Machinery & Production Tips

Workers set up a temporary building for John Deere on Jan. 3, 2022 in the parking lot of the Las Vegas Convention Center in preparation for CES 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Steve Marcus)

Deere says its robo-tractors are ready to till the fields

By GFM Network News January 4, 2022

Detroit | Reuters — Deere and Co. said Tuesday it will start commercial delivery this year of technology that enables a tractor to till a field without an operator in the cab, a first for the top North American tractor manufacturer after years of effort to automate farm work. Deere plans a low-volume launch this […] Read more

Production of Ford’s F-150 Lightning pickup at Dearborn, Mich. (Media.ford.com)

General, Machinery, Reuters

Electric truck battle heats up between Ford, GM

Ford to double output at Michigan

By GFM Network News January 4, 2022

Detroit | Reuters — Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday it will nearly double annual production capacity for its red-hot F-150 Lightning electric pickup to 150,000 vehicles as the model has already attracted nearly 200,000 reservations ahead of its arrival this spring at U.S. dealers. Ford’s announcement comes a day ahead of rival General Motors’ public […] Read more

A past crowd at Manitoba Ag Days inside the Keystone Centre in Brandon, Man. Photo: Sandy Black/Manitoba Co-operator

Machinery

Manitoba Ag Days postponed on COVID protocols

By Glacier FarmMedia staff, GFM Network News December 28, 2021

The 2022 edition of Manitoba Ag Days will not proceed next month as originally planned. Ag Days’ management team and directors have postponed the event – now to be determined at a later date – originally scheduled for January 18-20, 2022, in Brandon, Man., based on new COVID-19 public health orders issued by the Manitoba […] Read more

Iveco’s products include the Stralis XP truck for the long-distance haulage market. (Iveco.com)

Crops, Machinery, Reuters

CNH shareholders approve spin-off of truck maker Iveco

By Reuters, GFM Network News December 23, 2021

Milan | Reuters — Shareholders at CNH Industrial on Thursday approved the spin-off of its truck-making business Iveco Group, the company said, completing a plan launched more than two years ago to reorganize its businesses. Upon completion of the plan, CNH Industrial shareholders will receive one Iveco Group common share for every five common shares […] Read more

Russia’s Rostselmash in November 2021 launched a new Delta Track line of heavy-duty tractors, based on a similar line made at the Buhler plant in Winnipeg. (Rostselmash.com)

Crops, Machinery

Versatile tractor maker’s majority owner boosts stake

Russia's Rostselmash raises ownership to almost 97 per cent

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News December 23, 2021

The Russian farm equipment manufacturer which held just over 80 per cent of Canadian tractor and equipment maker Buhler Industries has now taken up near complete ownership. Winnipeg-based, publicly-traded Buhler Industries announced Wednesday that Combine Factory Rostselmash has bought another 16.3 per cent of Buhler shares for $3 per share, or about $12.25 million. Buhler, […] Read more

Crews work as Canadian Pacific Railway tracks are suspended above the washed-out Tank Hill underpass of the Trans-Canada Highway after devastating rain storms caused flooding and landslides, northeast of Lytton, B.C. on Nov. 20, 2021. (Photo: B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure handout via Reuters)

Crops, Machinery, Weather

Grain movement to Vancouver picking up

Railways seen recovering from B.C. damages faster than many had expected

By Allan Dawson, GFM Network News December 21, 2021

Western grain movement to the Port of Vancouver was at 60 per cent of normal as of Dec. 15 and is expected to continually improve, Mark Hemmes, Canada’s grain monitor and president of Quorum Corp. said in an interview Wednesday. “I think by next week it’s going to look a lot better,” he said. “Is […] Read more

Equipment, Machinery

Flaman offers complete sprayer tenders

Sprayer tender trailer designs based on farmer input

By Scott Garvey December 17, 2021

The best way to maximize the number of acres covered by a sprayer in a workday is to reduce refill times. That keeps the sprayer moving and applying product, and a few tender systems have appeared on the market over the years from a variety of brands and suppliers to speed up those refill times. […] Read more

Kyle Csversko of Neepawa, Man., made building a sprayer tender trailer a winter project, spec’d out to exactly match his operational needs.

Equipment, Machinery

Farm-built sprayer tender trailer

Manitoba farmer builds the unit that suits his operation

By Scott Garvey December 17, 2021

Not everyone has the skills, time or facilities to take on a large equipment fabrication project, but for those that do, it may be possible to build a piece of equipment that exactly meets specific on-farm needs — and do it at a lower cost than buying off the shelf. For Kyle Csversko of Neepawa, […] Read more

Crops, Machinery, Reuters

Claas sees more semiconductor chip snags in 2022

'It's going to be a tough next six months'

By Reuters, GFM Network News December 17, 2021

Paris | Reuters — Agricultural machinery maker Claas said Thursday it expects difficulties in securing semiconductor chips to persist for the first half of next year, which could curb a surge in profits linked to booming farm demand. An upturn in orders from farmers, who are benefiting from high crop prices after several lean years, […] Read more

Claas’ current certified pre-owned inventory includes this 2020 Jaguar 990 self-propelled forage harvester, on offer in Nebraska for US$435,000 (about C$559,500). (ClaasUsedEquipment.com)

Crops, Machinery

Claas retools certified pre-owned equipment program

'Claas Used' plan set up for Canada, U.S. markets

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News December 15, 2021

The North American arm of German aq equipment maker Claas has revamped the warranty and financing options it offers on sales of company-inspected pre-owned tractors, combines and forage harvesters. The new program, dubbed ‘Claas Used,’ will offer warranty protection on certified late-model units in Canada and the U.S., along with lower-rate financing through Claas Financial […] Read more

CFIA rejects beekeeper proposals on U.S. packaged bees

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures fall hard, hogs mixed

Alberta Crop Report: Scattered rains, crop conditions

GFM Network News