Membership Matters: Make the Most of Yours
Want to know how business is this year for other member companies? Early respondents to the 2020 membership survey offer a glimpse here. Check out the data, and join the conversation.
Read moreAuthor: Kristi Ruggles
Membership Offers Benefits, Opportunities
Membership includes easy-to-see, accessible-from-your-desk services, but it also offers an opportunity to learn and network that cannot be easily captured until you experience it.
Read more
Fraudsters Make Cash Hauls with SBA COVID Programs
One family allegedly created 72 phony companies to collect $7.2 million through an SBA program. A person posing as Donald Trump won a $5,000 grant.
Read moreDeere Closes Year Optimistic About Ag in 2021
In the U.S. and Canada, the company’s forecast calls for a 5 to 10 percent gain in sales in farm equipment in the new year.
Read moreAGI Sees Record Third Quarter
North American commercial sales were the exception in an otherwise standout quarter. Farm sales increased by 24 percent.
Read more
Raven Opens New Headquarters, Reports Earnings
The company’s new site will house its precision agriculture solutions operations. In related news, Raven saw a 22 percent jump in net sales in applied technology.
Read moreCNH Announces New CEO
CNH Industrial N.V. has appointed Scott W. Wine as chief executive officer beginning Jan. 4.
Read moreStakeholder in AGCO Seeks Governance Changes
The India-based stakeholder wants AGCO to separate the roles of chairman and CEO. The move comes as AGCO prepares for the current CEO and chairman to retire.
Read moreDeere Buys Software Firm
Harvest Profit, which produces software to help farmers analyze their data and better understand the financial outcomes, will retain its brand name.
Read more
Fisher Barton Names New CEO
Fisher Barton has named Scott A. Hoffman as its new CEO. Craig Smith, who has been interim CEO, returns to his role as president of Fisher Barton TST.
Read more
BKT Opens Virtual COVID-19 Health Center
The center is equipped with remote patient monitoring, data analytics on diagnostics and medicine management, remote consultations using augmented reality, and more.
Read moreAg Expo: ‘Farmers Haven’t Stopped, Neither Will We’
The virtual show will kick off a year-long approach to providing opportunity for exhibitors and content for farmers.
Read more
Shipping Containers for Ag in Short Supply
U.S. retail demand for imports has pushed container freight rates from China to the U.S. West Coast beyond $4,000 per container. Meanwhile, the average price to ship goods by container from Los Angeles to Shanghai has been $518. That’s creating a pinch for farm exports.
Read more
Farmers Pull Back Slightly on Plans to Buy Equipment
While farmers remained relatively optimistic about making large capital investments in their operations soon, the survey revealed shifts upward among groups intending to hang onto their equipment a bit longer or reduce purchases.
Read more
Asia Pacific Countries Sign Trade Pact
The agreement, called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, creates a regional bloc that covers around a third of global economic output.
Read more
Farm Equipment Index Hits Highest Mark Since 2013
The November farm equipment sales index increased to its highest level since December 2013, reflecting improvements in commodity prices, support from the federal government, and historically low interest rates.
Read more
IRS Makes Consequential Change to PPP Rules
The IRS is disallowing tax deductions on PPP expenses if a company “reasonably believes” that a loan may be forgiven.
Read more
Equipment Trend Lags Gender Trend in Ag
More than a third of farmers are women. They use equipment designed for a male frame, which increases the likelihood of in jury and slows their productivity. Businesses are surfacing to meet their unique needs.
Read moreDealer News: Earnings, Acquisitions
Titan saw an overall gain in its ag sales division in the third quarter. A group of dealer associations canceled their joint annual meeting. Acquisitions continue.
Read more
Regulatory Onslaught Hits California Soon
Association members should stay abreast of new legal obligations in California. Attorneys who focus on HR law offer their thoughts here.
Read more
Association Elects Directors, Officers
Matt Westendorf will lead the Association as its president in 2021. The officers and directors elected come from companies that represent a collective 334 years of membership in the Association.
Read more
WSJ Commentary: What Biden May Mean for Business
What might a new administration mean to trade, taxes, and COVID-19?
Read more
‘Help Me Help You’ Remember That Line?
We are creating new ways to be of value to the shortline industry and our members, and we are asking you to help define our direction. Please take five minutes to complete a membership survey.
Read moreAlamo Group Reports Record Net Sales
Alamo Group’s net sales for the quarter that ended Sept. 30 increased by 7.3 percent compared to the same quarter last year. Net sales in the agriculture division increased by 2 percent.
Read morePresident of Woods Equipment to Retire
Jerry Johnson will retire Dec. 31. Succeeding him will be Todd Hall.
Read moreFast Ag Solutions Returns to Family in Sale
An investment group has bought Fast Ag Solutions, its product lines, and its facilities. The company will be led by Cody Fast.
Read more
How Did Candidates Influential to Ag Fare?
Fifteen-term incumbent Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) did not prevail in his race last week, which means the House Ag Committee will no longer be represented by someone hailing from one of the more agriculturally-focused districts in the country.
Read more
In Other Election News for Ag …
Agriculture committees in both the the U.S. Senate and House are headed for change based on last week’s election results.
Read more
Illinois Manufacturers Gain in Judge Elections
Illinois saw two huge judicial races on the ballot last week, and the results of both were good for manufacturers.
Read more
Farmers’ Willingness to Invest in Capital Hits Record
Fewer farmers report a reluctance to spend on equipment and more report a likelihood that they will.
Read more
Ag Economist Flinchbaugh Dies
A farmer once said to Flinchbaugh: “I do not agree with a damn thing you said, but the next time you are in town making a speech, I will be here.”
Read moreNet Sales See Big Bump in AGCO’s Q3
AGCO saw increased sales in high horsepower tractors, hay equipment, and precision planting products.
Read moreSales Rise by 9 Percent at Rocky Mountain
Total equipment inventory fell by 29.5 percent in the first nine months of 2020.
Read moreCNHi Revises Forecast Upward
The company expects sales to fall 10 to 15 percent this year. Guidance from July project a drop as high as 20 percent.
Read moreDealer News: Papé Buys Washington Tractor
Papé Machinery’s Agriculture and Turf division will now have 35 locations on the West Coast.
Read more
Government Swamped with PPP Fraud Claims
The SBA found that tens of thousands of ineligible companies received PPP loans. The FBI has opened several hundred investigations that involve hundreds of millions of dollars.
Read moreRocky Mountain Strikes Deal to Go Private
A numbered company controlled by chairman Matthew Campbell and CEO Garrett Ganden has agreed to buy shares they do not currently own.
Read more
COVID Claims Commodity Classic
A virtual event is being planned for the first week in March.
Read moreEMDA Elects Officers, Directors
Kent Zimmerman with John Day Company will lead the Equipment Marketing & Distribution Association in 2021.
Read moreNew Dicamba Approved
The decision comes after the EPA reviewed 65 new studies as well as all literature and consulted with experts.
Read moreHardi, Equipment Technologies to Consolidate
Hardi North America and Equipment Technologies (ET) have agreed that, in coming months, Hardi’s manufacturing operations will be consolidated with ET’s Apache AS and HS brands.
Read moreCNH Acquires Stake in Zasso Group
The transaction aligns with CNH Industrial’s plan to strengthen its product portfolio of AGXTEND.
Read moreJudge Upholds Portion of Dealer Protection Law
The bill addresses tractor manufacturer contract issues that would create numerous challenges for dealers. It also enhances existing law in other areas, acccording to the Pioneer EDA.
Read moreVirtual Meeting Link – Annual Business Meeting
Members who tune in Wednesday to the annual business meeting and director elections will get a sneak peak at what’s in store for Supply Summit 2021.
Read more
USDA Awards $7 Billion to Farmers in September
Since CFAP 2 enrollment began on September 21, FSA has approved more than 443,000 applications. The top five states for payments are Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois and Kansas.
Read more
Rural Mainstreet Index Rises to Pre-Pandemic Level
Since falling to a record low in April, the Rural Mainstreet Index has increased for six straight months. The farm equipment sales index improved this month, too.
Read moreNebraska Ag Expo Is a ‘Go’
The Nebraska Ag Expo has the go-ahead from its local health department to host the event.
Read moreOmni USA Consolidates Its Brands
The change addresses the growing interdependence of the firm’s separate technologies to offer complete solutions for modern powertrains, the company said.
Read more
Find ASABE Braking Webinars on YouTube
The webinars cover the requirements of the standard and explain the braking force needed for towed equipment.
Read more