prices</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
]]></description>
								<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>All of the major ag equipment manufacturers are publicly traded companies, meaning each one has millions of outstanding shares that trade daily on stock exchanges.</p>
<p>The cumulative value of those outstanding shares determines the overall value or market capitalization of a company. Of course, those numbers change daily as share prices rise and fall with normal market fluctuations.</p>
<p><strong>WHY IT MATTERS:</strong> <em>While Fortune 500-level companies are typically somewhat better insulated against market shocks, reduced market cap can make it more difficult for publicly traded firms to obtain favourable credit or raise capital through share offerings</em>.</p>
<p>Those fluctuations are the result of profits each company reports and the outlook on their future fortunes along with the condition of the overall economy.</p>
<p>In recent days, however, there is another consideration to factor into those market trends: the war in Iran. That gambit, initiated by the Trump administration and Israel’s leadership, has roiled markets around the world.</p>
<p>The U.S. Dow Jones had been riding pretty high despite a global economy upended by U.S. tariff policy.</p>
<p>The Dow had reached a yearly high average on Feb. 10 of more than 50,000. However, the Middle East war cratered it, causing the average to drop to slightly more than 46,000 by March 25. Almost every other market around the world saw significant declines as well.</p>
<p><div id="attachment_180215" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="max-width: 1210px;"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-180215 size-full" src="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/26165537/285593_web1_Screenshot-2026-03-25-at-12.56.48PM.jpg" alt="CNH, parent company of New Holland and Case IH, like the other major brand equipment manufacturers, has seen its share prices fall in the past month. Photo: Scott Garvey." width="1200" height="675.47826086957" srcset="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/26165537/285593_web1_Screenshot-2026-03-25-at-12.56.48PM.jpg 1200w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/26165537/285593_web1_Screenshot-2026-03-25-at-12.56.48PM-768x432.jpg 768w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/26165537/285593_web1_Screenshot-2026-03-25-at-12.56.48PM-235x132.jpg 235w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class='wp-caption-text'><span>CNH, parent company of New Holland and Case IH, like the other major brand equipment manufacturers, has seen its share prices fall in the past month. Photo: Scott Garvey.</span></figcaption></div></p>
<p>At the same time, oil prices have reached higher than US$100 per barrel as global supply is choked down by roughly 20 per cent due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, impacting urea <a href="https://www.producer.com/crops/delay-in-fertilizer-purchases-could-prove-costly/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fertilizer prices</a> as well.</p>
<p>All of this has affected the <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/daily/fcc-raises-inflation-forecast-on-surging-commodity-prices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">input costs</a> farmers will face this year, but it has also had a negative impact on the market value of farm machinery manufacturers.</p>
<p>As their profitability and share prices were starting to rise from a low point in the cyclical equipment demand cycle, the stock market declines have caused significant reductions in the valuation of those companies.</p>
<p>Here’s a look at just how much the market capitalization of those brands had fallen from mid-February to late March:</p>
<ul>
<li>John Deere shares peaked just before the war on Feb. 24 at US$664. By March 25, those share values had dropped $82. With about 270.1 million shares outstanding, that represents a market capitalization loss of roughly $22 billion.</li>
<li>Agco shares peaked Feb. 13, and by March 25 had seen a $1.7 billion valuation reduction.</li>
<li>CNH Industrial, parent company of Case IH and New Holland, realized a $2.5 billion decline.</li>
<li>In the automotive sector, the story is the same. For example, Ford saw its market value decline by more than $8 billion.</li>
</ul>
<p>The situation is the same for nearly all publicly traded companies listed on many different stock exchanges around the world, meaning globally, companies collectively have probably lost trillions of dollars in market value, at least temporarily.</p>
<p><div id="attachment_180214" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="max-width: 1210px;"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-180214 size-full" src="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/26165535/285593_web1_P4260116-copy.jpeg" alt="Agco has seen a decline in share values during the first weeks of the Iran war, which has reduced its corporate valuation by roughly US.7 billion. Photo: Agco/Fendt." width="1200" height="900" srcset="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/26165535/285593_web1_P4260116-copy.jpeg 1200w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/26165535/285593_web1_P4260116-copy-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/26165535/285593_web1_P4260116-copy-220x165.jpeg 220w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class='wp-caption-text'><span>Agco has seen a decline in share values during the first weeks of the Iran war, which has reduced its corporate valuation by roughly US$1.7 billion. Photo: Agco/Fendt.</span></figcaption></div></p>
<p>At the same time, financial analysts are sounding the alarm over the possibility of insider trading on the U.S. stock market related to government announcements, with <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/25/trump-iran-oil-insider-trading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unusual trading patterns</a> observed that could have netted millions for unidentified entities just minutes before a White House announcement.</p>
<p>More than a few analysts are now questioning the integrity of the U.S. stock market as a result. Since the current administration took office, the ability of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to prosecute violations has reportedly been <a href="https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2025/04/08/is-the-sec-facing-a-death-by-1000-cuts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">significantly </a><a href="https://corpgov.law.harvard.edu/2025/04/08/is-the-sec-facing-a-death-by-1000-cuts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reduced</a>.</p>
<p>This comes at a time when foreign investment in U.S. government treasury bonds is declining, reportedly due to a lack of confidence in the administration. Those bonds help finance the government’s deficit. Without continued investment, the U.S. treasury will find itself in a bind.</p>
<p>Add to that the recent increase in global oil trades conducted in yuan, rather than the standard U.S. dollar transaction, which came to be known as the petro-dollar.</p>
<p>The so-called petro-dollar has helped prop up demand for U.S. currency for decades. That has been an economic boon for the United States, but the continued decline in U.S.-dollar oil transactions would lead to significantly reduced demand for greenbacks.</p>
<p>As a lack of confidence in the U.S. among investors, trading partners and allies grows, there could be a very rocky road ahead for the U.S. economy, and the valuations of U.S.-based corporations could continue to take a beating.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/war-hits-farm-equipment-makers-share-prices/">War hits farm equipment makers&#8217; share prices</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
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				<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">180211</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Registrations still open for Fendt&#8217;s combine Harvest Tour</title>

		<link>
		https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/registrations-still-open-for-fendts-combine-harvest-tour/		 </link>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 20:31:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<dc:creator><![CDATA[Scott Garvey]]></dc:creator>
						<category><![CDATA[Equipment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[combines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fendt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[harvest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[testing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.grainews.ca/?p=180207</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[<p>A Fendt rep in early March said it&#8217;s still possible, if farmer interest and tour logistics align, that some Canadian farmers could get a chance to put an Ideal combine to work in their fields. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/registrations-still-open-for-fendts-combine-harvest-tour/">Registrations still open for Fendt&#8217;s combine Harvest Tour</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
]]></description>
								<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Last fall, Agco&rsquo;s Fendt brand decided to take one of its <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/fendt-takes-a-combine-on-the-road-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank">Ideal combines on a road </a><a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/fendt-takes-a-combine-on-the-road-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank">trip</a>, stopping in several U.S. states to let farmers put it to work in their fields and compare it to their existing combine.</p>
<p>It was a relatively novel idea, a kind of road test, but with a combine instead of a car or pick-up truck.</p>
<p>During last year&rsquo;s Fendt Harvest Tour, Brandon Montgomery, the company&rsquo;s brand manager, said there was a possibility Agco might bring the tour to Canada.</p>
<p>This year, Montgomery said in early March that it remains a possibility. If there is enough interest and the logistics can be worked out, some Canadian farmers could get a chance to put <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/agco-unveils-ideal-fendt-combine-in-regina/" target="_blank">an Ideal</a> to work in their own field.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re analyzing all the requests coming in right now. We&rsquo;re trying to figure out logistically where all the requests are coming from, where the biggest demand is. Then we&rsquo;ll start to make a path. We&rsquo;re looking at a 10-day tour.&rdquo;</p>
<p>Anyone interested in having the Fendt Harvest Tour stop at their farm can log on to <a href="http://fendt.com">fendt.com</a> and register.</p>
<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re taking registrations right now all the way through until late May, early June,&rdquo; says Montgomery.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/registrations-still-open-for-fendts-combine-harvest-tour/">Registrations still open for Fendt&#8217;s combine Harvest Tour</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
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				<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">180207</post-id>	</item>
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		<title>Case IH&#8217;s newest Optum tractors make North American debut</title>

		<link>
		https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/case-ihs-newest-optum-tractors-make-north-american-debut/		 </link>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:20:41 +0000</pubDate>
				<dc:creator><![CDATA[Scott Garvey]]></dc:creator>
						<category><![CDATA[Machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brakes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Case IH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CNH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Horsepower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hydraulics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tractors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Transmission]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.grainews.ca/?p=180139</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[<p>Case IH is opting for higher horses in its Optum line of mid-horsepower farm tractors, with a new flagship model now hitting 435 hp. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/case-ihs-newest-optum-tractors-make-north-american-debut/">Case IH&#8217;s newest Optum tractors make North American debut</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
]]></description>
								<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Case IH has been offering its Optum line of mid-horsepower tractors for <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/new-multi-purpose-tractors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">about a </a><a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/new-multi-purpose-tractors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">decade</a>. This year, the new models added to that family bring more ponies to the stable, with the new flagship model now hitting 435 horsepower</p>
<p>“The current Optums are a 270, 300 and 340 with a 6.7-litre engine,” says J.E. Cadle, North American marketing manager for Optum tractors.</p>
<p>“This is 360, 390 and our top model we call a 440, but it’s 435 maximum horsepower, and it’s the 8.7-litre. And it’s constant power. When we say 435, we’re delivering that 435 all the time.”</p>
<p><strong>READ MORE:</strong> <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/whats-new-for-300-plus-horsepower-tractors-in-2026/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Scott’s high-horsepower tractor guide for 2026</em></a></p>
<p>To back up the bigger engine and deliver power, the three new models get a sturdier version of the continuously variable transmission (CVT) the brand has been offering in the current Optums.</p>
<p>“This is a CVT with our CVXDrive transmission. It’s a 4 X 2,” he says.</p>
<p>“It’s very similar to the one that’s in the Optum today, but it’s bigger, beefed up to handle the extra horsepower. That 4 X 2 design gives us more mechanical efficiencies. It’s a proven design, very quiet.”</p>
<p>The CVXDrive version in these Optums can hit 37 m.p.h. (60 km-h) on the road.</p>
<p>However, in order to cram that bigger engine and transmission into an Optum, Case IH’s engineers had to start from scratch and re-engineer the tractor.</p>
<p>“Even though the Optum name is <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/case-ih-introduces-the-af-optum-tractors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not new</a> for Case IH, this tractor really is new from the ground up,” says Cadle.</p>
<p><strong>WATCH:</strong> <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/daily/case-ih-reveals-new-optum-tractor-at-agritechnica-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Greg Berg shows us the new Optums at Agritechnica</em></a></p>
<p>With the new big three Optums able to deliver more power in the field and handle bigger implements, the hydraulic system needed to be ramped up as well.</p>
<p>A standard flow rate of 58 g.p.m. (219 l/m) comes from a single-pump system, but there is an option to go for a dual, twin-flow system now. Two pumps will boost flow up to a total of 95 g.p.m. (360 l/m). That allows the tractors to run bigger implements or run at a lower engine r.p.m. and still get high flow rates.</p>
<p>There is also a larger reservoir to allow for a higher volume of oil to flow, which accommodates the demands of larger or more hydraulic cylinders on an implement.</p>
<p>To help improve traction and smooth out the ride, the suspended front axle gets a redesign.</p>
<p>“Suspended front axle was standard on the current Optum … but an independent front link, a double wishbone suspension is what’s new,” says Cadle.</p>
<p>“So this is a totally different CNH-designed, independent front-link suspension. We get a really nice ride out of this tractor. It will keep power to the ground if you’re on a slope or uneven terrain. Its handling on the road is awesome with this new suspension.”</p>
<p>Added to that is an improved hydraulic braking system and the addition of an engine brake, making these tractors ideal for road haulage. There is also an option for built-in auto tire inflation system.</p>
<p>“The braking system on this tractor is outstanding,” says Cadle.</p>
<p>“It’s got an engine brake. You barely touch these brakes and the tractor stops on a dime if you need it to.”</p>
<p>Inside, the cab won’t see any significant changes. It will carry over the design, which was introduced a couple of model years back. The new Puma range of tractors uses the same cab.</p>
<p>The Optums get a facelift too, with a redesigned hood and overall appearance change that is in line with the look of the current Steigers, sprayers and the newest Pumas.</p>
<p>One unique feature of the redesign is the IH emblem built into the rear taillights.</p>
<p>Getting into the cab, steps are built into the 180-gallon fuel tank at a more gentle rake to make access easier.</p>
<p><div id="attachment_180141" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="max-width: 1210px;"><img decoding="async" class="wp-image-180141 size-full" src="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23181439/283190_web1_Puma-Tractor_712329.jpg" alt="Three new Puma models debut for the 2027 model year, with horseshoer ratings of 155, 165 and 185. Photo: Case IH" width="1200" height="675" srcset="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23181439/283190_web1_Puma-Tractor_712329.jpg 1200w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23181439/283190_web1_Puma-Tractor_712329-768x432.jpg 768w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23181439/283190_web1_Puma-Tractor_712329-235x132.jpg 235w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class='wp-caption-text'><span>Three new Puma models debut for the 2027 model year, with horseshoer ratings of 155, 165 and 185. Photo: Case IH</span></figcaption></div></p>
<h2>New cats out of bag</h2>
<p>Speaking of the Puma line, the brand just announced the debut of three new models — 155-, 165- and 185-horsepower versions made their debut.</p>
<p>Puma buyers can choose between the CVXDrive continuously variable transmission or the ActiveDrive 8 dual-clutch transmission.</p>
<p>Since the Optums made their debut at Agritechnica, Cadle says the brand has had a lot of positive feedback from potential customers waiting for their release on this side of the ocean.</p>
<p>“We got a lot of response in North America organically from that. We really didn’t put anything out in North America about it. Customers were contacting their dealers. They saw it on social media. So we’ve been getting a lot of positive response from customers out there already.”</p>
<p>Optums will be available for ordering in June. Buyers can expect deliveries to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/case-ihs-newest-optum-tractors-make-north-american-debut/">Case IH&#8217;s newest Optum tractors make North American debut</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
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				<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">180139</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>How AI is changing on-farm agronomy and decision-making</title>

		<link>
		https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/how-ai-is-changing-on-farm-agronomy-and-decision-making/		 </link>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:24:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<dc:creator><![CDATA[Don Norman]]></dc:creator>
						<category><![CDATA[Equipment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agricultural data]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agronomist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agronomy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[artificial intelligence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[farm data]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[precision farming]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[technology]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.grainews.ca/?p=180120</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[<p>As AI tools take on more of the data work, farmers will still need trusted and local-facing advice to turn those recommendations into decisions that work in their fieldsw </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/how-ai-is-changing-on-farm-agronomy-and-decision-making/">How AI is changing on-farm agronomy and decision-making</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
]]></description>
								<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>There was no shortage of big ideas at the recent World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit in San Francisco.</p>



<p>Artificial intelligence, automation and data systems dominated nearly every session, from crop protection to robotics to biotech discovery.</p>



<p>However, beneath all that, one quieter theme kept surfacing.</p>



<p>A lot of the <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/features/farmers-need-to-be-open-to-ai-technology/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">early, practical value</a> of these systems is not in running machines. It is in interpreting data and turning it into recommendations.</p>



<p><strong>WHY IT MATTERS:</strong> <em>As AI tools take on more of the data work, farmers will still need trusted advice to turn those recommendations into decisions that work in their fields.</em></p>



<p>In fact, based on the discussions at the summit, that part of the conversation was in the rear view mirror. Much of the focus now is on what comes next — building systems that can act on those recommendations.</p>



<p>Soil tests, <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/daily/ai-is-transforming-weather-forecasting-e28892-and-that-could-be-a-game-changer-for-farmers-around-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">weather </a><a href="https://www.grainews.ca/daily/ai-is-transforming-weather-forecasting-e28892-and-that-could-be-a-game-changer-for-farmers-around-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stations</a>, satellite imagery, equipment data is familiar ground for agronomy. <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/features/artificial-intelligence-real-diligence-2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What is changing</a> is how quickly and how consistently that information can be processed.</p>



<p>In one session about biotech discovery, speakers described AI systems that can design and refine experiments with minimal human input.</p>



<p>It is a long way from a Prairie field, but it is easy to imagine that same approach being used to improve plot trials or even guide on-farm decisions aimed at maximizing yield.</p>



<p>And it is already happening.</p>



<p>On the farm, that same capability is showing up in decision support — not perfect, not complete, but improving. These tools are getting better at taking large volumes of information and turning it into clear, actionable decisions.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From interpretation to action</h2>



<p>And that raises a fair question. If more of that interpretation work can be done by a system, where does that leave farm agronomists?</p>



<p>The answer is not that they disappear. It is that the job shifts.</p>



<p>Research agronomists are not really in the crosshairs here. They are still building the knowledge base. The question is what happens to the people turning that knowledge into decisions on the farm.</p>



<p>That kind of agronomy has never just been about reading numbers off a report. It is about context: knowing the field, the farmer, the equipment and the risks they are willing to take.</p>



<p>A recommendation generated from data still has to be weighed against reality. Is the field fit? Does the timing work? What happens if the weather turns? Does it fit the rest of the rotation?</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" width="1000" height="667" src="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23090510/282120_web1_82154_web1_People-and-technology_686939.jpg" alt="CNH’s new online database, AI Tech Assistant, uses artificial intelligence to help dealership technicians find accurate repair procedure information quickly. Photo: CNH
" class="wp-image-180122" srcset="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23090510/282120_web1_82154_web1_People-and-technology_686939.jpg 1000w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23090510/282120_web1_82154_web1_People-and-technology_686939-768x512.jpg 768w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/23090510/282120_web1_82154_web1_People-and-technology_686939-235x157.jpg 235w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">These new digital tools do not just appear on farms fully formed; rather, they need to be set up, calibrated and understood.</figcaption></figure>



<p>Those are not problems that go away with better models. In some ways, they become more important because <a href="https://farmtario.com/daily/artificial-intelligence-put-to-work-on-extension/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">more recommendations</a> are coming, faster and with more confidence behind them.</p>



<p>What these systems may change is how agronomists spend their time. Less time pulling data together. Less time building base recommendations from scratch. More time stress-testing those recommendations, <a href="https://www.manitobacooperator.ca/crops/ai-app-promises-prairie-farmers-better-insect-scouting/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">adapting</a> them to local conditions and helping farmers decide what to act on and what to ignore.</p>



<p>There is also a practical layer to this that did not get as much attention on stage. These tools do not just appear on farms fully formed. They need to be set up, calibrated and understood. Someone has to translate them from a product into something that actually works in a field.</p>



<p>One discussion on soil health touched on a more basic issue: even something as fundamental as soil testing is not fully standardized. Results can vary depending on how samples are taken, handled and processed.</p>



<p>That is an opportunity.</p>



<p>It suggests there is still a role for the local private agronomist — someone who knows the region and their customers, understands local soil conditions, along with insect and disease pressure, and someone who farmers know personally and trust.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The role doesn’t disappear, it changes</h2>



<p>It is easy to frame new technology as a threat to existing roles, but agriculture has22s a way of absorbing new tools and reshaping the jobs around them.</p>



<p>GPS did not eliminate the nesed for farm agronomists. Variable rate did not either. They changed the conversation.</p>



<p>This one feels different. These systems are starting to take on the interpretation work that has traditionally defined farm agronomy. However, the pattern is familiar.</p>



<p>The technology is moving quickly, that much is clear. However, it is still being tested against the same reality. Fields, weather and economics have a way of exposing weak ideas.</p>



<p>On-farm agronomy does not sit outside that process. It is part of it.</p>



<p>If anything, the need for people who can bridge the gap between what a system suggests and what actually works on the ground will only grow.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/how-ai-is-changing-on-farm-agronomy-and-decision-making/">How AI is changing on-farm agronomy and decision-making</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
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				<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">180120</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Fendt reintroduces 800 Vario Series line of tractors</title>

		<link>
		https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/fendt-reintroduces-800-vario-series-line-of-tractors/		 </link>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2026 23:54:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<dc:creator><![CDATA[Scott Garvey]]></dc:creator>
						<category><![CDATA[Equipment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[agco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[alternative fuels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Commodity Classic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fendt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Horsepower]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hydraulics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[machinery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tractors]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.grainews.ca/?p=180054</guid>
				<description><![CDATA[<p>Agco&#8217;s Fendt arm has reintroduced a new and improved Gen5 800 Vario Series of tractors to the North American market. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/fendt-reintroduces-800-vario-series-line-of-tractors/">Fendt reintroduces 800 Vario Series line of tractors</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
]]></description>
								<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>A few years ago, Agco’s Fendt brand discontinued production of its <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/agco-introduces-new-fendt-800-series/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">800 Series</a> tractors after the introduction of the <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/new-fendt-700-series-models/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gen 7, 700 Series</a> models. That left a bit of a horsepower gap near the upper end of the line.</p>



<p>At the Commodity Classic farm show in Texas in February, the brand backfilled that gap with the North American reintroduction of the new and improved Gen5 800 Vario Series.</p>



<p>“The big differences on this <a href="https://www.agdealer.com/listings/manufacturer/fendt/category/tractors/series/800-vario" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">800 Series</a> compared to the previous one is it’s a little higher horsepower, so it will go up to 320 … and it has all the characteristics of the bigger machines on a smaller chassis,” says Brandon Montgomery, Fendt’s brand manager.</p>



<p><strong>WHY IT MATTERS:</strong> <em>This release shores up the range of horsepower options available to Fendt partisans in Canadian farming</em>.</p>



<p>There are now three 800 Series models: an <a href="https://www.agdealer.com/manufacturer/fendt/model/826-vario" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">826</a>, <a href="https://www.agdealer.com/manufacturer/fendt/model/829-vario" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">829</a> and <a href="https://www.agdealer.com/manufacturer/fendt/model/832-vario" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">832</a>. They span the 260 to 320 horsepower range.</p>



<p>“Then you’re getting an additional roughly 20 horsepower on top of that for DynamicPower,” adds Montgomery.</p>



<p>“As soon as you get into p.t.o. loads, hydraulic loads, transport loads, you get the extra DynamicPower to go with that.”</p>



<p>The 800s now come with a new 8.0-litre Agco Power CORE engine under the hood. <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/agco-power-introduces-the-core-engine-platform/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Core family</a> of engines began debuting some time ago, and this all-new 8.0-litre engine makes its debut in these tractors.</p>



<p>Core engines are capable of burning alternative fuels such as hydrogenated vegetable oil with minimal modifications. The basic principle of the Core concept is the same basic, or core, engine block can be made to work with multiple fuels.</p>



<p>“It will eventually run other (fuel) technologies as well,” says Montgomery.</p>



<p>“With very few changes and adjustments, it can be modified for that. That’s why we called it Core. The core is always the same.”</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="675" src="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/18173727/280680_web1_1920x1080-FTPT25WKSPHO_942_OutRun_06.jpg" alt="Fendt 800 Vario Series" class="wp-image-180057" srcset="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/18173727/280680_web1_1920x1080-FTPT25WKSPHO_942_OutRun_06.jpg 1200w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/18173727/280680_web1_1920x1080-FTPT25WKSPHO_942_OutRun_06-768x432.jpg 768w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/18173727/280680_web1_1920x1080-FTPT25WKSPHO_942_OutRun_06-235x132.jpg 235w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">All-new, redesigned 800 Series Fendt tractors were relaunched for the North American market at a farm show in Texas in February. Photos: Agco/Fendt</figcaption></figure>



<p>This engine stays with the Fendt iD low-engine-speed, high-torque concept the brand offers in other bigger tractor lines. Peak torque is in the 1,250 to 1,300 r.p.m. range with maximum r.p.m. at 1,700.</p>



<p>The new 800 Series pack a lot of horsepower and capacity into a comparatively compact package.</p>



<p>“It has all the characteristics of the bigger machines on a smaller chassis,” says Montgomery.</p>



<p>To deliver that power to the ground, the 800s get the VarioDrive system, which was originally introduced <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/news/an-entirely-new-tractor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on the 1000 </a><a href="https://www.grainews.ca/news/an-entirely-new-tractor/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Series</a>. A CVT transmission delivers power to both the front and rear axles as needed. The tractor will automatically increase front wheel speed to pull the tractor around a corner, avoiding the scrubbing that often occurs on MFWD drivelines.</p>



<p>“We call it VarioDrive, because it’s an evolution of the Fendt CVT,” he adds.</p>



<p>“The difference between CVT and VarioDrive is it’s all-encompassing of the four-wheel drive as well. As an operator, you never touch the four-wheel drive.”</p>



<p><strong>RELATED:</strong> <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/outrun-tillage-automation-system-released/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>OutRun tillage automation system released</em></a></p>



<p>Hydraulic capacity is improved on the new 800s, too. Two pumps are available, a 43.5 g.p.m. (165 l/mn) and 58 g.p.m. (220. l/mn). Tractors can also be ordered with both pumps to get a combined flow rate of 101.5 g.p.m. (385 l/mn).</p>



<p>Another key feature of these tractors is their track widths are now compatible with 30-inch row cropping, a feature the original 800 Series didn’t offer due to its wider frame. That initially hamstrung their popularity with row-crop producers.</p>



<p>The new 800s now use the same cab as the larger tractors, offering upgraded operator comfort.</p>



<p>“New cab, new frame, new payloads,” says Montgomery.</p>



<p>“VarioDrive technology and the VarioGrip tire inflation system — all the latest in technology in terms of our guidance system is all unlocked on that series.”</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Updated 500 series</h2>



<p>The 800s weren’t the only new Fendts to debut at the Texas show. Agco also pulled the wraps off its Gen4 version of the 500 Vario Series.</p>



<p>Arguably the most unexpected update for the smaller 500s is the introduction of the VarioDrive system, which had only been available on its big brothers.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" width="1200" height="675" src="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/18173725/280680_web1_1920x1080-FT26WKSPHO_500-Vario-Gen4_004-EME_edited.jpg" alt="Fendt 800 Vario Series" class="wp-image-180056" srcset="https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/18173725/280680_web1_1920x1080-FT26WKSPHO_500-Vario-Gen4_004-EME_edited.jpg 1200w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/18173725/280680_web1_1920x1080-FT26WKSPHO_500-Vario-Gen4_004-EME_edited-768x432.jpg 768w, https://static.grainews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/18173725/280680_web1_1920x1080-FT26WKSPHO_500-Vario-Gen4_004-EME_edited-235x132.jpg 235w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gen4, 500 Series Fendt tractors also get a power bump along with the brand’s sophisticated VarioDrive four-wheel drive system.<br></figcaption></figure>



<p>“We’re cascading that feature down, even to the new 500 Series,” says Montgomery.</p>



<p>“That was the big change in the 500 series.”</p>



<p>However, it’s not the only change.</p>



<p>The Deutz four-cylinder diesels used in the previous generation give way to another of Agco’s all-new Core engines, this time a 5.0-litre and another brand new introduction. As seems to be the case with every recent new model update from every major brand, these tractors also get a horsepower boost.</p>



<p>“You have a range from 130 to 174 horsepower,” says Montgomery. “You have four models, 513, 514, 515 and 516, covering 130 to 160 and you have an extra 10 horsepower with DynamicPower added on top.”</p>



<p>The 500s get a slightly smaller cab than the 800s, but they, too, can be filled with all of the brand’s high-end technology.</p>



<p><strong>CORRECTION,</strong> <strong><em>March 19:</em></strong> <em>The topmost photo from the 800 series and the above photo from the 500 series somehow got swapped yesterday. That error has now been fixed.</em></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.grainews.ca/machinery/fendt-reintroduces-800-vario-series-line-of-tractors/">Fendt reintroduces 800 Vario Series line of tractors</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.grainews.ca">Grainews</a>.</p>
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