Trucks and Trailers

Tragic Turn: Trailer of Show Pigs Bursts Into Flames on I-80

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 18:58:52 GMT

With the windows rolled down and the sun on his face, Chad Rieck admits he was having a pretty good day driving down Interstate 80. He was pulling a trailer with four gilts, and one of those gilts was bringing home the title of Third Overall Purebred Breeding Gilt from the Aksarben Stock Show.

For Chad and his wife, Amy, spending precious time with their 17-year-old daughter Hollynn at a stock show is something they don’t take for granted. Their busy daughter, now a senior, was juggling the show weekend with homecoming, volleyball and dance team. Because of this, she drove separately to the show with her mom to squeeze in more of her school activities.

Separated by a couple minutes on the interstate, they were chatting on the phone keeping each other awake on the drive from Grand Island, Neb., back to their farm in Creston, Iowa. Suddenly, the traffic slowed down and their day took a tragic turn.

A car burning alongside I-80 held up traffic for miles.

(NDOT)

Igniting the Fire

“I remember my wife saying, ‘Traffic is starting to get bad,’” Rieck recalls. “I told her there was an accident up ahead and we’d get through it eventually.”

When he came upon the scene, he discovered a car burning alongside the road. By this time, he had rolled up his windows and slowly drove by the car. No emergency vehicles were on the scene, so Chad estimates the fire had probably started within three to five minutes of when he passed it.

“The front of the car was fully engulfed in flames,” Rieck describes. “The driver’s portion to the back of the car was starting to get hot – hot, hot flames. My fear of driving by was, ‘What if there’s a gas tank there, and that gas tank blows? That’s going to be bad.’”

When he drove by, something burst.

“It wasn’t the gas tank that blew, but something, whether it was a fuel line, a tire or whatever, blew a ‘poof’ of flames,” he says.

About a mile after he passed the car on fire – maybe one or two minutes at most – Rieck noticed smoke rolling out of the trailer. At first, he thought maybe some smoke from the fire got in through the open trailer windows. Then, he wondered if he blew a tire.

“I’m looking in the mirrors checking for that and continually rolling,” he says. “I see a semi behind me begin to flash his lights at me. That’s when I thought, ‘Okay, I’ve got problems.’”

Fortunately, he was coming upon an exit ramp. He jumped off the interstate and threw the truck in park as soon as he could.

“My wife’s still on the phone with me at this point,” he says. “I jump out of the truck and see the trucker running up with a couple of fire extinguishers. Because of him, I was able to get the back doors opened on the trailer. We got most of the flames down but didn’t have enough to get the fire completely out.”

When he opened the door, he saw that their banner-winning Poland China gilt was already dead, but the three other pigs were hanging on to life.

“The Poland gilt was on the back of the trailer and had somehow broken out of her pen trying to get away,” he says.

The burning trailer was caught on camera by the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT).

(NDOT)

Roadside Rescue

The fire picked up again as he tried to figure out how to get the pigs off the trailer.

“When I parked the trailer at the show, we left some tack in the trailer. So, I locked the ramp and the driver side walk-through door,” he explains. “I ran to get the key that I thought was in the truck, but there was no key there. Now, I’m just frantic.”

With no way to get to the three pigs still on the trailer, he grabbed for the big cart they hauled tack with that was standing upright in the back pen.

“Not a smart deal,” Rieck recalls. “I grabbed it with my hand, and now I’ve got some nice blisters. But even if I could have moved that cart, it wouldn’t have mattered. I had to get the pigs out the side ramp.”

The trucker ran back with a crowbar and Rieck broke the latches off the ramp door to get the ramp down. Flames greeted him. He was running out of options. He ran around to the other side’s ramp, broke that latch off and ended up getting two pigs out.

“The third pig was scared and wouldn’t come out, so I had to reach in through one of the sides to push her out,” he says. “I ended up with some burns on my arm from that, but I finally got her out.”

At this point, the trailer is still on fire. The trucker told Rieck to unhook his truck and pull it away from the trailer now that the pigs were out.

“I would have never thought of doing that,” he adds. “We had a gas can and small generator in the tack room of the trailer, so I went to work to get that out of there before we had an even bigger problem. Fortunately, the tack room was in decent shape, likely because there was a door between it and the main part of the trailer.”

Once the fire truck arrived, they focused on the trailer first. Megan Hobbs says she was able to gather buckets from the tack room to start filling to get to water all three pigs who were alive at the time. Unfortunately, they lost the Duroc, so they had to turn their focus to the remaining two.

(Megan Hobbs)

Meanwhile, people began showing up and helping with the pigs that were now scattered.

“I had one pig walking down the exit ramp,” Rieck says. “Meanwhile, one gilt was hunkered down under a tree in the ditch and the third was dying alongside the exit ramp. I’m in shock at this point – walking around and asking myself why.”

Stock show people he had never met before like Joe and Megan Hobbs of Newton, Kan., turned around and came back to help.

“As soon as we arrived at the scene, there was another young lady who worked for Legacy Livestock Imaging that had also stopped to help,” explains Megan Hobbs. “We immediately just jumped into action getting any and all water available to help cool the pigs down. At the beginning all we had was cooler water and water bottles. In those situations you don’t ask for permission, you just go with what your gut tells you to do.”

(Chad Rieck)

A Little Bit Ironic

When the York Fire Department showed up, they quickly went to work extinguishing the fire in the trailer. Hobbs says she kept running water back and forth from the firetruck to the people caring for the gilts alongside the road.

“God put us in the right place at the right time,” Hobbs says. “We trusted our gut turning around to go help as we just knew it was probably one of our own from the livestock industry that needed help.”

The firefighters on the scene also reached out to a firefighter in a nearby department, David May, who had show pigs.

“I received a call from dispatch when I was about 5 miles from my farm heading home with pigs from the show,” May says. “They said there was a vehicle fire involving a trailer with larger pigs and asked if I could help wrangle and haul the surviving pigs. Of course, I didn’t hesitate and was already on the move.”

May devised a plan to get his pigs off his trailer quickly and navigate through the piled-up interstate traffic.

“I had my 16-year-old daughter Braxtyn with me, so we began talking through things on the drive there,” May says. “I even joked with her, ‘It’s probably someone who kicked our butt today.’ But that didn’t cause either of us to hesitate to help however possible.”

When May got to the scene, he immediately recognized the pickup. It had been parked directly beside his truck during loadout about 45 minutes ago.

“I recognized the people and confirmed I didn’t know them,” May says. “I parked and walked up to assess and gather information. Within a minute, another Iowa trailer showed up to get the live hogs. We discussed what to do with the now two deceased pigs. I offered to put them on my trailer and dispose.”

After all the pigs were on trailers and the firefighters had inspected Rieck’s trailer to confirm it was safe to haul home, Rieck went over to talk to Braxtyn and thank her for coming to help.

Hollynn Rieck’s Champion Poland and Third Overall Purebred Breeding Gilt at Aksarben.

(Legacy Livestock Imaging)

“For some reason, I wanted to try to cheer this kid up who had just seen this devastation,” Rieck says. “I tried to distract her by asking if she showed a pig that day, and she said, ‘Yes, I was third place with my Poland gilt.’”

It was definitely a little ironic, both dads admit. Their kids had been competing against each other just a few hours earlier. They loaded their pigs up beside each other and took off about the same time. As they got back into their trucks and trailers for the second time that day, they both spent some time reflecting on their drive home.

A Case of Bad Luck

Hollynn drove her dad back in the truck and trailer because he was still in shock. All Rieck could think about was what he could have done differently.

“I saw a number of trailers roll right on by as we stood there with the trailer smoldering,” Rieck says. “I know the next time I see a car fire, I’m going to feel like Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights. I’m going to be like, ‘Don’t drive through it.’ Maybe I could have gotten in the ditch more, but that’s not safe either.”

It was the kind of incident that you could never predict, May says. Typically, a trailer fire starts with a bad wheel bearing, then the wheel gets hot or locks up. Eventually, the tire catches on fire and results in heavy black smoke that’s easily visible.

(Chad Rieck)

“Most livestock trailer fires start on the outside of the trailer,” May says. “But this fire started inside the trailer. This was a completely freak accident.”

The odds of something hot coming off the car at the precise moment Rieck drove by while also entering the trailer is one in trillions, he adds.

“It’s a bad-luck lottery. It could never have been predicted,” May says. “But, just like so many instances in life, you just have to react and adapt as plans change.”

Still, Rieck says he learned some valuable lessons going through this experience. He will make sure his next trailer has fire extinguishers. He won’t travel with his doors locked on his trailer. He’s also going to invest in some wireless cameras to put into his trailer.

Stock Show Support

When they returned home, a veterinarian confirmed the gilts who survived the trailer fire needed to be euthanized, as their injuries were too severe. Rieck says it was hard on Hollynn to walk through an empty pig barn the next day. Although it’s not an uncommon thing, as every show season comes to an end, this was not the ending she expected. She had high hopes of taking the Poland gilt to the American Royal in a few weeks.

Hollynn won Champion Poland China Gilt and Third Overall Purebred Breeding Gilt at Aksarben.

(Amy Rieck)

For Rieck, the hardest part was calling the breeders who leased them the gilts and telling them what happened.

“The personal financial portion of this isn’t much compared to having to contact those breeders and let them know about the fire,” Rieck says. “We work with Hunter Langholff to get some of our pigs. I can only imagine what the conversation was like with me screaming and yelling about the pigs right after it happened. I’ll never forget Hunter calmly saying, ‘Do not worry about that. These breeders will only care that you, Hollynn and Amy are fine. Pigs can be replaced.’”

With a few tears in his eyes, Rieck says he never wants to take his stock show friends for granted.

“Stock show people are pretty special,” he adds. “Because guess what? We all wanted to win that day. We raise our kids in the show ring and in the show barn for a reason. It’s so we can be around these people. My daughter is going to be a much stronger person because of the experiences that she’s had winning and losing in the show ring and yes, even going through this trailer fire.”

Hollynn says she’s already learned a lot from the fire.

“I am so thankful for all of the people who stopped to help us during our emergency,” she says. “This is living proof that the stock show industry is the best thing to be a part of. The amount of love, thoughts and prayers I have received from people has been astronomical. At the end of the day, I am just grateful my family is ok and that I will forever be a part of such an amazing industry.”

As May reflects on what happened, he says he’s not surprised by the overwhelming support people provided to the Rieck family.

“It’s what we do for each other in all aspects of agriculture, not just livestock,” May says. “I’m glad I was able to assist as needed here and glad my daughter was able to see value in helping others even when it’s not always pretty fairy dust and rainbows.”

Farmers, Truckers and Gear Heads Rejoice: EPA Rolls Out Streamlined Diesel Engine Fluid Guidelines

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 16:02:00 GMT

EPA is rolling out new guidance for manufacturers of farm equipment and other heavy-duty vehicles, removing regulatory red tape requiring diesel-powered farm equipment to reduce engine torque dramatically when a problem arises with the machine’s Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) system.

You can read EPA’s statement on the announcement here.

The new rule making goes into effect immediately for all new diesel engines on model year 2027 machines. It should also be noted the new guidance from EPA is voluntary for all non road equipment. Ultimately, each manufacturer will have the right to choose whether it implements the new inducement strategy or maintains the status quo with its own machines.

To fix the problem for farm machinery already in the field, EPA’s new guidance, developed in collaboration with farm equipment manufacturers, will work to ensure necessary software changes can be made on the existing fleet.

(EPA)

EPA administrator Lee Zeldin says now all non-road equipment, like farm tractors, combines and sprayers, must be configured so there is no impact on engine power for up to 36 hours when a DEF system malfunction occurs. Once 36 engine hours have passed, a 25% reduction in engine torque will go into effect until the machine is serviced. If the farm equipment is not fixed within 100 engine hours, then a 50% reduction in torque is activated until the machine can be serviced.

Additionally, farm equipment can be restarted with full engine power three times for up to 30 minutes after inducement, according to the EPA release.

“This is the first crack in the ice toward saying we don’t need these expensive systems on our farm equipment,” says Ben Reinsche, owner, Blue Diamond Farming Company in Jesup, Iowa. “We don’t need to immediately shut off an engine or be restricted for 36 hours if you have DEF unavailable or a malfunction.

“This is a positive step and maybe a formative step toward saying that having these emission standards on farm or off-road equipment is not critically necessary,” adds Reinsche. “There are so many other things farmers can do that are planet positive, like using conservation and sustainability practices, rather than having an after treatment system on our diesel engines.”

Small Business Administration (SBA) leader Kelly Loeffler says the new rule will save 1.8 million family farms across America a staggering $727 million per year while offering “vital financial and operational certainty.”

“This announcement today is such a big deal, especially on behalf of our farmers and ranchers,” says USDA secretary Brook Rollins. “At a time when our ag sector is really hurting, our farmers have had to endure a 30% cost increase in inputs, and a $30 billion Biden-era trade deficit, these everyday regulations being lifted makes such a difference.”

The new guidance greatly reduces a machine setting known as DEF derating and allows operators more time to secure DEF, refuel and make repairs. The new guidance also reportedly retains the environmental benefits of Tier 4 engine and DEF regulations for farm equipment and trucks.

“Today we are taking another important step forward by undoing these diesel fluid guidelines that have hurt our farmers and small rural businesses,” says U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). “Not only will these new guidelines save family-run farms hundreds of millions of dollars per year, but it is also just common sense, folks. No farmer should have their tractor come to a halt in the middle of a field due to Green New Deal-style regulations from Washington.”

How Did We Get Here?

EPA ushered in DEF requirements for large farm equipment when it enacted broader Tier 4 emissions standards in 2004.

Tier 4 Interim rules, which required DEF for farm machines 750 horsepower and up, then went into effect in 2008.

In 2015, EPA’s final Tier 4 regulations were put in place, meaning all new non-road diesel engines — regardless of horsepower rating — had to comply with new emissions standards.

Curious where your farm equipment is made? Check out Farm Journal’s “Who Makes What Where” feature to learn more.

Why Do Many Farmers Hate Using Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)?

American farmers say they detest using DEF due to the challenges and additional fuel cost it tacks onto their operations.

Here are some reasons farmers aren’t big fans of DEF:

Higher Costs and More Maintenance: DEF adds on extra materials costs for machinery-based field work. Farmers must purchase large amounts of fluid, and the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) framework that processes DEF is prone to malfunctions and expensive to repair. Often a simple-but-unexpected repair can pop up out of nowhere and end up costing farmers thousands of dollars and leave equipment inoperable.
Field Work Interruptions: If a tractor runs out of DEF or if the system breaks down, under the now-defunct previous guidelines engine power was greatly reduced, which is known by many farmers as “going into limp mode.” For farmers who rely on their equipment to operate consistently and reliably during planting and harvesting, any issue quickly becomes a major headache.
Storage Issues: DEF has a limited shelf life and is sensitive to temperature ups and downs. A quick Google search says DEF freezes at around 12°F and can degrade if stored in temperatures above 86°F. And who wants to look at a giant pallet of DEF cartons stacked in their machinery barn? Nobody, that’s who.
Contamination/Quality Control: DEF fluid must be pure and free of contaminants. Accidentally using the wrong type or getting foreign substances in the tank during refilling can wreak havoc throughout the system, leading to repairs and downtime.
Engine Performance Concerns: There are farmers who believe newer emissions systems, including those that use DEF, reduce the machine’s total power output and lower fuel efficiency.

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John Deere Challenge: Watch a New York Tech Journalist Farm 20 Acres of Corn for $20 Profit

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 13:52:49 GMT

You might recall this viral stunt from when it was announced last spring: John Deere and tech influencer David Cogen (@TheUnlockr) joined forces to set the New York-based journalist up as a row crop farmer for an entire growing season. Using 20 acres of prime Iowa farmland, Cogen’s mission was to find out if he could accomplish what farmers must achieve to put food on America’s dinner tables: turn planted crops into cold, hard cash.

Unlike most farmers, though, Cogen was basically given every cheat code in the game: He had guidance from John Deere experts throughout the crop journey, all of the latest John Deere equipment with all the tech bells-and-whistles any farmer could dream for —not to mention a blank check for seed, crop inputs, fuel and labor.

Cogen began by ordering up soil tests and custom fertilizer applications. Then he flew back to Iowa to complete the spring tillage pass and seed the field. Next came another trip to spray weeds post-emergence with Deere’s See & Spray smart application system before returning in the fall to harvest the finished grain and haul it down to the local ethanol processing plant.

Along the way Cogen learned a handful of lessons any seasoned farmer already knows all too well:

The weather never seems to do what you want it to do, when you want it to do it. That’s farming.
You have to eradicate weeds or they will rob your yields and destroy your profits.
Variation is the enemy, it’s all about consistent production and harvesting at the precise moisture level and timing.
A dry late-summer and early-fall is a factor you can’t control but it can cost you real dollars on your final yield. The corn will dry down too fast in the field if you don’t get it off on time, so in this case, water is truly money when it comes to corn and soybean farming.

In the end, Cogen’s field averaged 209 bushels per acre and produced just over 3,000 total bushels of corn, which equates to over 200,000 lb.

His total expenses for the year (land costs, seed, fertilizer and “other”) totaled $16,456, while his total revenues for the 19.24 total acres of corn harvested was $16,478.

Don’t adjust your monitor. Yes, you read that right.

The New York tech editor farmed all year long and only brought home $22 in total profit. It just goes to show, turning a profit on only 20 acres is incredibly hard to do. Small acre farmers deserve just as much respect as the big boys.

“Honestly, I hope that like myself, that this has opened your eyes into what it actually takes to farm,” Cogen says at the end of the video. “Just all of the work that goes into it and you can have a new appreciation for farming and for farmers.

Your Next Read: Farmer Finds A Silver Bullet For High Corn Yields

Missouri Farmer Calls Ford Out for Abandoning Ethanol Flex Fuel in New F-150 Trucks

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 20:23:50 GMT

Missouri Corn Growers Association CEO Bradley Schad, who still helps out around the family farm in his spare time, is calling on Ford Motor Company to reconsider a recent decision he believes will cause long-term harm to U.S. farmers.

“They stopped selling new flex fuel vehicles, so now they don’t have a single new engine platform option for growers to purchase,” Schad says. “The F-Series truck is one of the most important vehicles that we have on the farm today. They’re trying to change that (series) to an electric fleet, and we don’t like that.”

Farm Journal reached out to Ford for comment via a contact form for media on its website. We will update this post if we hear back from anyone at Ford Motor Company.

According to Schad, Ford’s F-150 is not only the top-selling truck in the U.S., but also the top-selling used vehicle in the top five corn-producing states: Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Minnesota and Indiana. It is also No. 1 in a handful of ag-friendly states like Missouri, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, the Dakotas and the Carolinas.

Model Year 2023 was the last iteration of the F-150 that Ford offered with the V8 5.0-liter Flex Fuel option. Schad, who is a longtime F-150 owner, says he’s not interested in criticizing Ford for the change. After all, recent regulations removed many of the manufacturer incentives that used to exist for flex fuel and E-85 vehicles.

Bradley Schad, Missouri Corn Growers Association

(Photo courtesy Missouri Corn Growers Association )

“We’re just trying to bring some awareness and work with Ford to change the legislation and regulations and help bring that (option) back,” Schad says. “We realize it’s not entirely their own fault necessarily, but work with us to pass some beneficial legislation that helps farmers and rural consumers purchase a more economical fuel and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

Schad says Ford is still supporting its higher-ethanol compatible engines in South America. Brazil, for example, has a minimum ethanol blend in its fuel of 27.5%.

The company’s chief truck-building rivals at GM still offer flex fuel as an engine option on new base models of the Chevy Silverado and the GMC Sierra. Ford, it would seem, is stepping away from the same farmers that helped catapult its trucks to the top of the auto industry, he argues.

(Photo courtesy Missouri Corn Growers Association)

“We need Ford to stand strong with farmers – the No. 1 customer base of F Series trucks in the nation. I don’t think there’s any business sector that buys more F Series trucks than the agriculture sector,” he says. “We need Ford to give us the option to use our own product and help build demand for corn-based ethanol.”

RELATED - Grassley: Farmers Can Feed And Fuel The World At The Same Time. It’s Not Either/Or

Schad is optimistic a long-awaited-but-yet-to-be-passed new Farm Bill will include some type of carve out supporting ethanol-based fuels. Republican Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has also been advocating for year-round E-15 fuel availability for years. Grassley and Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer (R) reintroduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025 in February. If passed, that bill would enable year-round, nationwide sales of ethanol fuel blends up to 15%.

“We need permanency and predictability with ethanol and biodiesel,” Grassley recently told AgriTalk host Chip Flory.

And while Schad admits he has heard all the critiques of ethanol-based fuels - subpar performance, increased engine problems, etc. - his experience is that higher ethanol fuels are clean burning, high performing and safe.

“There’s nothing more helpful to a farmer than having a strong truck with a strong fuel providing more horsepower and torque in these engines,” Schad says. “Octane is key, and we want to make sure to partner with everyone we can. Hopefully Ford is willing to help us pass some beneficial legislation that brings ethanol the ability to be produced and consumed across the nation.”

Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced USDA will release funding under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) for 543 projects totaling $537 million in 29 states. Established at USDA Rural Development during President Trump’s first term, HBIIP helps expand the production of domestic biofuels by helping fueling stations install the pumps, storage containers and other necessary infrastructure needed to offer biofuel options at the pump.

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New Report Provides Update in Last Year's Central Illinois Ammonia Spill

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 17:02:36 GMT

A recently released report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) provides new insights into the ammonia tanker-truck crash that happened in Teutopolis, Ill. almost exactly a year ago.

The crash occurred when a vehicle passed the tanker and forced it off the road, and according to an interview included in the NTSB report, that vehicle was a minivan driven by a 17-year-old Ohio girl.

“Oh, (expletive). Yeah. Oh, my goodness. Yep, totally my bad. Wow. Holy (expletive),” the girl said while watching the video from the ill-fated truck during an Oct. 4, 2023, Illinois State Police interview.

Dash cam footage from the tanker shows it had to pull to the shoulder of the highway to avoid a collision but lost traction, ran off the road and hit a utility trailer that punctured the anhydrous tank – causing more than half of its 7,500-gallon load to spill.

Five people died as a result, including three family members who were near the road when the incident occurred. About 500 people residents within a 1-mile radius of the crash site were evacuated after the accident as well.

NTSB said its latest findings are merely a factual account and do not include analysis or conclusions, which are expected later.

Canadian Rail Workers Are Back To Work, But With Appeal Now Planned, Major Labor Dispute Is Far From Over

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 15:29:59 GMT

Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered rail workers back amid the major labor dispute that shut down the flow of traffic late last week. However, even with an order to impose binding arbitration between the two parties, the Union is planning to appeal, which means the ruling could end up in the courts.

In response to a labor dispute involving Canada’s two largest railways, Canadian National Railway Co. (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. (CPKC), the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) mandated that workers return to their jobs and engage in binding arbitration. This decision comes after a shutdown of operations on Aug. 22, 2024, following failed negotiations between the railways and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference, which represents nearly 10,000 workers.

The CIRB’s ruling was prompted by a request from Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon, who argued that the work stoppage posed significant risks to Canadians’ livelihoods, safety, and communities. The tribunal’s decision was unanimous, and it emphasized that it had no discretion to alter the minister’s directives.

The order requires the railways to resume operations immediately, with CN already restarting its trains and CPKC expected to follow by 12:01 a.m. on Monday. CPKC said it has ended its lockout. Employees are expected to resume their duties at 12:01 a.m. New York time on Monday. “We are working with customers on a balanced return to normal operations,” the railway said.

The tribunal directed parties to attend a meeting on Aug. 29 about the implementation of the arbitration process.

The decision also extends the workers’ expired contracts and nullifies any strike notices.

While the Teamsters union has agreed to comply with the order, it plans to appeal the ruling in Federal Court, arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent by undermining workers’ rights and enabling corporate interference. The union is concerned that the government’s intervention diminishes the ability of labor unions to negotiate for better wages and working conditions.

The labor dispute centers around issues such as scheduling, crew fatigue, and proposed changes to the compensation system. The railways had suggested switching from a mileage-based pay system to one based on hours worked, which they argued would allow for more predictable time off. However, the union opposed this change, fearing it could erode protections against fatigue and compromise job safety.

The disruption had significant economic implications, as CN and CPKC collectively handle about 80% of Canada’s rail network and transport goods worth approximately C$1 billion (US$740 million) daily. The stoppage affected the supply chain for essential commodities like coal, wheat, fertilizer, and lumber.

Daily train movements in Canada.

(RailState)

— Perspective on Canada rail situation. Shaun Haney of reagriculture.com (and a frequent participant on Friday’s AgriTalk program, ( link ), wrote a column ( link ) reflecting on the recent shutdown of railways across Canada and raised several key questions and concerns:

• Economic impact: Haney questions whether the economic costs of the rail strike and lockout were worth the disruption. He points out that the shipping slowdown in anticipation of the strike caused significant economic damage, highlighting the need for long-term solutions to prevent such labor impasses from crippling Canada’s economy.
• Long-term solutions: Haney questions the political will to address ongoing labor disputes, noting that similar stoppages have repeatedly harmed key industries like agriculture. He suggests that Canada needs to find a balance between respecting collective bargaining rights and avoiding widespread economic disruption.
• Political implications: The column discusses the political silence surrounding the strike, especially from the Liberals and Conservatives, who are both vying for blue-collar votes in the upcoming election. Haney notes the growing political power of unions, particularly in comparison to traditional voter blocs like Quebec dairy farmers.
• Agriculture Ministry’s silence: Haney criticizes Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay for his lack of response during the strike, questioning the purpose of having a Ministry of Agriculture if it doesn’t advocate for the industry during such critical times.
• Lack of understanding of supply chains: Haney laments that, despite the disruptions of the pandemic, there remains a lack of understanding among Canadians and politicians about the importance of supply chains. He argues that this apathy threatens the resilience of Canada’s economy.

Bottom line: Haney calls for a deeper examination of how Canada handles labor disputes and their broader implications on the economy and political landscape.

— Federal court to hear FTC’s case against $25 billion Kroger/Albertsons merger. On Monday, a federal court will hear the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) case against the proposed $25 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons. The merger, initially proposed in October 2022, has faced significant opposition from states and unions, who argue that it could negatively impact shoppers and workers. Kroger is pushing for the courts to handle the case and is suing the FTC to prevent the regulator from using its in-house tribunal to decide the matter.

Gripp Garners Top Honor at Top Producer Summit 2024

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 21:18:00 GMT

Farm Journal’s Smart Farming Week is an annual week-long emphasis on innovation in agriculture. The goal is to encourage you to explore and prioritize the technology, tools and practices that will help you farm smarter. Innovation today ensures an efficient, productive and sustainable tomorrow.

Gripp.ag was selected as the “Farmer’s Choice Award” by audience vote at the 2024 Top Producer Summit in February. Clearly, farmers saw value in having all their machine maintenance and operator feedback information digitized and accessible to stakeholders in an easy-to-use mobile app.

“We’re very honored to win the Farmer’s Choice Award with so many great AgLaunch companies, it really validates Gripp’s approach to be selected for this award by such a high caliber audience,” Wiedmeyer says. “Our core mission is resonating with farmers of all shapes and sizes.”

Wiedmeyer himself found value in the networking aspects at Top Producer Summit, noting the impressive makeup of attendees and exhibitors.

“There was a level of quiet sophistication that was refreshing to see, which is a real testament to the Top Producer event and its ability to draw some of the most down to earth, elite farmers in the country,” he adds.

Currently, the startup’s digital product is being deployed to farms across the country.

“We have an aggressive set of capabilities coming in March and April based on farmer input, so the struggles of manual record keeping and tracking bottlenecks left to one person on the farm are a thing of the past this upcoming season,” Wiedmeyer says, noting the release of new pricing tiers for small farms and the startup’s recent decision to remove the long-term upfront commitment for farmers who want to try out the system.

What is Gripp.ag?

Gripp.ag is an AgLaunch 2024 startup that is on a mission to digitize and streamline equipment and asset tracking needs for farmers. Founded by Tracey Wiedmeyer, the group hopes to accomplish its mission via its mobile-optimized, digital interface and integrated QR code technology.

Gripp was incubated out of Purdue University’s DIAL Ventures, which works to connect entrepreneurs to the leading challenges across agriculture’s constantly evolving landscape.

“Tracking farm equipment historically has been focused on the maintenance of ‘things on tires’, but we’ve widened our sights to virtually anything that a farm operator relies on to be successful,” Wiedmeyer tells Farm Journal. “The options for today’s farmers range from costly and complex software that wasn’t built for ag, or more commonly, relying on unreliable memory, shop whiteboards, and, on a good day, paper forms, notebooks, sticky notes, and sharpies.”

To learn more head over to Gripp.ag.

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Dead Noise: AM Radio Could Soon Be Phased Out of All Vehicles

Wed, 10 May 2023 21:35:06 GMT

Do you listen to AM radio? Curtis LeGeyt, National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) CEO, says AM radio reaches 47 million people each week. But there’s speculation it could be phased out for the sake of electric vehicles.

Electric vehicles generate a higher level of electromagnetic interference than gas-powered cars, which automakers say can:

• Disrupt AM reception
• Cause static
• Create a high-frequency hum

With these issues in mind, NAB reports Ford, Tesla, Audi, BMW, Porsche, Volvo and Volkswagen have chosen to remove the AM option from their electric lineup, along with some gas-powered vehicles, in coming years.

FM radio will remain intact, however, as the frequency is not as easily disrupted.

Joe Gill, National Association of Farm Broadcasters president, isn’t on board with the move. He says AM removal poses a threat to public safety due to emergency broadcasts on the frequency.

“I know the argument will be that if you have an app, you can listen online, but not everybody has reliable internet access today,” Gill says. “This would result in a lot of limitations, and we have to give listeners and citizens a choice.”

Government Concerns in Removing AM Radio

Gill isn’t alone in this thinking. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., penned a letter to 40 automotive industry stakeholders in December, outlining his hope for car companies to continue offering free access to broadcast radio for public safety.

Markey’s comments were backed by former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administrators who reached out to Pete Buttigieg, transportation secretary, underscoring the safety needs in AM radio.

“AM radio is an indispensable source of information for more than three million farmers in the U.S.,” says Nathan Simington of the Federal Communications Commission. “To those who say AM is a dead technology, 75% of farmers listen to the radio five days per week.”

Despite concern, legislation backing the concept has not been proposed.

Tougher EPA Emission Rules for Trucks

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 14:50:52 GMT

EPA as expected on Tuesday released final tailpipe emission rules for trucks, which some health and environmental groups say don’t go far enough to be adequately protective. The final rules for nitrogen oxide emissions are 80% more stringent than current standards, which haven’t been updated for more than 20 years, according to an EPA press release. This action begins reductions by model year 2027 and is the first of three in the agency’s Clean Trucks Plan. The next action is projected for March 2023, according to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, speaking at a Tuesday press conference.

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Final compliance deadline nears for ELD mandate

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 20:00:28 GMT

The final compliance deadline for mandated electronic logging devices in U.S. trucks will arrive Dec. 17.

Beginning on that date, all motor carriers and drivers subject to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) electronic logging devices final rule must use an ELD.

The deadline also applies to “grandfathered” automatic onboard recording devices, which after Dec. 17 will no longer be allowed under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to provide records of duty status as a substitute to a required ELD. Motor carriers utilizing an automatic onboard recording device must have a fully operational ELD installed by Dec. 17.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance — a nonprofit association comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal commercial motor vehicle safety officials — said in a news release that inspectors will begin fully enforcing the ELD rule on Dec. 17; there will be no “soft enforcement” grace period.

In addition, the release said the FMCSA has said there will be no extensions or exceptions made to the Dec. 17 ELD rule deadline. According to enforcement guidelines in the North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, the release said a property-carrying driver who does not have a record of duty status in his or her possession when one is required will be declared out of service for 10 hours and a passenger-carrying driver without a record of duty status when one is required will be placed out of service for eight hours.

An electronic logging device automatically records a driver’s driving time and other hours-of-service data as a way to minimize driver fatigue and improve safety, according to the release.

The device monitors a vehicle’s engine data and can detect when the vehicle is moving.

The FMCSA has published an online list of frequently-asked-questions about the ELD mandate.

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Ford Wires Its First Electric Trucks for Business Customers

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 04:13:33 GMT

Ford Motor Co’s newly revealed electric version of its best-selling F-150 pickup doubles down on a bet that the company can beat Tesla Inc and other rivals by giving new technology a familiar face and convincing long-time fleet and business customers that going electric saves money.

Ford officially unveiled the battery electric F-150 Lightning model on Wednesday evening, after giving it a cameo appearance during President Joe Biden’s visit on Tuesday to the Rouge manufacturing complex in Dearborn, Michigan, where the trucks will be assembled beginning next year.

Based on customer response, Ford has already moved to increase planned manufacturing capacity https://www.reuters.com/article/autos-ford-electric-idUKL1N2HV3DW for the electric F-150 by “tens of thousands” of vehicles a year, Ford’s head of Americas and International Markets, Kumar Galhotra, told Reuters ahead of Wednesday’s official debut. He did not disclose the new production targets.

Ford expects to boost annual production of the electric F-150 to 40,000 vehicles or more, starting in 2023, according to Sam Fiorani, head of global vehicle forecasting at AutoForecast Solutions.

Ford executives said ahead of Wednesday’s debut they have a different strategy for selling electric trucks and vans in volume from Tesla or General Motors Co..

Where Tesla and GM are positioning their initial electric pickups as lifestyle vehicles for the affluent, Ford executives said they are focused on convincing commercial fleet operators - a market Ford dominates - that the F-150 Lightning and electric Transit are cost-effective, rational choices.

“That’s the only way you can build up the volume,” said Ted Cannis, Ford’s general manager for commercial vehicles.

COMPETITION

The electric F-150 and an electric version of Ford’s Transit van due out late this year look like, and share many components with, the gasoline versions that are top-selling profit machines for the No. 2 U.S. automaker.

A “commercial base” version of Ford’s F-150 Lightning will start at $39,974 before tax credits, including a $7,500 federal tax credit Ford buyers can still get and Tesla and General Motors buyers cannot. That price is about $10,000 more than the cheapest gasoline-fueled F-150.

Besides an estimated 230 miles (370 km) of range, the base F-150 Lightning comes with a 15.5-inch (39.37 cm), Tesla-style dashboard screen, a roomy “frunk” storage space where the gas engine would be, and enough plugs and juice to power a construction site for up to three days, Ford officials said.

A Lightning XLT model, which aligns with the best-selling version of the gasoline F-150, will start at $52,974, Ford said. That is 51% higher than the gasoline XLT’s base price.

Ford plans more expensive versions of the F-150 Lightning, including a “Platinum” model with an extended-range battery likely to be priced around $90,000.

Tesla’s electric Cybertruck, which looks like it rolled off the set of a science-fiction movie, is due to begin high-volume production in 2022, and its price will start at $39,900. GM’s first electric pickup is an “electric supertruck,” the GMC Hummer EV, priced from $79,995 to nearly $100,000. High-volume production will begin in fall 2022, after a small initial run of trucks this autumn.

GM plans to introduce a Lightning competitor, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, in late 2022, Fiorani said. It will be built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform that it shares with the upcoming Hummer EV, GM has said.

GM is also moving into the electric delivery van segment with a new unit, BrightDrop, and a new purpose-built electric van.

Ford is using a heavier-gauge steel for the frame of the F-150 Lightning, but did not undertake a complete redesign to integrate the battery pack into the chassis.

By staying close to the current model, Ford can offer the electric truck sooner, at a competitive price “and make money on it,” said Darren Palmer, general manager for Ford’s electric vehicles.

Ford plans to offer software-enabled services to fleet and business customers, such as tracking driver behavior, predicting maintenance and planning delivery routes, said Ford’s Cannis.

Once Ford starts charging for these services, “then you’re in the subscription game,” Cannis said.

(Reporting by Joe White in Detroit Additional reporting by Paul Lienert in Detroit Editing by Matthew Lewis)

Wilbur-Ellis Puts Ford Electric Trucks in The Field

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 04:13:27 GMT

Wilbur-Ellis, based in San Francisco, Calif., has announced a move toward electric vehicles for its agribusiness operations. Through a collaboration with Ford Pro, Ford Motor Company’s commercial division, Wilbur-Ellis will initially integrate 10 of the new Ford F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks into its fleet in the California regions of Sonoma County and Salinas. Ford Pro will also provide charging stations and in-vehicle telematics that can remotely monitor and optimize charging and vehicle diagnostics through its proprietary cloud-based software.

Wilbur-Ellis President and CEO John Buckley announced the plan on May 20 during a panel discussion with Ford Pro CEO Ted Cannis at Dutton Ranch in Sebastopol, Calif. Dutton Ranch, a longtime Wilbur-Ellis customer and a third-generation grower of wine grapes and apples in the Sonoma wine region, is also participating in the Ford F-150 Lightning pilot program through Sonoma County Winegrowers to test electric pickup trucks and cargo vans.

Buckley described the collaboration between Wilbur-Ellis and Ford Pro as a win for both companies.

“Ford Pro will see its new electric trucks in action,” he said. “Wilbur-Ellis will begin the transition to electric vehicles in our fleet, which includes 2,800 on-road vehicles worldwide, and our customers will benefit from the information we gather about the impact these vehicles could have in their operations.”

Wilbur-Ellis’ involvement will increase the Ford pilot program’s scale, and expand its reach beyond Sonoma to the small, vegetable-farming community of Salinas. The agribusiness company’s first Ford Lightning trucks, set to arrive in the coming weeks, will be put into service by Wilbur-Ellis field technicians for site visits to local ranches. Through Ford Pro’s telematics dashboard, fleet managers will be able to access real-time data for each vehicle, including its location, maintenance alerts, charging status and distance driven.

If the pilot program is successful, he added, Wilbur-Ellis plans to add Ford F-150 Lightning trucks to its operations in other regions, including the Midwest.

“We’ll start small, learn, and then go from there,” he said.

While some employees were initially skeptical about the electric truck’s range, Buckley said, they became excited when they learned more about its capabilities—such as the ability to power electric devices in the field and act as a back-up generator in emergency situations.

“Now we’re getting questions like, how do I get on the list?” said Buckley. “The creativity is starting to bubble up from folks thinking about how they could do their jobs differently with this kind of a truck. So we’re really excited about it.”

Wilbur-Ellis’ collaboration with Ford grew from a 30-year friendship between Buckley and Cannis, who came to California in January to announce Ford Pro’s partnership with Sonoma County Winegrowers. When Cannis told him about the pilot program and Dutton Ranch’s involvement, Buckley was quick to get on board.

“I said, we want to do something to make the world more sustainable,” he recalled, “so let’s do it.”

The Wilbur-Ellis announcement coincides with a broader company initiative unveiled on May 22 to make operations more sustainable by reducing carbon emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy. Wilbur-Ellis plans achieve net zero absolute carbon emissions by 2050, in alignment with the Paris Agreement goal of keeping the average rise in global temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels. As part of its efforts to increase the use of renewable energy in its manufacturing and distribution operations, the company recently kicked off a project to install solar panels at 15 of its facilities across California.

Buckley believes that along with reducing carbon emissions, electric vehicles can provide valuable benefits for farmers in running their businesses.

“I think it will make them more efficient,” he said. “The last thing they want to do if they’re out in the field is come back for fuel.”

Reported by Tina Caputo

All About Farm Trucks: New Marketplace Launched by Certified Ag Dealer Network

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 04:13:27 GMT

With 31+ dealers listing their inventory totaling more than 1,400 trucks and SUVs for sale, the Certified Agriculture Dealer (CAD) Program launches AgTruckTrader.com.

“We’ve created an elite network of agriculturally intelligent truck dealers—a place where farmers and ranchers feel comfortable and confident purchasing and servicing their trucks,” says Patrick Driscoll, the CEO and president of CAD.

At a time of low inventory and high demand, the team at CAD says it’s a great time to have a focused product on serving this specific market. Listings include new and used inventory and are updated daily.

“This was really to create a superhighway between farmers and ranchers who desperately need vehicles and our certified agricultural dealers on the other side that understand how to serve the agricultural market and make that buying process much easier for them,” says Jenni Wallace, vice president of operations at CAD.

Leaders at Certified Agriculture Dealer say they are ready to engage all 250 dealers in the network with the “third pillar” of their offering, one they have been working on since last fall.

All listings are eligible for AgPack, which is a package of rebates and discounts exclusively offered at CAD partners. In all, the AgPack savings can add up to $30,000 and including offers from: Michelin and BF Goodrich tires; AgroLiquid Crop Nutrition; Rhino Ag equipment; Dixie Chopper commercial mowers; AgriEdge farm management system; Reinke Irrigation; Gallagher Fencing & Weighing Equipment; Eby trailers and truck bodies; Viasat high speed internet, Citgo’s Mystic Lubricants, Tarter Farm & Ranch Equipment and DTN/Farm Market iD agricultural data, Walkabout Motherbins in-field grain storage, Outback Wrap hose identification system and PUTCO work truck accessories.

Features of the site allow farmers discover, review, purchase, finance, and even order trucks for their farm or ranch.

Listings can be filtered and sorted by year, manufacturer, model, distance, and more.

Click here to visit AgTruckTrader.com

Truck Shortage Continues as Semiconductor Chips Still in Short Supply

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 04:13:27 GMT

If you’re in the market for a new truck, you may be waiting a while longer. Major auto and truck manufacturers have announced extended shutdowns and it’s the chip shortage still to blame.

Just this week, Ford Motor Company and GM announced layoffs would continue, due to trouble sourcing the semiconductor chips needed to produce new trucks and cars.

Ford says the F-150 production plant in Kansas City is shutting down for two weeks in July. That’s as workers just started trickling back in after the plant was idle from April 19 to June 14. Plants in Michigan, Kentucky, Illinois, Canada and Mexico are also seeing extended closures.

That’s impacting farmers and ranchers in the market for a truck. According to Farm Journal research, more than a third of farmers planned to purchase a new pickup this year.

The Role of Electric Vehicles in the Future of Farming

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 04:13:27 GMT

With gas prices hovering at more than $6 per gallon in some areas of the country, Ford Pro, the commercial division of Ford Motor Company, is offering farmers some relief in the form of its new, all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck. By providing trucks and charging stations for select California farmers to test in the field, the automaker hopes to make inroads in convincing America’s agriculture sector to adopt electric vehicles.

During a panel discussion on May 20, held at the Dutton Ranch vineyard in Sebastopol, Calif., Ford Pro CEO Ted Cannis highlighted the benefits of going electric, and the role that electric vehicles (EVs) could play in the future of farming. Joining Cannis were John Buckley, president and CEO of Wilbur-Ellis; Karissa Kruse; president of Sonoma County Winegrowers (SCW); and Jason Glickman, executive vice president of engineering, planning and strategy at California’s Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E).

Wilbur-Ellis, SCW and PG&E are all collaborating with Ford Pro to test the electric trucks, which are set to arrive within the next couple of months. In the meantime, participants have access to Ford’s proprietary telematics software, which allows fleet managers to remotely access real-time data for both electric and gas-powered vehicles.

Buckley, who announced Wilbur-Ellis’ partnership with Ford during the panel discussion , noted that the reduction of carbon emissions resulting from the widespread use of EVs would have a significant positive impact on both the environment and the businesses of farming.

“Farmers are absolutely bearing the brunt of climate change,” he said, noting that mitigating its impacts will require innovation. “I think it’s perhaps a misconception about farming that it’s not innovative and there’s not much technology involved. But farmers know that without innovating they’re not going to be successful.”

For Kruse, participating in Ford’s pilot program provides an opportunity for different organizations to share information about the vehicles and technology, and to learn from each other.

“We started to have this idea around being pilot farmers, to be a beacon to the rest of the world as a case study,” she said. “We are going electric on our ranches, and that [thought] was so mind opening. It wasn’t baby steps—it was an overhaul of thinking about how we move people and equipment, and farming in the community.”

Climate change is an ever-present concern for farmers in Northern California, she added, where wildfires have become a regular occurrence.

“Our farmers, because of the climate impact and change, are having make decisions so much faster,” Kruse said. “Our farming needs to be way more flexible.”

Cannis acknowledged that challenges lie ahead in convincing American farmers to adopt electric vehicles, especially in regions that are slower to embrace green technologies. The key, he said, will be to work with farmers to customize EV systems to fit their needs, and to show them how to get the most from the vehicles and technology.

While business owners were initially skeptical about the F-150 Lightning Pro’s capabilities, he said, they are coming around. “Now we’re scrambling for batteries to get up to the 150,000 production rate next year,” said Cannis, “because the demand is overwhelming.”

Basic Features and Driving Experience

With a base price of $39,974, F-150 Lightning Pro has 452 horsepower, a 4x4 drivetrain, and a standard range of 230 miles. Features exclusive to the Lightning include dual electric motors, all-new rear independent suspension, and a full-size spare tire in the back to help commercial customers avoid costly down time. In the space that would normally be occupied by an engine, Ford added a frontal trunk—or “frunk”—with 400 liters of dry storage space.

During the May 20 event at Dutton Ranch, Ford invited members of the media—including Farm Journal—to test-drive Ford F-150 Lightning Pro pickup trucks along the narrow, winding roads of the Sonoma County wine region.

On first glance, the truck resembles a standard F-150, inside and out. This was a strategic decision by Ford to provide traditional truck owners with a familiar environment.

The driving experience is also strikingly similar to that of the gas-powered version, with one notable difference: The Lightning’s dual electric motors provide near-instantaneous torque for surprisingly punchy acceleration. The vehicle’s larger touchscreen allows drivers to instantly switch between driving modes, from normal to sport to hauling. We found that the truck’s performance was remarkable for being unremarkable; once on the road, it handled just like a standard, gas-powered Ford pickup.

Charging and Power

Ford Pro offers a range of customized AC and DC charger options designed to work with any EV, and the company handles everything from design to installation. To alleviate “range anxiety,” drivers can use the onboard Charge Assist app to locate the nearest public charging station when they are out on the road.

Because the truck essentially functions as a mobile battery, it can also be used to power and charge devices and tools in the field—a feature with promising possibilities for farmers. Ford’s Pro Power Onboard provides in-vehicle electricity for plug-in devices, while Intelligent Backup Power—which requires additional hardware installation—enables the Lightning to act as a back-up generator in emergencies.

Tech-Enabled Efficiency

One of the most compelling features of the vehicle is its on-board telematics system, which remotely transmits information from each vehicle to a central dashboard, including maintenance alerts, charging status and distance driven. Live mapping shows the location of vehicles, and users can set up geofences to let them know when trucks leave and enter designated areas. Using an inexpensive plug-in device, the software also works with gas-powered vehicles, enabling farms to monitor their entire fleet.

The idea, Cannis said, is to make farms more efficient and allow business owners to make more informed decisions. “We’re aiming for 100 percent up time,” he said. “For electric vehicles, there’s a lot less maintenance, so you don’t have that time lost bringing them into the shop.”

For farmers looking to increase their efficiency, that just might be incentive enough to consider taking the EV plunge.

Written by Tina Caputo