Agrisolutions Acquires Lund Industrial Group
Operations will continue at Lund’s plant in Mississippi under the Agrisolutions name.
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Summit: Now More Than Ever, We Are Better Together
“The elevated industry voice the Association offers is not, in my opinion, the most valuable benefit of membership. What I most appreciate are the opportunities to talk to you.”–Matt Westendorf
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Opinion: ‘Level with Public’
The doctor argues that COVID cases are declining faster than expected in large part because natural immunity from prior infection is far more common than tests can measure.
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KC Eases Restrictions on Bars, Restaurants
The mayor of Kansas City last week lifted a limit on gathering sizes and allowed a return to regular business hours at bars, restaurants and events.
Read moreKinze Lawyers: Deere Can’t Compete on Field so Fights in Court
Attorney: “The only way for Deere to maintain its market share and keep its prices high is to eliminate Kinze from the market entirely, cripple Kinze’s dealer network, or litigate Kinze into submission.”
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Rural Mainstreet: Outlook Soars to Highest in Decade
The February farm equipment-sales index rose to 62.7, its highest reading since February 2013 and up from 54.5 in January.
Read moreTractor/Combine Sales
Tractor sales in Canada increased by 39 percent in January compared to the same month last year. Sales in that same category in the U.S. increased by 24.7 percent.
Read moreValmont Sees Dramatic Increases in Q4, Year
Global sales in the ag irrigation segment increased by 49.8 percent year-over-year. North American sales increased by 14.8 percent.
Read moreBuhler Reports Promising First Quarter
Based on backlog and order activity, the company is optimistic about 2021.
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Vermeer Forms Partnership with BRON
“This agreement positions Vermeer to better help our customers capture more of the underground telecom and energy work that will be required to provide more reliable access to critical infrastructure around the world,” said Dave Wisniewski.
Read moreDeere Posts 23 Percent Gain in Earnings
The company last week reported equipment operation net sales increased by 23 percent for the quarter ending Jan. 31. Net income for the quarter soared by 124 percent.
Read moreEnergy Costs Slow Production at AGCO
The gas bill in February 2019 was $120,000. This month, the company estimates the bill will be between $2 million and $10 million.
Read moreTractor Supply to Buy Orscheln Farm and Home
The all-cash transaction means Tractor Supply will gain 167 stores 11 Midwestern states.
Read moreKubota Revenue Dips for the Year
Domestic revenue fell by a greater percentage than overseas revenue for the Japanese company.
Read moreWestcap Invests in Rocky Mountain
“We are grateful for the support of our employees and customers as we move into this new chapter for Rocky Mountain Equipment,” said CEO Garrett Ganden.
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Dealer News
Two dealerships are building new stores.
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Study Finds Gains, Losses in $15 Minimum Wage
The pay raise would mean higher wages for 27 million people but also lead to job loss, higher prices, and a widening federal deficit.
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Texas Farmers, Ranchers, Reel from Winter Blast
Early estimates put crop losses at $300 million. Said one expert: “Peach trees that had started budding, those buds are going to be toast at 15 degrees.”
Read moreSenate Confirms Vilsack as New USDA Chief
USDA’s priorities under Vilsack will include establishing a “new era for equity and fairness” as well as helping end the COVID-19 pandemic and addressing climate change.
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Bipartisan Meeting on Infrastructure ‘Substantive’
President Biden warned that if the U.S. does not invest in the issue, China is “going to eat our lunch.”
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Food Inflation: Production Prices Rising
After a year of disruption throughout the food supply system, farmers, especially those who are raising cattle, hogs and poultry, are getting squeezed by the highest corn and soybean prices in seven years.
Read moreGoodyear to Buy Cooper
The deal nearly doubles Goodyear’s presence in China and broadens distribution for Cooper replacement tires.
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Legislative Watch: Issues Affecting Members
The Association continually monitors state legislation relevant to the shortline farm equipment industry. In past months, it has also begun tracking bills dealing with COVID-19 liability. Here is a snapshot of issues we are following.
Read moreFarm Income to Tumble After Banner 2020
The Economic Research Service of the USDA is forecasting an 8.1 percent decrease in net farm income this year.
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U.S. Seeks Answers in Shipping Crisis
U.S. regulators will order container carriers and port terminal operators to provide information related to container returns and availability.
Read moreAssociation Brings Back Anniversary Listings
The Association had paused its long-standing tradition of publishing the names of companies joining the Association and celebrating membership anniversaries, but we begin again this month.
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Rural Mainstreet: Outlook Soars to Highest in Decade
Data from researchers who assess the economy in rural communities reported signs of strength in farm country.
Read moreBuhler Reports Promising First Quarter
Net sales increased by 4 percent in the fourth quarter for member company Buhler Industries. The rise in sales is part of an overall picture of optimism.
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Summit: Hear from Pros on Life Post-COVID, Farmer Attitudes, Ag Economy
Based on a preliminary conversation with officers of the board, if the Association can host an effective meeting in the context of compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, we will be in Kansas City from April 7 to 9.
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Farmers’ Willingness to Buy Remains Strong
The index that measures farmers’ willingness to buy equipment held strong at its record high of 93. The percentage of farmers expecting to increase their machinery purchases also held at its highest level of the last year.
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Shipping Carriers Reject Tons of Ag Exports
Shipping carriers rejected U.S. agricultural export containers worth hundreds of millions of dollars during October and November. The Federal Maritime Commission is investigating whether carriers violated the Shipping Act.
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OSHA: Cover Cost of Vaccine, Do Not Distinguish Vaccinated
The guidelines also suggest employers consider protections and reasonable accommodations for workers at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19,
Read moreBayer Agrees to Pay $2 Million in Roundup Cases
The company said the announcement has no impact on the availability of Roundup.
Read moreWorthington Buys General Tool
The company said acquiring General Tool “expands our thriving consumer products portfolio.”
Read moreKuhn Sees Jump in Order Intake, Book
The company “the agricultural machinery market proved resilient in the reporting period.”
Read moreArt’s Way Announces FY20 Results
In agriculture, net sales declined by 3.1 percent in 2020, which the company primarily attributes to the loss of low-margin OEM business.
Read moreDeere Pulls Out of Agritechnica
The tractor maker said the “future remains uncertain,” citing mutations of the coronavirus and the slow progress of vaccination.
Read moreSupplier Spotlight: MFC
Supplier Spotlight is a newly introduced newsletter feature. If you would like to see your company’s story here, send it to Kristi@FarmEquip.org.
Read moreNet Sales Rise at AGCO
The biggest gain in sales was in South America. North America saw a 10 percent drop.
Read moreSmall Tractors Perform Well at CNH in Q4
In North America, tractor demand was up 27 percent for tractors under 140 horsepower and 17 percent for tractors over 140 horsepower.
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Dealer News
See the latest in acquisition news, an ownership expansion, earnings, and dealer sentiment.
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Machine Guarding Checklist
Member companies have password-protected access to a 66-page document created by Sentry that offers guidance on creating a product safety process. Catch a glimpse of what’s in the manual here.
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Tips for Post-COVID Business Travel
As travel returns, which it no doubt will, it will bring with it a whole host of new complexities around keeping costs and risks low. Companies will need to be prepared with a sound strategy and technology to support it in order to stay on top of the competition.
Read moreVilsack Focuses on Sustainability in First Hearing
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley introduced Vilsack at the Ag Committee hearing, an indication of bipartisan support for the nominee to succeed Sonny Perdue.
Read moreFort Wayne Farm Show Cancels
The 2021 show had been rescheduled for March in hopes that conditions would be better. Next year’s show is booked for January.
Read moreLeadership Changes at AGCO
AGCO has changed and expanded its senior leadership team to sharpen the company’s focus on precision agriculture and digital solutions.
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YRC Changes Names to Yellow
Association partner YRC is now the Yellow Corporation, which is the restoration of a previous company name represented by the “Y” in YRC.
Read moreDeere to Support Wiedenmann Aeration
Deere’s golf and sports dealer network will sell and support the Wiedenmann line of aeration solutions.
Read moreVaderstad Expands
Väderstad will invest the equivalent of U.S. $15.1 million in a new factory in Sweden. It is expected to open in 2022.
Read moreYanmar Appoints Ag Director
Yanmar America has announced Mark Short as director of its agriculture and UTV divisions.
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