Fewer Container Ships Arrive On Time
On the major trade lanes from Asia to the U.S., schedule reliability dropped below 50 percent. Reliability dropped by 30 percentage points on the routes between Asia and Oceania.
Read moreAuthor: Kristi Ruggles
How to Build an Effective Lean Steering Committee
For a lean steering committee to succeed, leaders must pay careful attention to the composition of the team and clearly define the scope of the project. They also must reflect on the work and assure ongoing learning throughout the organization.
Read more
Notice: Annual Business Meeting, Industry Speaker
Hear this former agriculture advisor to President Trump talk about what the shortline industry most needs to consider as we approach 2021.
Read more
Kinze Challenges Deere to a Planting Contest
Kinze President Susanne Veatch has invited Deere to a planter race. The winner gets bragging rights. The loser donates to Habitat for Humanity.
Read more
Farmers Feel Better About Ag Economy
The capital investment index, which reflects farmers’ willingness to make big purchases, rose to its highest reading in 2020.
Read more
AgJunction, Kubota Settle Suit
Under the settlement, AgJunction granted Kubota a non-exclusive license in the U.S. and Canada to its patent portfolio in exchange for undisclosed royalty payments from Kubota.
Read more
Ag Sales at Art’s Way See Double-Digit Gains in Q3
“In a year with much disruption and many challenges, we were encouraged to see several significant positive trends in the third quarter,” said Chairman of the Board Marc H. McConnell.
Read moreEditor, Publisher Kanicki Retires
In a farewell column, Kanicki wrote that in spite of the growth of Lessiter Media and the industry, there is still much to do to confront challenges in the farm equipment business.
Read moreFormer Mahindra Exec Joins Thunder Creek
Larry Lea succeeds Luke Van Wyk, who is now president and managing chair for C12 Central Iowa.
Read moreAGCO to Buy Boyd Assets, Launch Dealership
AgRevolution, which begins operation Jan. 1, is the result of a unique situation in Kentucky and southern Indiana, where Boyd is shifting its focus to heavy construction sales.
Read moreRaven Industries Names New Leaders
“We are reorganizing senior executives because our future is strong, and we believe we are at the start of a significant growth trajectory for our organization,” said CEO Dan Rykhus.
Read moreOrthman Donates Masks to Schools
Orthman Manufacturing in Lexington, Neb., donated more than 3,700 masks to schools in its community so every student and employee had their own.
Read moreDealer News
See news about sales in Texas and the western U.S.
Read moreManufacturers Add 66,000 Jobs in September
Roughly two-thirds of the returning manufacturing jobs were in durable goods, especially in the motor vehicles and parts sector and machinery. Each added about 14,000 jobs.
Read more
COVID Activates Program to Give Employees Tax-Free Payments
For employees working remotely, payments can cover related utilities, wi-fi, and paper and ink, as examples. Employees in offices may use payments for hand sanitizer or masks and increased costs related to childcare and transportation.
Read moreRegulation Affects Makers of Diesel Engines
A Canadian organization wants companies that export diesel engines to the country to know about a new regulation.
Read more
White House Invests in Ethanol Market
The investment, expected to exceed $100 million, will drive demand for ethanol and increase national sales by 150 million gallons a year, the administration said.
Read more
IRS Clarifies Bonus Depreciation
The final regulations clarify the effects of a technical correction in the CARES Act. Taxpayers can now deduct QIP.
Read morePresidential Candidates Talk Trade
The American Farm Bureau Federation asked President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to respond to a series of questions relevant o This week, Shortliner shares responses to a question about trade.
Read moreAg Sales at Art’s Way See Double-Digit Rise in Q3
Third quarter sales in the agriculture segment increased by 14.9 percent. Year-to-date ag sales increased by 2.7 percent.
Read moreAgJunction, Kubota Settle Patent Suit
AgJunction reached a settlement in a patent infringement lawsuit against Kubota. The parties agreed to discuss how AgJunction would provide autosteer and autonomous solutions for Kubota products.
Read moreRaven Announces New Leadership Positions
Raven Industries, Inc. has changed the players in a few key leadership positions. Steven Brazones, current CFO, will become vice
Read moreAGCO to Buy Boyd Assets, Launch Dealership
AGCO Corp. intends to acquire certain assets of Boyd Company of Louisville, Ky., and form AgRevolution, an equipment dealership providing products and services to the farming community in Kentucky and southern Indiana.
Read more
Website Mistakes Manufacturers Make
Our phones and computers are our personal headquarters, and we spend more than a third of our waking hours looking at them. Manufacturers cannot downplay the importance of their website as a marketing tool. It is essential to business growth.
Read more
Cleveland-Cliffs to Acquire ArcelorMittal USA
The acquisition means Cleveland-Cliffs will become the largest flat-rolled steel producer in the country, and the largest producer of iron-ore pellets, the company said.
Read moreLegal Focus: Travel Waivers for Employees
Companies considering asking employees to sign travel waivers should weigh potential risks against the possible protections that such a waiver will provide in the event an employee contracts COVID-19.
Read more
Cheaper, Faster COVID Tests Good News for Workplaces
Unlike the $100-and-up molecular diagnostics lab tests, antigen tests can cost as little as $5, and results are available within minutes rather than days.
Read moreValmont Secures $240 Million Project in Africa
It will become the largest connected irrigation project on the planet.
Read moreMcFarlane’s Apprentice Program Enjoys Success
The program offers an “honest wage,” high school credits, and exposure to opportunities in manufacturing.
Read moreGKN Rebuilds Plant, Triples Production
The head of operations said the plant is “quite simply unrecognizable from what it was just a couple of years ago.”
Read moreAssociation of Black Farmers Persists in Deere Boycott
Deere responded to allegations of unfairness with a statement detailing its contributions to equality and an announcement of a new coalition, but that did not diminish the resolve of the NBFA.
Read more
Fraud Alert: PPP Loan Applicants’ Info Hacked
The Small Business Administration has received more than 1,000 reports that business owners are fighting fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications. KCoe offers tips to protect your company.
Read more
Quandary for Employers: COVID-19 Vaccines
More than a third of Americans say they will not get the COVID vaccine. That may create a legal showdown in the workplace.
Read moreChild Care Needs Cause Problems in Factories
Nearly half of manufacturers said child-care constraints caused by the coronavirus made it difficult to recall furloughed workers or hire new ones in August.
Read more
Dealer News
See the latest in acquisitions in the industry.
Read moreDeere to Expand in Australia, New Zealand
Deere’s business in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa and the Middle East accounts for almost 10 percent of the company’s total revenue.
Read more
Dealer Foundation Launches Workforce Campaign
The campaign seeks to familiarize parents and educators with the benefits of a career as an equipment service technician and inspire children to explore these careers.
Read moreVirus Driving Swings in Supply, Demand, Cost
The cost of food at home was up 4.6 percent in August, as were the costs of men’s pajamas, bikes, and books. Consumers are paying much less for hotel rooms, cosmetics, and suits and dresses.
Read moreCandidates Discuss Farm Policy
In this week’s installment of responses that presidential candidates provided to the American Farm Bureau, they talk farm policy.
Read more
News from ASABE
The group released news about a new international standard related to towing and towed vehicles, as well as the initiation of a standard on metered seed systems in precision ag.
Read more
Rural Mainstreet Index Improves for September
The index has risen consistently since bottoming out in April. The farm equipment sales index remains in a recessionary zone.
Read more
USDA Issues $14 Billion in COVID Relief to Farmers
This is the second round of assistance the administration will send to farmers. It distributed $19 billion earlier this year.
Read moreApprentice Program at McFarlane Gets Attention
Apprentices typically enter the program as teens and are expected to work 450 hours a year. One has become a full-time employee.
Read more
No Handshakes, but Plenty of High-Impact Info
Although we will not gather for convention, we will come together briefly on screen to elect directors and hear from a former White House insider on what’s at stake in the November elections.
Read more
What’s the Future of Trade Shows
A survey conducted by a marketing firm found that 88 percent of people are open to attending a trade show. Nearly a quarter were characterized as “not worried at all.”
Read more
Former Deere Exec Joins Ford
The Deere exec who led efforts to deliver artificial intelligence on the farm has joined Ford. He and the new CEO want Ford’s commercial customers to regularly pay for services, creating a revenue stream that flows throughout the vehicle’s life.
Read moreWorld Ag Expo Calls Off 2021
World Ag Expo announced Monday it will not host its outdoor farm show in 2021.
Read moreDeere’s Lagemann Elects to Retire
The senior vice president of Ag &Turf will retire Oct. 31. Succeeding him will be Dave Gilmore, a 30-year veteran at Deere.
Read moreAGCO to Acquire 151 Research
AGCO has agreed to acquire research and product development firm 151 Research to create new technology solutions for grain customers.
Read more
USDA Projects Farm Income at 7-Year High
The last time federal payments accounted for a greater percentage of farm income was 2001 at 41 percent. Sonny Perdue said Monday he hopes to announce a new version of coronavirus relief this week.
Read more