Detroit | Reuters — Deere and Co. said Tuesday it will start commercial delivery this year of technology that enables a tractor to till a field without an operator in the cab, a first for the top North American tractor manufacturer after years of effort to automate farm work. Deere plans a low-volume launch this […] Read more
Deere says its robo-tractors are ready to till the fields
Electric truck battle heats up between Ford, GM
Ford to double output at Michigan
Detroit | Reuters — Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday it will nearly double annual production capacity for its red-hot F-150 Lightning electric pickup to 150,000 vehicles as the model has already attracted nearly 200,000 reservations ahead of its arrival this spring at U.S. dealers. Ford’s announcement comes a day ahead of rival General Motors’ public […] Read more
Manitoba Ag Days postponed on COVID protocols
The 2022 edition of Manitoba Ag Days will not proceed next month as originally planned. Ag Days’ management team and directors have postponed the event – now to be determined at a later date – originally scheduled for January 18-20, 2022, in Brandon, Man., based on new COVID-19 public health orders issued by the Manitoba […] Read more
CNH shareholders approve spin-off of truck maker Iveco
Milan | Reuters — Shareholders at CNH Industrial on Thursday approved the spin-off of its truck-making business Iveco Group, the company said, completing a plan launched more than two years ago to reorganize its businesses. Upon completion of the plan, CNH Industrial shareholders will receive one Iveco Group common share for every five common shares […] Read more
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
Grain movement to Vancouver picking up
Railways seen recovering from B.C. damages faster than many had expected
Western grain movement to the Port of Vancouver was at 60 per cent of normal as of Dec. 15 and is expected to continually improve, Mark Hemmes, Canada’s grain monitor and president of Quorum Corp. said in an interview Wednesday. “I think by next week it’s going to look a lot better,” he said. “Is […] Read more
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
Claas retools certified pre-owned equipment program
'Claas Used' plan set up for Canada, U.S. markets
The North American arm of German aq equipment maker Claas has revamped the warranty and financing options it offers on sales of company-inspected pre-owned tractors, combines and forage harvesters. The new program, dubbed ‘Claas Used,’ will offer warranty protection on certified late-model units in Canada and the U.S., along with lower-rate financing through Claas Financial […] Read more
MacDon to make draper headers for Case IH, New Holland
Co-branded combine headers up for order next year
Canadian harvest equipment maker MacDon Industries will make draper headers for Case IH Axial-Flow and New Holland combines for the major manufacturers to sell through their own dealer networks in the new year. Case IH and New Holland, both owned by CNH, said separately Thursday they have partnership agreements in place with Winnipeg-based MacDon to […] Read more
U.S. EPA proposes biofuel mandate cuts
Proposal seen as boost to pandemic-hit refiners
New York | Reuters — The Biden administration proposed on Tuesday a reduction in the amount of biofuels that U.S. oil refiners were required to blend into their fuel mix since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The long-awaited decision offers some relief to the U.S. refining industry after the health crisis slammed domestic demand […] Read more
