Trevor Thiessen of Redekop Manufacturing explains the company’s straw chopper to a farmer from Oregon at the Commodity Classic in Denver, Colorado, March 4. Redekop and other Canadian manufacturers are adjusting to 25 per cent tariffs on goods exported to the United States. | Robert Arnason photo

Prairie equipment manufacturers adjust to tariffs

Some ag equipment makers moved U.S.-bound machines south before tariffs were imposed

In 2023, Saskatchewan exported about $834 million worth of agricultural equipment to the United States. A portion of those exports were straw choppers and weed seed control units, manufactured by Redekop at its plant near Saskatoon.



Local sales in ag equipment buck national market trends

Evidence at Crop Production Show suggests demand beyond the data

Even on a largely underperforming harvest outcome, optimism was still present in the majority of the crowd at this year’s Crop Production Show in Saskatoon. It seemed fitting to have the two largest pieces of equipment at the show a couple of booths down from each other. Capacity, horsepower and efficiency have been the focal […] Read more


As of Oct. 1, Claas’ expanded digital Claas Connect went live online, allowing all the brand’s existing digital offerings to be consolidated into one cloud-based platform.

Claas upgrades its digital offering

The new Claas Connect is to be an all-in-one farm management platform

Glacier FarmMedia — Claas’ newly upgraded Claas Connect digital platform went live starting Oct. 1. Its expanded cloud-based features allow it to be a one-stop access point for all a producer’s precision farming and machinery management tools and resources. The new system consolidates all of Claas’ existing digital platforms in one location. “What we will […] Read more

VIDEO: How do old vs. new tractors compare in efficiency?

VIDEO: How do old vs. new tractors compare in efficiency?

Everyone is aware that the average size of a farm tractor has grown over the last few decades, but have you ever thought about how significant those changes are? How much more can one operator do with one seeding unit these days compared to the mid 1960s? Glacier FarmMedia’s senior editor for machinery, Scott Garvey, takes […] Read more


Geared-down expectations

What are other machinery manufacturers telling their shareholders to expect as they plow ahead into 2024? CNH (Case IH, New Holland) For its first quarter (Q1) ending March 31, CNH said sales volumes in North America were down two per cent for higher-horsepower (over 140 hp) tractors, and down 15 per cent for lower-horsepower tractors, […] Read more

farm mechanic with deere equipment

Deere expands customer repair capabilities northward

Customer Service Advisor and mobile app now available to Canadian owners

As “right-to-repair” advocates have increased pressure on major manufacturers in all industry sectors, some U.S. states have now introduced laws to mandate it. Those regulations, however, differ by state. For example, ag equipment manufactured after a certain date is included in Colorado’s law, while specifically excluded in Oregon’s. Aside from the push by legislators, the […] Read more


The process of farmer consultation on new equipment starts long before any metal is welded together.

Understanding farmers’ equipment needs

As the pace picks up on advancements in technology, consulting customers for their feedback becomes more important

A few years ago, I was invited to attend an R&D facility to test-drive a prototype version of an MFWD tractor with a CVT transmission — then I was asked to give my impressions of what I liked or didn’t like. It was interesting to participate in the early evaluation of a new tractor. Prototype […] Read more