Canadian seeding equipment manufacturers could face a particularly difficult business environment over the next four years. | Scott Garvey photo

Sales of new and used seeding equipment plummet

According to a report published in November by Farm Credit Canada, Canadian short-line equipment manufacturers are feeling the pressure from a slowdown in demand for equipment. “In Canada, manufacturing sales in the first nine months of 2024 have fallen by 8.7 per cent compared to last year,” it says. “We expect Canadian manufacturing sales to […] Read more

Although sales may suggest “a little bit” of a downturn, Kim Rominger, chief executive officer of the North American Equipment Dealers Association, says reasons date back to the pandemic, when new combines and other equipment were hard to find and used machines were purchased instead. | File photo

Drooping combine sales seen as part of a cycle

Now may be a good time to get a bargain on used machines as supplies of late model combines become available

Glacier FarmMedia – Fewer new combine sales in Canada and the U.S. are just business as usual and probably a lingering effect of the pandemic, says one ag machinery leader. Although sales may suggest “a little bit” of a downturn, Kim Rominger, chief executive officer of the North American Equipment Dealers Association, says reasons date […] Read more

Tech firm CDK's software was taken offline last week after a cyberattack by the BlackSuit ransomware group. CDK is being asked to pay tens of millions of dollars by the hackers. Reuters reports that the company expects dealers to be offline until at least June 30. | Getty Images

Cyber attack frustrates equipment dealers

Dealers forced to use manual processes after software provider hacked

Glacier FarmMedia – A cyber attack on a major software provider has made providing parts and service difficult for some agriculture equipment dealers. “This is certainly completely disruptive to our equipment dealers that are using the CDK platform,” said John Schmeiser, president of the North American Equipment Dealers Association, Canada. Tech firm CDK’s software was […] Read more


Prairie agricultural equipment manufacturers, which are often located in smaller communities, are having difficulty finding skilled workers. A new program aims to tackle that problem. | File photo

“Careers in Ag Mobile Skills Lab” to promote industry jobs

Saskatchewan equipment manufacturers receive government funding aimed at finding more workers

Many industry sectors are having trouble finding skilled workers in today’s labour market. Prairie agricultural equipment manufacturers, which are often located in smaller communities, are feeling that pinch as severely as anyone. Related story: Industry sells workers on ag jobs The Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada (AMC), an association representing that industry, has been working on […] Read more

Farm equipment built for sale into markets outside of North America will not likely conform to engineering standards here. Importing these machines may cost producers much more than they expected over the long term.  |  Scott Garvey photo

Farmers warned on ‘grey market’ equipment

It might be tempting for Canadian farmers to buy farm machinery from overseas, but the cost of importing them may not offer much value in the long run. Farm equipment designed to be sold in markets outside North America do not meet the same engineering standards required for general use or sale here. “It’s not […] Read more


Operators are still required to be in the cab for most farming tasks as equipment manufacturers gradually automate the processes and decisions that require operator intervention.  |  File photo

Equipment manufacturers focus on technology

Major implement companies face high-tech future as they wrestle with automation, autonomy and precision agriculture

Images of autonomous machines working on their own in fields can easily grab the attention of early-adopter producers, especially those facing a labour crunch. They also make impressive headlines and brand announcements. However, even though several concept, prototype and even a few production machines have appeared on the scene, nearly all producers will again still […] Read more

New 4WD unit sales in Canada grew 84.8 per cent year over year in November and 41.5 percent year to date, according to the Association of Equipment Managers. | Paul Yanko photo

Big iron rakes in big dollars post pandemic

Equipment sales boost largely driven by late deliveries and high commodity prices before they retreated last year

A big boost in four-wheel-drive tractor sales signals that the farm equipment industry is returning to normal, say salespeople and other industry experts. New 4WD unit sales in Canada grew 84.8 per cent year over year in November and 41.5 percent year to date, according to the Association of Equipment Managers. In October, it reported Canadian sales of tractors […] Read more



The federal government is considering changing the Competition Act to prevent manufacturers from denying farmers the means to repair their equipment.  |  File photo

Ottawa, equipment industry clash over right to repair

A recent federal call to formalize producers’ right to repair their own equipment ignores what manufacturers are already doing to boost farmers’ capacity to do so, according to a leader in the North American equipment arena. The federal government is considering an adjustment to the Competition Act that would prevent manufacturers from denying farmers the […] Read more