A view of Imperial Oil’s Strathcona fuel refinery from the North Saskatchewan River. (Imperial Oil photo via BusinessWire)

Imperial Oil clears Edmonton renewable diesel plant for construction

Quick decision motivated in part by need for feedstocks such as canola oil, company says

Reuters — Imperial Oil on Thursday announced approval for an investment of $720 million to build Canada’s largest renewable diesel facility at its Strathcona refinery near Edmonton. The Calgary-based company said the facility will produce 20,000 barrels per day of renewable diesel and is expected to start production in 2025. Imperial expects regulatory approval for […] Read more

The Claas Variant 500 series round balers get a new and improved pickup along with other updates.

Updated balers from Claas

Round and large square baler lines get upgrades to improve bale density and more

In September, Claas announced updates to its North American offering of both round and square balers, the Variant 500 series round baler and the Quadrant 5300 Evolution series square baler. “Each of these machines is designed to provide maximum performance, easy maintenance and the reliability you expect from Claas,” says product manager Matt Jaynes. “By […] Read more


BKT tractor tires

Why fluids have no place in the drive tires on your tractor

Filling tractor tires with liquid to improve traction is no longer a good idea

Like every other aspect of agricultural equipment design, ag tires have evolved significantly from the days when bias-ply technology was about the only choice for most tractors. The introduction of modern radials means tires are now much more capable of turning engine horsepower into usable traction than bias-ply tires ever were. The way bias-ply tires […] Read more

File photo of a combine at work during a harvest in Germany. (Abadonian/iStock/Getty Images)

Germany considering withdrawal from crop-based biofuels by 2030

Lawmakers seek to boost biofuel made from wastes

Hamburg | Reuters — Germany’s government is considering proposals to phase out the use of biofuels produced from food or animal feed crops by 2030, the German biofuels industry association (VDB) said on Tuesday, adding the measure could increase carbon emissions. German environment minister Steffi Lemke said Jan. 17 she will soon send proposals to […] Read more


(RBAuction.com)

Ritchie Bros. raises cash payout in bid for IAA

Activist investor Starboard Value buys into Ritchie

Reuters — Canada’s Ritchie Bros. on Monday sweetened the cash component of its buyout offer for IAA Inc. by 28 per cent, valuing the U.S. auto retailer at US$5.94 billion, and also secured the backing of a key IAA shareholder which had questioned the initial offer. The latest cash-and-stock offer at $44.40 per share, will […] Read more

The RC FarmArm allows an operator to manipulate tractor controls from outside of the cab with a remote controller.

RcFarmArm allows for some remotely controlled tractor functions

Farmers see the benefits of keeping both feet on the ground with bolt-on attachment for tractor

Repeatedly climbing in and out of an auger tractor to start it and engage the PTO can get tiring after a long day of hauling grain in from the combine. And it can even be a bit difficult for those whose mobility isn’t what it used to be, such as older farmers. But there is […] Read more


NYMEX March 2023 West Texas Intermediate crude oil (candlesticks) with 100-day moving average (black line) and ICE March 2023 Brent crude oil (blue open/high/low/close). (Barchart)

China driving crude oil price increases

Bulls on crude oil expect a 'very shallow' recession

MarketsFarm — China has largely been behind the current upticks in global crude oil prices, according to Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis for Oil Price Information Services in Lakewood, NJ. He suggested that China’s economy will begin to pick up steam in 2023 after the government loosened its super-tight COVID-19 restrictions. “You can […] Read more

For the first time, a 50-foot flex draper header will be available for Claas 8000 series combines.

Claas updates its 8000 series Lexion combines

New cab, wider header and other improvements for 2023 model year

Claas has decided to update its 8000 series combines. In November, the brand announced 2023 model year machines will see a number of improvements to ramp up both operator comfort and machine efficiency. “The Lexion has built a reputation for delivering a mix of efficiency, precision and convenience,” says Greg Frenzel, Claas combine product manager. […] Read more


The new Core engine design from Agco Power is designed to eventually run on alternative fuels, such as hydrogen.

Agco Power introduces the Core engine platform

New engine designed for compatibility with alternative fuels

Last October, Agco said it had taken what it called a “radical step towards carbon neutral engines” with the debut of its new Core diesel engine platform. The company claims this new engine will eventually be capable of running on a range of new fuel types. Proposed future environmental regulations in many countries threaten to […] Read more