Regina-based Brandt’s agriculture division plans to make equipment for U.S. corn and soy growers at this plant north of Bloomington, Ill. (CNW Group/Brandt Tractor Ltd.)

Brandt to buy first U.S. manufacturing plant

A Canadian farm and industrial equipment manufacturer is preparing to set up its first U.S. base to make farm equipment for U.S. corn and soybean growers. The Regina-based Brandt Group, whose farm equipment lines include loaders and skid steers as well as augers, conveyors and vacuums for grain handling, announced Friday it will buy a […] Read more

Farmers on a committee dealing with workplace safety regulations argued that wearing a seatbelt while operating farm equipment doesn’t make sense much of the time. But the committee is recommending making buckling up mandatory.

Buckle up — workplace safety rules may be in for a rough ride

Mandatory seatbelt use is among several ‘pretty big’ regulations that don’t make sense, 
says the AgCoalition

Reading Time: 5 minutes Over the objections of its farmer members, a committee has recommended the province make seatbelt use mandatory in tractors, combines, and other farm equipment. Forcing farmers to buckle up is just one — although likely the most controversial — of 142 recommendations from four “technical working groups” established to turn Bill 6 into actual occupational […] Read more


It’s a classic image of life on the farm 
but it’s time to put this tradition to rest, says Alberta’s youth farm safety 
co-ordinator.

Official says ‘One Seat, One Rider’ should be the rule on every farm

Machinery accidents cause the majority of fatalities among children on the farm

Reading Time: 2 minutes Daddy, can I have a ride?’ “Riding on the tractor with Dad has been a long-standing tradition for many farm families,” said Janice Donkers, youth farm safety co-ordinator with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “It’s not uncommon to hear the older generations boast about how young they were when they first began riding on or operating […] Read more

Since most farm equipment is imported from the U.S., the rise in the Canadian dollar will lower the tab 
for new machinery.

Higher loonie will have many impacts

MARKET WATCH: A low dollar shielded Canadian farmers from lower commodity prices but it also raised the cost of farm equipment and inputs

Reading Time: 3 minutes While you were busy growing crops and raising livestock this summer, a rising dollar has been taking aim at your profits. The growing season started with the loonie trading under the 75 U.S. cents mark — and many analysts sticking to the theory it would stay low as long as oil prices remained in the […] Read more


Walk the safety talk — literally

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture is reminding farmers to do a full inspection on any equipment they plan to use, including a walkabout, before turning it on. That should include a “full 360-degree walk” around equipment and “looking for damage, excessive wear, loose or missing bolts, debris build-up, damaged or missing safety signs, leaks, tire inflation and fluid […] Read more



We take a look at some common sprayer problems with an experienced mechanic.  Photo: Scott Garvey

Finding the weak spots in used sprayers

Whether you’re looking at buying a used sprayer or handling maintenance on your own machine, knowing where to look for common problems will speed up the inspection process and help ensure you’re not surprised with a big repair bill later on, along with unexpected downtime. So where do you start looking for trouble? To find[...]
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Morris Industries gets $3.4 million for manufacturing, innovation

Morris Industries in Morris, Man. is receiving more than $3.4 million from the Western Economic Diversification Canada’s (WD) Western Innovation (WINN) Initiative, to commercialize an advanced manufacturing process and create new farm equipment products. The funding support will be a co-investment with Morris to accelerate implementation of new manufacturing technology that will incorporate advanced features[...]
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Cash is your best bet when buying machinery

Cash is your best bet when buying machinery

If you're going to 'run the hell out of your equipment,' lease it

Reading Time: 4 minutes When you sit down across a desk from your equipment dealer, you’re out to get the best deal you can — and your dealer is out to make a profit. So how can you keep more jingle in your own jeans? “It doesn’t matter if you pay cash, you finance it, or you lease it,”[...]
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Controlled traffic farming has seen the biggest uptake in Australia but is being tried in many countries, including this field in the Czech Republic photographed in 2015.

The next big thing? Pioneers of CTF have high hopes

Controlled traffic farming may be the biggest advance since no till, 
but even its fans don’t expect it to be an overnight success

Reading Time: 5 minutes Controlled traffic farming has many benefits, but it still hasn’t caught on big in Alberta. There are only a handful of farmers in the province who have adopted the practice and a recent conference drew just over 50 people — even though CTF, as it’s commonly called, is hailed by some as the biggest advance[...]
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