Banana republics cut an EU deal Thursday, January 3, 2013 Last fall, according to The Economist, Latin American countries signed an agreement with the European Union (EU), ending a two-decade-long trade war over restricted imports of bananas. When the EU was formed, it had given preferential treatment to producers of bananas in Africa, the Pacific and even the Caribbean, whilst imposing quotas and tariffs on fruit from 11 Latin American countries. The Latin American countries began to push back 20 years ago and finally succeeded.The EU imports one third of the US$8 billion-worth of bananas exported around the world annually. Ecuador is expected to benefit and it is already Europe's biggest supplier. The Economist described this as the longest running dispute in the history of multi-national trade, a dubious distinction. Haven't Canada and the United States been arguing with the EU over exports of beef raised using implants for at least that long? BF Brazil subsidizes its agriculture January 2013- Natural culling or getting fleeced?
Free Tools to Power Up Your Farm’s Digital Life in Canada Wednesday, October 22, 2025 For many Canadian farm families, the internet has become as vital as a tractor or combine. It is how producers manage precision planting, monitor commodity prices, check weather forecasts, pay bills and stay connected with suppliers and customers. However, fast and reliable broadband remains out... Read this article online
Precision Harvesting with HeadSight and TrueSight Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Modern harvesting relies heavily on precision and smart technology, and new systems for head height control and steering are making sure you are not leaving bushels in the field. These innovations ensure efficient crop collection, protect equipment, and reduce operator fatigue during... Read this article online
Remembering Ralph Winfield: Beloved Better Farming Columnist Tuesday, October 21, 2025 Ontario's farming community is mourning the loss of longtime agricultural writerRalph Gordon Winfieldof Glanworth, who passed away peacefully at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital on Oct. 17, 2025, at the age of 85. Ralph’s name has been closely tied to Better Farming since 1999. His... Read this article online
Case IH FieldOps Brings Smart Connectivity to Modern Farming Friday, October 17, 2025 Lance Meyer, region precision manager at Case IH, told Farms.com that FieldOps operates on desktops through a web interface and on mobile devices through an app compatible with iPhone, Android, or iPad. This flexibility allows farmers to access critical machine and field information anytime,... Read this article online
New Holland Marks 50 Years of Twin Rotor Innovation Friday, October 17, 2025 New Holland is celebrating 50 years of leadership in twin rotor harvesting technology, a milestone that began with the introduction of the TR70 combine in 1975. This machine transformed agriculture by bringing the world the concept of twin rotor threshing and... Read this article online