The big three are planning for shorter sales and higher costs in the remaining three quarters of this year
Farm machinery makers are adjusting operations as COVID-19 adds to complexity and limits supplies. Case New Holland suspended many of its operations in the Americas for two weeks at the beginning of the month. Its Grand Island, Nebraska, combine plant closed just before Good Friday in an effort to maintain the health of its workers, […] Read moreStories by Michael Raine
Raven buys DOT with plans for expansion
Prairies autonomous farm tool finds a new home in the Dakotas, one with global reach and a growing stable
Raven Industries is now the sole owner of DOT. Norbert Beaujot is taking in the big view from his farm in southern Saskatchewan and of the future of the autonomous farming platform. “As a family, we couldn’t take on putting DOT where it needed to be by ourselves,” said the founder and owner of SeedMaster […] Read more
Raven buys DOT
Raven Industries is now the sole owner of DOT. Norbert Beaujot is taking in the big view from his farm in southern Saskatchewan ahead of the seeding season. And of the future for the autonomous farming platform, DOT. “As a family, we couldn’t take-on putting DOT where it needed to be by ourselves,” said the […] Read more
Learning from those before us
So far, in Canada, the government has said commerce and trade must continue. Agriculture is part of that, but should federal and provincial leaders be more clear in their messaging when it comes to certain parts of business and industry? Mining, energy production, agriculture and food, transportation, hardware, trades, some manufacturing and media are among […] Read more
Too many acres with too many old pulses; it may be time for change
New pea varieties offer advantages for producers, but despite this, farmers have been slow to adopt them. A 13-year-old variety still dominates the Saskatchewan seeded yellow pea acreage, with CDC Meadow taking up 38 percent of fields. More than 1,000 farmers planted 440,000 acres of the variety last year with an average yield about one […] Read more
COVID-19: Ag stories will go on
Journalism is underwritten through business endeavors. Ours is no different, even in times of global crisis. You pay for your subscriptions with the money you earned the hard way, farming, and with the time you choose to spend with your Western Producer. We sell that time to advertisers. In the case of public broadcasters, tax […] Read more
Agco weathers four tough growing seasons
Warranty issues and an ill-fated move to more environmentally acceptable Tier 3 engines in Brazil challenge finances
Tough times in agriculture across the globe have put some farm machinery makers into financial difficulties. Agco, the world’s third-largest full-line manufacturer, saw lower earnings and higher expenses than expected, but it will be able to share with equity holders and maintain research and expansion, says its chief executive officer. Martin Richenhagen told the investment […] Read moreSupply and demand: if they were real
Grow what the market demands. Feed the world what it’s missing. Give the consumer what they long for. Meet shortage with supply. Adapt to meet the need. Etc., etc., etc. I’ve heard it all my life. My parents heard it and their parents. And being we’ve farmed for quite a while, likely the mantra of […] Read more
We’re already hoping for next year
Terrifying as the prospect might be, maybe western Canadian farmers have to settle for being one of the world’s lowest cost producers of high-quality commodity food. Like most producers, I had dreams that western Canadian products would be valued for what they really are: sustainable, ethically produced, top-quality food products. And that our food, feed, […] Read more
Is the future in steel weed management?
I love a good farm show. Heck, I’d love a bad farm show, but I can’t say I’ve ever been to one. My enthusiasm for farm shows began when I was a kid growing up on the farm. It was always a good day to miss a little school and go learn more about something […] Read more
