The calendar has flipped to December which brings Christmas music (yay!) and, inevitably, colder weather (boo!). But just because it’s cold outside on the farm or ranch the work does not stop. Whether it’s pushing snow or bedding or feeding the animals, cold weather brings a new set of challenges for the tasks to get… Read More
It’s nice to have all the bells and whistles on new equipment, and you have to keep up-to-date on new ideas or you’ll get left behind. It’s is also important to listen to your customers and realize that sometimes it is hard to manipulate bells and whistles when you have to wear thick gloves to… Read More
Having control of inventory is a constant concern for all small business owners, including farmers. When you have multiple fuel types, multiple users, and tanks that are accessible to anyone that drives through the yard, fuel inventory management can become one of your biggest concerns — and one of your most expensive. Which is most… Read More
Whether it’s race cars, motorbikes, or tractors, horsepower is about bragging rights, power, and speed. Most farmers appreciate a little more horsepower when they need it to get the job done. Additionally, farmers tend to have a natural talent for alterations to machinery to improve effectiveness. Some after-market changes are encouraged and do not have a downside,… Read More
For those people who like two-track tractors but always thought the ride could be a little better, good news: John Deere agrees with you and is making the cab suspension more operator friendly on its new two-track tractors. RealAgriculture had a chance to talk to Tiffany Turner, product marketing manager, large tractors, for John Deer,… Read More
Steiger wants to hit the ground running, even on narrow tracks. RealAgriculture’s Kelvin Heppner was in Boone, Iowa, recently for the Farm Progress Show. While he was there he got a chance to talk to Mitch Kaiser, Case IH Steiger marketing manager. He says there is quite a bit new this year, “Especially for the… Read More
The reality is that farms are getting bigger and fields farther apart. Time spent on the road is time not spent doing field work, so there’s a lot of focus right now on tracks that handle travel at road speed to get between fields faster. RealAgriculture’s Kelvin Heppner caught up with Martin Lunkenbein, Camso’s business… Read More
An aftermarket kit that turns a regular tractor into an autonomous machine made its Farm Progress Show debut in Boone, Iowa this week. Smart Ag, based in Ames, Iowa, has developed a software platform and kit for controlling a tractor without a driver. The first application for the platform, called AutoCart, automates a grain cart… Read More
It’s been one year since the DOT field robot prototype made its first public appearance at Ag in Motion (AIM) near Saskatoon, Sask. The machine has since attracted attention from people around the world who are interested in the future of autonomous farming. Engineers in the DOT Technology Corp. shop in Emerald Park, Sask. have… Read More
Designed for controlled traffic farming (CTF), the Multi Tool Trac built in the Netherlands offers a unique look based on a series of farmer-driven ideas. The electric tractor was developed for use in three-metre CTF, but takes transport into account with an on-the-fly adjustable gauge system that takes it down to 2.25 metres for the… Read More
Hovering 350mm (~14 inches) above its base, the tractor cab definitely stood out as it sat perched atop a Deutz-Fahr 9340 tractor on display at Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany. So why would a tractor cab need a lift kit? No, it’s not for aesthetic appeal, but for a practical reason: tasks that require the driver… Read More
Camso is giving new life to worn tracks. Earlier this month, the Quebec-based company unveiled its certified remanufactured program, giving farmers the ability to rebuild and reuse worn tracks. “When customers participate in our program, Camso takes their old tracks and puts new tread bars on the carcass, remanufacturing the used tracks and giving them… Read More
European farmers can look forward to a new line-up from Kubota — and one that provides automation of some of the more mundane operator duties. The M7002 series tractors succeed M7001, with up to 170 horsepower, a new power shift transmission, improved braking performance, lower fuel consumption and updates to intelligence. With Tractor Implement Management,… Read More
March 14, 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of John Deere’s tractor business, and the company has big plans for its centennial celebration. John Deere entered the farm tractor business in 1918 through the acquisition of the Waterloo Gasoline Engine Company. At the recent National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Kentucky, John Deere product marketing manager… Read More
With commodity prices staying low and farmers facing higher interest rates for the foreseeable future, there is reason to be cautious about equipment sales moving forward, especially after 2017’s mixed bag of results between Canada and the U.S. Some manufacturers, though, do see light at the end of the tunnel. At play in the optimism,… Read More