That's a funny-looking bird! Monday, October 6, 2014 In the farming future, the unmanned aerial vehicle monitoring the chlorophyll levels in your crops or precision-spraying your fertilizer may never come down to earth. Joseph Moore, a PhD candidate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is working on a drone that can recharge its batteries by perching on power lines.A magnetometer installed inside the drone would be able to detect magnetic fields given off by power lines. The drone could then land on the line and power up through inductive charging. Moore modelled the prototype's perching on the landing movements of birds.He gave Business Insider a demonstration of the technology using a model glider and, while the glider did not actually perch, it was able to come "within centimetres" of a mock power line.This technology could eliminate one of the most impractical aspects of unmanned aerial vehicles – their low battery life, currently only 10 to 30 minutes according to Gizmag.com. BF Help on the way for overworked farmers Behind the Lines - October 2014
New Holland Marks 50 Years of Twin Rotor Innovation Friday, October 10, 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
Farmland Values Climb Across the Prairies-Manitoba Leads, Ontario Holds Steady Friday, October 10, 2025 Canadian cultivated farmland values rose by an average of 6.0 per cent in the first half of 2025, according to the mid-year farmland values review by Farm Credit Canada (FCC). This marks a modest acceleration compared to the first half of 2024, which saw a 5.5 per cent increase. Over... Read this article online
Canada Post Strike Continues to Threatens Agri-Businesses and Rural Communities Thursday, October 9, 2025 The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) is calling on the federal government to take swift action to end the ongoing Canada Post strike, warning that the disruption is causing serious harm to small businesses – including many in the agriculture sector. “The government’s... Read this article online
Gleaner T Series Combine Updates Thursday, October 9, 2025 Gleaner continues to advance harvest technology with its new T Series combine, delivering major improvements in power, reliability, and ease of operation. Designed with the farmer in mind, the T Series focuses on performance, accessibility, and cutting-edge precision tools for... Read this article online
Ontario Invests $41M to Boost Agri-Food Innovation Wednesday, October 8, 2025 The Ontario government has announced an investment of more than $41 million over the next four years to enhance and modernize infrastructure under Agricultural Research and Innovation Ontario (ARIO). This initiative, part of the province’s plan to safeguard Ontario’s agri-food sector,... Read this article online