In 2017 Linamar, a company best known as an auto parts manufacturer, purchased Winnipeg-based header and swather manufacturer MacDon. It followed that up by bringing implement brand Salford into its fold in 2022. In late December the company announced it is now adding Saskatchewan-based air drill manufacturer Bourgault into its family of shortline ag equipment brands.

Bourgault becomes third shortliner acquired by Linamar since 2017
Leadership say they want to double the business of the maker of Highline equipment and Freeform Plastics

Buhler Industries finds new majority shareholder in Turkish firm
Saskatchewan's Bourgault Industries changes hands
It was a big week for western Canadian machinery manufacturers as Winnipeg-based Buhler industries inked a deal that will see a Turkish company purchase its majority stake, and Guelph-based manufacturer Linamar Corporation acquired Saskatchewan’s Bourgault Industries.

Smart farm competition encourages farmers to adopt technology
Competition will serve as opportunity to create and develop smart farm networks
The Canadian Agri-Food Automation and Intelligence Network (CAAIN) is seeking applications for a competition geared toward creating or developing new smart farm networks. Funding under this initiative will support collaborative on-farm tech innovations in hopes encouraging farmers to adopt emergent agriculture technology. CAAIN receives funding from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to address challenges […] Read more

Tractors continue unusually strong sales in November
Many types of machinery have seen price hikes of around 30 per cent or more
The growing price of farm equipment is not dissuading farmers from buying new machinery, according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Managers (AEM).

Coalition seeks farmers, ranchers to join climate change forum
Farmers for Climate Solutions aims to gather diverse viewpoints
A farmer-led group is hoping to cut through the politics surrounding climate issues by bringing together a diverse group of Prairie farmers and ranchers for discussions around sustainability. “There’s a number of loud voices that tend to dominate the conversations,” says Ian McCreary, a grain and cattle farmer from Bladworth, Sask. McCreary is co-leading the […] Read more

At Agribition: Livestock tech companies earn new spotlight
Canadian Animal Ag Tech Awards presented
Three companies were crowned winners at the first annual Canadian Animal Ag Tech Awards on Thursday during Canadian Western Agribition in Regina. The event spotlighted companies creating technology for the livestock industry, with products ranging from water sensors to artificial intelligence-powered monitoring systems. Australia’s Smart Paddock received the Innovation Award. The company’s GPS ear tags […] Read more

Ottawa lines up with farmers on right-to-repair
Feds to call for owners to be able to repair their own equipment
The federal government says it’s siding with Canadian farmers on the right-to-repair debate. An announcement this week from the federal government called for an adjustment to the Competition Act that would prevent manufacturers from refusing to provide the means of device and product repair in an “anti-competitive manner.” That declaration came in the government’s 2023 […] Read more

Internal dispute over privilege, bullying allegations ties up C-234
New amendment to farm fuel bill now under debate
A proposed amendment, and a dispute over senatorial behaviour, further geared down progress Tuesday of a federal private member’s bill to carve out a carbon tax exemption for grain drying and heating of barns and greenhouses. Bill C-234, which passed the House of Commons in late March, remained on the Senate’s order paper for debate […] Read more

5 lessons learned at Agritechnica
I spent five days at Agritechnica 2023 and here are five things I learned. It’s a challenge sometimes to pull out the strong European policy influence on exhibitors and farmers at this show, but there are lessons for Canadian farmers, and the technology created to manage European problems in some cases will make economic sense […] Read more

Agritechnica wrap-up: New combines, tractors and industry trends
Agritechnica is the world’s largest agriculture machinery show, drawing more than 400,000 people from around the world to Hannover, Germany. Glacier FarmMedia Senior Technology Editor John Greig was there and summarized the major product launches and some of the ag-tech industry trends he observed. – John Greig is a senior editor with Glacier FarmMedia. Watch for much […] Read more