NYMEX March 2023 West Texas Intermediate crude oil (candlesticks) with 100-day moving average (black line) and ICE March 2023 Brent crude oil (blue open/high/low/close). (Barchart)

China driving crude oil price increases

Bulls on crude oil expect a 'very shallow' recession

MarketsFarm — China has largely been behind the current upticks in global crude oil prices, according to Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis for Oil Price Information Services in Lakewood, NJ. He suggested that China’s economy will begin to pick up steam in 2023 after the government loosened its super-tight COVID-19 restrictions. “You can […] Read more

The Repair Association is an American organization that says owners of equipment — from cars and tractors to appliances and medical equipment — should have access to software codes and other tools needed to repair it. But so far, efforts to pass right-to-repair legislation in the farm sector in 42 states and two provinces have not been successful.

Right-to-repair advocates fighting but not gaining ground

No right-to-repair laws have been passed; dealers association says lack of broadband is the real issue

Glacier FarmMedia – It’s an uphill battle but the right-to-repair movement is getting closer to winning over lawmakers, says a leading American advocate. Right-to-repair legislation has been introduced in 42 states and two provinces but none of the bills have made it into law, Gay Gordon-Byrne, head of The Repair Association, conceded during a recent […] Read more

Local UAW union members arrive at Starbuck Middle School at Racine, Wis. to vote on CNH Industrial’s latest contract offer on Jan. 7, 2023. (Photo: Reuters/Bianca Flowers)

CNH workers at two U.S. plants reject proposed contract

Plants' workers on strike since May

Racine | Reuters — Members of two local unions that have been on strike since May at CNH Industrial factories in Wisconsin and Iowa on Saturday voted down a tentative labour contract, the United Auto Workers union said. The union did not disclose how many workers at the two plants rejected the four-year deal, which […] Read more

File photo of a John Deere X9 combine. (Deere.ca)

American Farm Bureau, Deere sign ‘right to repair’ memo

MOU to seek private-sector solutions

Chicago | Reuters — The American Farm Bureau Federation and machinery manufacturer Deere and Co. signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday that ensures farmers have the right to repair their own farm equipment or go to an independent technician. As the agriculture sector accelerates its adoption of technology, the reliance on high-tech machinery such […] Read more

(Xinzheng/Getty Images)

China must raise self-reliance in ag tech, Xi says

Seed industry seen as weak link in food chain

Beijing | Reuters — President Xi Jinping wants China to accelerate efforts to achieve self-reliance in agricultural technology, identifying seed development and core equipment among areas to focus on, state media reported. The central leadership had said in 2020 that the country’s seed industry was a weak link in the food chain and needed to […] Read more


(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Railways over revenue cap in drought year, CTA finds

CN, CP now owe $5.7 million in overages, penalties

Despite a dramatically lower Prairie grain handle in the last crop year, the Western Grains Research Foundation can expect a $5.7 million gift card from Canada’s big two railways by the end of next month. The Canadian Transportation Agency, which sets the maximum revenue entitlements (MREs) each crop year for Prairie grain handled by Canadian […] Read more

The Soiltech Wireless sensor can be placed on the ground to act as a localized weather station by measuring temperature and humidity. It can also be buried to monitor moisture and temperature.

Soil tech firms allow sensors to work together

Ceres Imaging and Soiltech Wireless say the recent agreement allows their technology to validate each other in the field

Glacier FarmMedia – Ceres Imaging and Soiltech Wireless have an agreement that enables the two systems to work together. Soiltech Wireless offers a cellular-based wireless sensor and Ceres Imaging uses in-field sensors, advanced analytics and high-resolution imagery to provide a macro-level look at crops. Ehsan Soltan of Soiltech Wireless said the company’s wireless sensor monitors […] Read more

BKT offers high-density fibre aramid belts in some agricultural tires, which are five times stronger than steel belts for improved tire durability.

BKT offers agricultural tire line with aramid belt technology

Aramid high-density fibre is stronger and lighter than steel belts

Glacier FarmMedia – Agriculture tire technology has seen many advances in the last decade or so. New tire designs like the IF (increased flexion) and VF (very high flexion) types have pushed tire performance to new highs. Now, new materials are also making tires more durable. In September, BKT announced it is now able to […] Read more


Production of Ford’s F-150 Lightning pickup at Dearborn, Mich. (Media.ford.com)

Ford hikes price of cheapest F-150 electric truck variant

Reuters — Ford Motor Co. has raised the price of the cheapest variant of its F-150 Lightning electric truck by nine per cent, to US$55,974, the company’s website showed on Thursday. The automaker has raised prices for its electric pickup trucks twice in a span of three months, as it navigates higher costs and supply […] Read more

File photo of a 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 pickup. (Media.gm.ca)

GM recalls 825,000 trucks, SUVs over headlight issue

Recall includes 85,000 units in Canada

Washington | Reuters — General Motors said Wednesday it was recalling 825,000 trucks and SUVs in North America because daytime running lights may not deactivate when the headlights are on, potentially causing excess glare. The largest U.S. automaker said the recall covers various Cadillac CT4 and CT5; Buick Envision; Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet […] Read more