In 2017 Linamar, a company best known as an auto parts manufacturer, purchased Winnipeg-based header and swather manufacturer MacDon. It followed that up by bringing implement brand Salford into its fold in 2022. In late December the company announced it is now adding Saskatchewan-based air drill manufacturer Bourgault into its family of shortline ag equipment brands.
Machinery
Bourgault becomes third shortliner acquired by Linamar since 2017
Leadership say they want to double the business of the maker of Highline equipment and Freeform Plastics
Buhler Industries finds new majority shareholder in Turkish firm
Saskatchewan's Bourgault Industries changes hands
It was a big week for western Canadian machinery manufacturers as Winnipeg-based Buhler industries inked a deal that will see a Turkish company purchase its majority stake, and Guelph-based manufacturer Linamar Corporation acquired Saskatchewan’s Bourgault Industries.
Smart farm competition encourages farmers to adopt technology
Competition will serve as opportunity to create and develop smart farm networks
The Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) is seeking applications for a competition geared toward creating or developing new smart farm networks. Funding under this initiative will support collaborative on-farm tech innovations in hopes encouraging farmers to adopt emergent agriculture technology. CAAIN receives funding from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to address challenges […] Read more
VIDEO: John Deere tractors take autonomy to the field
Future of autonomy is now, says Deere
John Deere showcased an 8RX tractor with its autonomy kit at Agritechnica in Hannover, Germany in November. Glacier FarmMedia Senior Technology Editor John Greig talked to Christopher Bone, product manager for larger tractors and autonomy with John Deere about the state of adoption and development of John Deere tractors and autonomy.
Tractors continue unusually strong sales in November
Many types of machinery have seen price hikes of around 30 per cent or more
The growing price of farm equipment is not dissuading farmers from buying new machinery, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Managers (AEM).
Expensive new equipment or older/cheaper: Which makes more sense?
Higher cost of newer equipment can pay off, but only if there's a benefit
In late 1978 I bought a new Ford 4×4 pickup truck. The sticker price was under $10,000 and my job at the time was paying me around $25,000 a year. That meant the truck, at about a third of my annual income, was pretty affordable. Using the Bank of Canada’s inflation calculator, that truck would […] Read more
Spot sprayer economics
Does this technology make sense for your farm? ROI isn’t the only consideration
Interest in spot sprayers has continued to grow among western Canadian farmers over the past decade. It’s easy to understand why. Spot sprayers can detect and spray a weed, leaving a crop untouched, and can dramatically reduce the use of expensive chemicals thanks to a combination of artificial intelligence, machine learning and state-of-the-art sensors. While […] Read more
Coalition seeks farmers, ranchers to join climate change forum
Farmers for Climate Solutions aims to gather diverse viewpoints
A farmer-led group is hoping to cut through the politics surrounding climate issues by bringing together a diverse group of Prairie farmers and ranchers for discussions around sustainability. “There’s a number of loud voices that tend to dominate the conversations,” says Ian McCreary, a grain and cattle farmer from Bladworth, Sask. McCreary is co-leading the […] Read more
At Agribition: Livestock tech companies earn new spotlight
Canadian Animal Ag Tech Awards presented
Three companies were crowned winners at the first annual Canadian Animal Ag Tech Awards on Thursday during Canadian Western Agribition in Regina. The event spotlighted companies creating technology for the livestock industry, with products ranging from water sensors to artificial intelligence-powered monitoring systems. Australia’s Smart Paddock received the Innovation Award. The company’s GPS ear tags […] Read more
Ottawa lines up with farmers on right-to-repair
Feds to call for owners to be able to repair their own equipment
The federal government says it’s siding with Canadian farmers on the right-to-repair debate. An announcement this week from the federal government called for an adjustment to the Competition Act that would prevent manufacturers from refusing to provide the means of device and product repair in an “anti-competitive manner.” That declaration came in the government’s 2023 […] Read more
