Researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia have developed a robotic herder which they say does a better job than humans or dogs. A four-wheeled device nicknamed Robotic Rover has successfully herded dairy cows in tests on the university’s dairy herd. “Removing human judgment from trafficking speed will allow us to ensure that cows […] Read more
Robotic milkers, so why not robotic herders?
Deep cut proposed for U.S. 2014 biofuel requirement
U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration proposed on Friday to slash a federal target for U.S. biofuel use in 2014 to 15.21 billion gallons, attempting to prevent a projected fuel crunch next year. The planned cut of more than 16 per cent by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) matches figures in a draft that was […] Read more
Farm Business Communications earns online honours
The web arm of Canadian Cattlemen magazine and the mobile app for Grainews were among the winners at the fifth annual Canadian Online Publishing Awards announced Wednesday in Toronto. CanadianCattlemen.ca earned a silver award for best overall companion website in the Blue (business-to-business, professional association, farm, scholarly) division at the COPA show. Grainews Mobile, meanwhile, […] Read more
Ritz sees railways doing ‘adequate’ job moving huge crop
Canada’s two main railways, Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), have done an “adequate” job moving this year’s record harvests to port, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said Wednesday. Prairie farmers produced the biggest grain and oilseed harvests on record this year, according to government estimates, straining the system of moving crops from […] Read more
Coop federee taking minority stake in hardware chain
Agrifood processor and ag retailer La Coop federee has reached a deal to take a minority interest in home reno and hardware retail chain Groupe BMR. The size of the stake and the financial terms of the deal haven’t been released. The deal will see Coop federee — through its Unimat chain — and BMR […] Read more
Chinese demand for coal supports ocean freight market
The global ocean freight market is seen as generally good this year, with strong demand for coal from China providing support. “China is importing more coal and rebuilding stockpiles, which is giving strength to freight markets,” Christopher Nolan of Summit Maritime Corp. said during a presentation at the Cereals North America global grain conference in […] Read more
Co-ops seal deal for Viterra stores, will shut two
Updated, Nov. 8 — Fifteen Viterra crop retail outlets on the Prairies will soon fly the banners of their communities’ local co-ops, while operations at two others will be wound down. Federated Co-operatives Ltd. (FCL) announced Thursday it has closed its deal to buy the fertilizer, seed and agriculture chemical supply centres from Viterra, the […] Read more
Alta. nitrogen plant offline until mid-month
A major ammonia and urea fertilizer production plant near Edmonton will be shut down until Nov. 20 for repairs on a failed waste heat boiler. Agrium’s Redwater 2 plant at Redwater, about 45 km northeast of Edmonton, was shut down Oct. 15 due to the boiler failure, the company said in a release Thursday. “Reduced […] Read more
Tractor withstood mysterious burial in manure
For a few days in the summer of 2012 it may have been the most famous tractor in Western Canada, though it would never pull an implement again. But a southern Manitoba equipment dealer who bought the 2009 Case IH Steiger 485 says the unit, long since dismantled for parts, could possibly have been put […] Read more
Quebec backs Massey dealer’s ownership change
The Quebec government’s economic development lender has put up $900,000 in loans and guarantees for a Massey Ferguson dealership to consolidate its ownership. Investissement Quebec will provide Dany Lafrance and Martin Nolin, the sales and service managers respectively at Champoux Machineries, with a $650,000 loan and a guarantee for another $250,000 loan. The financing is […] Read more
