It’s been almost 30 years since Caterpillar launched the first rubber tracked tractor for farming — the Challenger 65 was created in 1986 and introduced to the market in 1987. There are obvious similarities between the original and the latest version of the Challenger, but there have also been some noticeable changes, including the transition to… Read More

Top-end speed for tractors has climbed over the years, as farmers look for ways to reduce the amount of time spent transporting equipment. Faster road gears have become more valuable as farms grow in size, with longer distances between fields. While it might exceed what’s practical on most North American farms, a new Guiness World Record for fastest tractor speed… Read More

Versatile has developed a new DeltaTrack for low-speed, high-torque requirements, the company has announced. Called the DeltaTrack Creeper, the tractor is the first of its kind to be factory-approved for use in low speed applications such as tile plowing. The DeltaTrack Creeper is based on the DeltaTrack Scraper Special but will run in-field at a… Read More

You could say the day when tractors “talk” to each other in the field has arrived, as John Deere has expanded its field automation system to include coverage map and guidance line sharing between machines. New Machine Sync features unveiled last month build on the application’s ability to link a combine with a grain cart to allow the combine operator… Read More

Case IH and New Holland are the latest ag equipment brands to come out with Certified Pre-Owned programs that offer farmers additional warranty and financing options on used tractors and combines. “This program will offer used equipment customers the reliability, warranty, special financing offers and peace of mind typically found only with new equipment purchases,”… Read More

Case IH launched its 2015 Maxxum line at the 2015 Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio, with what the company is calling “an aggressive new look.” The lineup includes 4-cylinder models with 116-145 rated engine horsepower (HP), and one 6-cylinder, 145HP tractor: the Maxxum 150 (the name chosen for differentiation). Some of the upgrades and… Read More

Farm machinery dealers are hoping to offset recent declines in equipment sales by expanding the services they provide to producers. After six consecutive years of strong growth, year-over-year sales of new equipment declined by as much as 25 percent for dealers in parts of Western Canada in 2014, according to John Schmeiser, CEO of the newly-formed Western Equipment Dealers… Read More

There’s been a general decline in prices for used farm machinery in North America since late summer, with some notable exceptions, including larger equipment here in Canada, says a well-known follower of farm auctions across the continent. Based in Rochester, Minnesota, Greg Peterson (also known as “Machinery Pete”) has been tracking auction prices for 25 years, publishing… Read More