farmer repairing combine harvester

No clear-cut fix in right to repair debate

It sounds like everyone wants farmers to be able to repair machinery, but there appears to be a big gap in what’s available, affordable and accessible in a timely manner

The stories are out there. Farmers held up at a time of critical field operations because machinery needed, perhaps, a fairly simple reset of computer codes or minor repair, but it took hours for a dealership technician to get there to do it. Northern Alberta farmer Cole Siegle has told his story a few times. […] Read more

Ron Silvernagle designed and built the safety rail and walkway attached to the front of this combine to make cleaning windows less hazardous.

Sask. farmer improves combine safety

Invention guards against falls

Ron Silvernagle may be in his early 80s, but he still likes to pitch in to help out on the family farm near Biggar, Sask., during busy times like harvest. He’s also an inventor of sorts, and like a lot of farmers, he enjoys spending time in the workshop figuring out ways to improve the […] Read more


Used tractor and combine inventories on dealers’ lots are at their lowest levels in decades.

Farm machinery prices trend upward

Used equipment market sees low supply, increasing prices

A few years ago, the combine sitting unloved on the local dealer’s lot would be getting a little cheaper with each passing month. But not these days. “We have 70 per cent of our dealers saying their used equipment (inventory) is too low,” says John Schmeiser, CEO of the Western Equipment Dealers Association (WEDA). “And […] Read more

Buhler Industries board member Konstantin Babkin, shown here at left with the company’s then-president Dmitry Lyubimov during a visit to the company’s facility in Winnipeg in 2007, is seen as particularly vulnerable to sanction from Canada. (File photo by Dave Bedard)

Equipment maker Buhler distances self from Ukraine invasion

A Winnipeg farm equipment manufacturer is distancing itself from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Buhler Industries, which manufactures the Versatile tractor line and Farm King equipment, is majority-owned by the Russian firm Combine Factory Rostselmash. That firm purchased an 80 per cent stake in Buhler in 2007 and boosted that to 97 per cent ownership in […] 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)

Versatile tractor maker’s majority owner boosts stake

Russia's Rostselmash raises ownership to almost 97 per cent

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

(ClaasOfAmerica.com)

Claas sees more semiconductor chip snags in 2022

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

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


U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack speaks with striking workers at Deere’s Des Moines-area farm equipment plant at Ankeny, Iowa on Oct. 20, 2021. (File photo: Reuters/Scott Morgan)

Deere’s striking U.S. workers accept revised offer

Operations to resume Wednesday night, company says

Production and maintenance workers at 14 Deere and Co. plants are expected to return to work starting Wednesday night after voting to approve a new contract. United Auto Workers (UAW), which represents over 10,000 Deere employees in the U.S., said late Wednesday its members voted 61 per cent in favour of new six-year collective bargaining […] Read more



John Deere celebrates 75 years of combine production with special anniversary edition S series models.

John Deere combines mark milestone

75th anniversary editions available for model year 2022 machines

When model year 2022 combine production soon begins at Deere’s Harvester Works in East Moline, Ill., the S series machines leaving the plant will sport some extra bling, in the form of a 75th anniversary decal on their flanks. These machines mark the celebration of a significant milestone for Deere, which has now been building […] Read more