Amid reports of violence involving a farm tractor and trucks — and seizures of weapons — the protest blockade that shut Alberta’s busiest U.S. trade corridor is reported to be winding down starting Tuesday. Several media outlets on Monday quoted organizers of the blockade at the Canada-U.S. border crossing at Coutts, Alta. as saying they […] Read more
Alberta border blockade expected to disperse Tuesday
Decision comes amid arrests, reported violence at blockade
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
Trade war and sagging prices push out U.S. farmers
A decade ago, young people were flocking back to the farm — but now they, and their parents, are leaving
A decade ago, young people were flocking back to the farm — but now they, and their parents, are leaving
Reading Time: 5 minutes Shuffling across his frozen fields, farmer Jim Taphorn hunched his shoulders against the wind and squinted at the auctioneer standing next to his tractors. After a fifth harvest with low grain prices, made worse last fall by the U.S.-China trade war, the 68-year-old and his family were calling it quits. Farming also was taking a physical toll […] Read more
Educate your kids about the dangers of PTOs
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Alberta Farm Safety Program has created a new Power Take Off (PTO) Display that can be borrowed for farm safety or other events. The resource uses different methods — including a “hands-on simulated entanglement scenario” — to educate children and youth about the dangers of rotating PTO shafts, said provincial farm safety youth co-ordinator […] Read more
Pulling needs lots of horsepower, and that means more weight
Special Report: Will farming make a u-turn?
Reading Time: 2 minutes The developer of the DOT Autonomous Power Platform says it will substantially reduce soil compaction and cut fuel usage by up to 20 per cent. It’s just physics, said Norbert Beaujot. “There is a big waste in pulling something versus having it mounted onto the body of the prime mover,” he says. “(Pulling) burns more […] Read more
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
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
Don’t take chances when removing duals
Reading Time: < 1 minute While duals are useful to improve traction and reduce soil compaction, removing them when not needed reduces tire wear and enhances manoeuvrability. But removing duals can be hazardous and people have been crushed by falling wheels or suffered strains and sprains. Read more: Ribbons to promote ag safety Removing duals is a two-person job and […] Read more
Antique tractors at auction offer a trip back through time
Reading Time: < 1 minute Norman and Judy Erickson’s farm near Viking was the place to be on Aug. 13, when 74 antique tractors (all but three completely restored) went on the auction block. More than 1,000 people came from across the Prairies and Ontario, with online bidders joining from the U.S. and the United Kingdom for the sale handled […] Read more
For safety’s sake, read this list and check it twice
Haying often means rushing to beat the weather, and that ups the danger, says farm safety expert
Reading Time: 2 minutes Baling season is once again in full swing. Many producers equate baling with hot summer days and a rush to beat the weather. While getting hay baled and off the field is a top priority, doing the job safely should take precedence. “To increase the safety of baling procedures while ensuring the job gets done, […] Read more
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