(PerformanceAg.ca)

Alberta input retail chain expands westward reach

A pair of independent crop input retail outlets in west-central Alberta will be networking with seven others by month-end. Crop Management Network (CMN), a joint venture between an employee-owned network of retail outlets and La Coop federee’s Agrico Canada arm, announced Wednesday it has reached a deal to buy Performance Ag Group. Performance Ag, which […] Read more

(CNHIndustrial.com)

CNH begins 3D-printing spare parts

In a twist on the idea of ordering parts online, the parent firm for New Holland and Case IH is trying out the use of 3D printing to make plastic — and eventually metal — spare parts. British-based equipment manufacturing giant CNH Industrial said Monday it has already produced its first 3D-printed spare parts, making […] Read more


(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Railways to appeal federal order on train braking

A ministerial order requiring railways to apply handbrakes on trains stopped on mountain grades is the subject of an appeal by Canada’s big two railways. Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) said Friday it will appeal the Feb. 8 order, which federal Transport Minister Marc Garneau issued following the Feb. 4 fatal crash of a grain train […] Read more

The two 18-volt batteries in this chain saw give it the same power as a 32cc gas model and will last about as long as a tank of fuel.

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


Grainews test-drove the Maxxum in the field to evaluate the new 
ActiveDrive transmission features.

We field-test the Case IH Maxxum with ActiveDrive

Clutch-less transmission offers auto shift features as well

When Case IH held a media event in Arizona in January, Grainews had a chance to get behind the wheel of tractors from three of the brand’s lines. One of them was the Maxxum. It was our second chance to drive a Maxxum with the ActiveDrive semi-powershift transmission. We first drove one in Iowa ahead […] Read more

We put Can Am’s newest Defender XT HD10 model to a winter workout in our latest equipment practical test.

Reviewing the newest Can-Am Defender UTV

We spend a few weeks of winter testing Can-Am’s newest UTV

Three years ago Grainews gathered several side-by-side UTVs together for a full review and comparison. Included in that group was the Can-Am Defender from BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products). Our panel of judges were impressed with that model back then and rated it highly. So this year when Can-Am asked us if we’d like to have […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

FCC offers up new Starter Loans

“Preferential” loan rates are available to young farmers or agribusinesspeople planning start-ups through a new Farm Credit Canada lending program. Lawrence MacAulay, addressing the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s annual meeting Wednesday in Ottawa when he was still federal minister of agriculture, unveiled the federal ag lending agency’s new Starter Loan Program. The program, according to […] Read more

Grainews had a chance to operate this 75A Farmall on Case IH’s 
Arizona test field.

Taking one of the newest Farmall tractors for a drive

Grainews takes a close look at the new A Series tractors from Case IH

The utility and compact utility tractor segments (roughly the 50 to 125 horsepower range) are the most densely populated tractor ranges on the market. Several tractor-only brands along with all the major brands have their largest number of offerings in that group. So there is a lot for a potential buyer to choose from. To […] Read more


VIDEO: Kirovets K-744 tractor turns heads

VIDEO: Kirovets K-744 tractor turns heads

Less-complicated tech approach aims to offer more value

Amongst the many machinery offerings on display at Manitoba Ag Days last month, the MTZ-Kirovets K-744, a Mercedes-Benz powered, 435 hp tractor seemed to get its fair share of attention from attendees. In this video, Arie Prilik, vice president of MTZ Equipment, takes Grainews machinery editor Scott Garvey on a walk-around of the K-744 to […] Read more

We test-drove this 2018 Freightliner Cascadia to get a feel for what a new truck tractor offers in comfort and conveniences.

Evaluating used heavy trucks: Part 4

Is it worth the money to make the jump to a brand new truck?

In the first three parts of this series we looked at what’s available in the used truck market, and we used three specific trucks to demonstrate what your buying power gets you in the low, mid, and higher price ranges. The low-end truck had a price tag of just under $20,000, while the upper-end model […] Read more