U.S. President Joe Biden tours a manufacturing lab at McHenry County College during a visit to northwest Chicago suburb Crystal Lake on July 7, 2021. (Photo: Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein)

Biden says administration engaged in talks to avert U.S. railroad strike

CN's U.S. operations would be affected

Nantucket | Reuters — U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday that his administration was involved in negotiations to avert a looming U.S. railroad strike that could shut down supply chains across the country but added that he has not directly engaged on the matter yet. Speaking to reporters outside a fire station on Nantucket […] Read more

Operators can monitor and control the autonomous machine through a mobile device.

Autonomous tillage and haying

Lemken and Krone partner on multi-functional robotic system development

Glacier FarmMedia – As more attention is turned toward autonomous field operations, even companies that haven’t been known for offering powered systems are revealing their efforts to produce self-propelled robotic equipment.  Tillage equipment producer Lemken recently announced it had partnered with forage-focused Krone (both companies are based in Germany) to create an autonomous power unit […] Read more

BNSF crews clear track near Lemmon, S.D., about 300 km northeast of Rapid City, in late December 2016. (BNSF.com)

Biggest U.S. rail union rejects tentative deal, raising threat of strike

Union digs in on paid sick time

Washington/Los Angeles | Reuters — Workers at the largest U.S. rail union voted against a tentative contract deal reached in September, raising the possibility of a year-end strike that could cause significant damage to the U.S. economy and strand vital shipments of food and fuel. Train and engine service members of the transportation division of […] Read more

A common phrase for tech leaders and companies is “data-driven agriculture.” But which interests does farm data serve?

The way we talk about digital agriculture obscures interests behind it, says author

Facebook users pay for use with data. Farmers pay with data and for using it

Glacier FarmMedia – Treating farm data as though it’s a natural resource or comes ‘from on high’ makes it harder to see the forces that shape and profit from it, contends a new book. “In agriculture, just like in other contexts… there are really powerful interests behind the collection of data and the use and […] Read more

File photo of steam rising from the top of a grain dryer. (Diane Kuhl/iStock/Getty Images)

New farm fuel carbon tax rule to return to Commons

Further carbon pricing exemptions clear ag committee, with sunset clause added

A bill that would exempt more farm fuels from Canada’s federal carbon pricing scheme has cleared the Commons’ ag committee and returned to the House of Commons to seek a third and final vote. C-234, a private member’s bill sponsored by southwestern Ontario Conservative MP Ben Lobb, appeared before the Commons’ standing committee on agriculture […] Read more


The price of good used farm equipment started to climb in 2020. Then supply chain issues and a strong farming sector maintained elevated values.

Used farm equipment to remain pricey

Strong farm cash receipts, weakening U.S. exchange rate underpins farm equipment values

Glacier FarmMedia – The price of new and late model farm equipment will continue to be high in 2023. As the loonie’s value falls in relation to the American dollar, assets manufactured outside of Canada cost more. “Especially when you’ve got a piece of equipment that you put on order, at some point they’re (dealers) […] Read more

File photo of a CN locomotive in Chicago. (Photo courtesy CN)

Third U.S. union rejects national rail contract deal

Two major unions' decisions due next week

Washington | Reuters — A third U.S. rail union voted on Monday to reject a tentative national contract reached in September, but expects to continue negotiating to reach a deal. The International Brotherhood of Boilermakers (IBB), which represents about 300 U.S. rail employees, rejected the agreement, said the union and the National Carriers’ Conference Committee […] Read more

File photo of barley being unloaded at a grain terminal in Ukraine on June 23, 2022. (Photo: Reuters/Igor Tkachenko)

Ukrainian farmers turn to U.N.-supplied grain sleeves for storage

'Last year's harvest still hasn't been sold'

Kyiv | Reuters — On a crisp and sunny November morning, Ukrainian farmers lined up to collect U.N.-supplied grain sleeves to store crops over winter as the country faces a significant shortage of storing capacity caused by Russian shelling. Ukraine has said it may lack up to 15 million tonnes of regular grain storage capacity […] Read more


A freight train at Manchac, La., about 75 km east of Baton Rouge. (CN.ca)

U.S. railroads, union extend strike deadline until at least Dec. 4

Teamsters warn against 'blatant attempt to cause panic'

Washington | Reuters — A group representing major railroads and a union that voted to reject a new contract said Wednesday they had agreed to extend a potential strike deadline until at least Dec. 4. The National Carriers’ Conference Committee (NCCC) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (BMWED) that represents 11,000 workers extended the current […] Read more

Versatile plans to power future tractors with a 15-litre hydrogen engine being developed by Cummins.

Hydrogen-powered tractor engines approach reality

Versatile says working with Cummins on a 15-litre engine is a good opportunity for the company to prepare for the future

Glacier FarmMedia – The first place farmers will see the 15-litre hydrogen engine being developed by Cummins will likely be in a Versatile tractor. “We’ve had a partnership with Cummins since the second year we were building tractors,” said Erron Leafloor of Versatile, which makes its tractors in Canada. “They’ve relied upon us a couple […] Read more