Crop Management
Are western Canadian grain growers losing money at the elevator because of inaccurate grain moisture test results? Saskatchewan grain farmer Arie Vandertweel thinks so, and he wants the Canadian Grain Commission to get to the bottom of it. Vandertweel, who farms near Ridgedale, Sask., about 250 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, began asking questions about the […] Read more
Crop Management
Case made against right-to-repair
The Western Equipment Dealers Association rejects proposed right-to-repair legislation as ‘unnecessary and divisive’
WINNIPEG — Farm groups and a number of non-farm groups are pushing governments to pass right-to-repair legislation. Industry is pushing back, saying that companies are addressing farmers’ concerns about repairing equipment. Chief among farmer concerns is expensive new equipment that comes to a halt in the field when a computer malfunctions. Farmers attending Crop Connect […] Read more
Employees buy into farm equipment maker
The workers used an employee benefit plan that gives them ownership interest in the company for whom they work
As of Jan. 1, Loftness Specialized Equipment became 100 percent employee-owned. Using an American financial tool called an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), the 85 employees bought all Loftness shares. Located in Hector, Minnesota, Loftness manufactures a big list of farm equipment. The ESOP they used is an employee benefit plan that gives workers ownership […] Read more
Telescopic compact track loader does it all
Telescopic lift, reach and digging capability brought to cramped work sites and for those who move from one site to the next
JCB has introduced a new compact track Teleskid loader equipped with a telescopic boom that lifts, reaches and digs. The 2TS-7T is based on the company’s small platform skid steer chassis. The new machine is aimed at farmers and contractors who want a sub-2,300-pound skid steer. It brings telescopic lift, reach and digging capability to […] Read more
Steps to increase safety urged as telehandler accidents continue
Because of its ability to handle so many jobs, serving as a cross between a crane and a forklift, the telehandler is becoming commonplace on more farms every year. There are numerous versatile attachments including winches, pallet forks, snow plows, buckets, bale handlers, back hoes, crane, and forklifts. But there’s a downside to having ability […] Read more
Russian forage harvester possible for Canada
The company, which owns Versatile, must first look at what changes it would need to make before entering the market
HANNOVER, Germany — The Rostselmash booth in the Russian section at Agritechnica was well attended, and one of the company’s most impressive offerings, the RSM F lineup of forage harvesters, may soon be available in Canada. Speaking through a translator, Sergey Savenkov of Rostselmash said the company is studying the Canadian market to see if […] Read more
Multi-functional vehicle uses different methods to apply crop products
HANNOVER, Germany — Pegas-Agro’s Tuman-3 is a common sight on Russian fields, and if the company’s expansion plans come to fruition it will also become common in Canada. “We have studied the Canadian and U.S. market and have seen interest,” said Anna Sinitsyna of Pegas-Agro during Agritechnica in Hannover, Germany. The Tuman-3 vehicle can be […] Read more
No cell service? Now bring your own tower
HANNOVER, Germany — Poor rural connectivity is a fly in the ointment for ag tech companies. The power of machine learning and cloud computing will only be completely unleashed to help farmers once broadband internet becomes available out in the field. Low power, wide area (LPWA) networks have been installed and used successfully in cases […] Read more
Seed industry introduces royalty collection plan
Canadian seed organizations are moving ahead with a royalty collection plan that’s designed to generate greater financial returns from the development and sale of new PBR-protected seed varieties. On Feb. 25, the Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA) and the Canadian Plant Technology Agency (CPTA) announced plans to launch a seed variety use agreement (SVUA) pilot […] Read more
Canola could benefit from pressure on palm oil
Pepsi now has a firm position on palm oil, which could be good news for Canada’s canola oil industry. In February PepsiCo, a company with annual revenues of more than $65 billion and about 260,000 employees, released a comprehensive policy on sustainable palm oil. It includes commitments to no deforestation, no development on peat lands […] Read more
