Last week's announcement of a new BSE case in Canada involving a cow born in 2009 has many in the beef industry nervously watching cattle prices and fearing border closures. This is a very natural reaction based on what transpired in May 2003 —the American border closure bankrupted many and financially crippled still more ranchers... Read More

From new developments in Canada's latest case of BSE to the need for more investment in rail infrastructure, here's a quick audio snapshot of this week's ag news — the TWORA podcast for February 19th, 2015: Mentions: CFIA Investigation Unveils Birthdate of Alberta BSE Case Corn School: My Standing Corn is Turning Black — Is... 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

In 2015, AGCO Corporation will be offering its Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Program to dealerships across North America. “Farmers are savvy businesspeople, and particularly in a down market, they are squeezed to maximize their net profit,” said Eric Lescourret, AGCO director of commercial strategic initiatives, in a release. “Key areas of focus for farmers are capital... Read More

Introducing Fleckvieh genetics into holstein operations can significantly improve the strength, fertility and productive life of dairy animals, says John Popp of Big Bear Genetics. As one of the exhibitors at this year’s Canadian Dairy Xpo, Popp showcased the results of a few Fleckvieh/Holstein crosses, ranging from 50% – 87.5% Fleckvieh, as well as one... Read More

Updated 3pm CST February 16 Labour Minister Kellie Leitch says the CP Rail strike is over, as the railway and Teamsters Canada Rail Conference have agreed to arbitration. The federal government was planning to table legislation on Monday that would force around 3,000 Canadian Pacific Railway locomotive engineers and conductors back to work. The members... Read More