California Ag Expects $9 Billion Hit from Virus
Dairy is expected to see the largest total loss, followed by grapes.
Read more
Author: Kristi Ruggles
Farmers Can Use Dicamba, Bayer Settles on Glyphosate
A federal court had upheld EPA’s decision to allow dicamba’s use through July 31.
Read more
U.S. Soybean Prices Rise as China Accelerates Imports
Chinese buying made up roughly 56 percent of all new soybean export sales in the past month. By comparison, Chinese buying made up only 27 percent of U.S. soybean export sales in 2020 through May.
Read more
Farm Groups Join Coalition Against Threat to GPS
“Expanding broadband access is a top priority for Farm Bureau,” said Zippy Duvall, president of AFBF, “but not at the expense of losing the accuracy of GPS,”
Read moreNLRB: Rule Stands on No Phones in Work Areas
The decision is potentially a big win for manufacturers, but only to the extent they can articulate sufficient safety- or business-related justifications for banning personal phones.
Read moreDealer News
CLAAS of America and LoneStar Ag have opened a second location in Texas.
Read more
Overexertion Injuries Cost Employers $14 Billion a Year
Overexertion, falls and struck-by hazards are among the costliest workplace injuries.
Read moreDeere Announces New Model, Leadership Changes
Deere has announced a new operating model and a series of leadership changes to support the model.
Read moreMember Response: Getting Sales Teams on the Road
The Association asked member companies how they are handling the return to normal, specifically as it relates to employees who
Read moreAn Economist Offers Thoughts on Recovery
Economist Ernie Goss, Ph.D., makes a case for an alternative to a V-shaped or U-shaped economic recovery. He suggests a swoosh made famous by an athletic shoe brand.
Read more
SBA Loosens Loan Forgiveness Rules for PPP
Companies can spend more of the funds on operating costs, take more time to rehire workers, and if repayment is required, take more time to repay.
Read more
In These ‘Unprecedented Times,’ Membership Matters
Join a conversation about how member companies are approaching getting their sales forces back on the road.
Read more
Blount Appoints New CEO
Paul Tonnesen succeeds Josh Collins, who had been CEO since 2009. Also departing from Blount is President and Chief Operating Officer David Willmott.
Read more
In Memoriam: Glen Brandt
Brandt borrowed his dad’s tractor to begin his business when he was 27. He most recently served as a consultant and a member of the Board of Directors.
Read more
Tug of War Continues Between Biofuels, Oil
The RFA marked the anniversary of President Trump’s visit to an Iowa ethanol plant by turning up the heat on the White House. Meanwhile, small refineries made an unprecedented request that would free them from their annual RFS requirements.
Read moreLeftover Dicamba OK to Use Through July (Or, Not)
The EPA submitted a response Tuesday to an emergency motion asking a court to order an end to the use of dicamba. Last week, the EPA said farmers could use the herbicide through July.
Read more
Farm Workers Hard Hit by Coronavirus
The USDA and Food and Drug Administration said the government could use the Defense Production Act to keep fruit and vegetable lines moving.
Read moreFarm Income to Dip Despite Record Government Support
The government will send a record $32.8 billion in direct payments to farmers this year, but the economic slowdown triggered by the coronavirus still will pull down farm income by 3 percent.
Read more
Quality Good, Plantings Ahead on Corn, Soybeans
USDA’s latest crop progress report shows corn plantings nearly finished, with soybeans taking another moderate step forward. Now the focus shifts more to crop quality.
Read more
Rural Mainstreet Inches Upward
The May farm equipment-sales index increased slightly. The confidence index sank.
Read moreMember Changes Name
Kodiak by Paladin Attachments has changed its name.
Read more
Kcoe Isom Offers Financial Health Webinar
The no-cost session will cover assessing your finances, managing cash flow, working with lenders, and building financial strength amid uncertainty.
Read more
Nominate a Member Executive
The Association is seeking nominees to stand for election to the Board of Directors. Nominees should serve in leadership positions and have a history of engagement in the Association and the farm equipment industry.
Read more
World Dairy Expo Cancels 2020 Event
For the first time in its 53-year history, World Dairy Expo has been cancelled.
Read more
Judge Says Animal Activists Can Secretly Record at Work
A judge handed a victory to animal-rights advocates by declaring parts of a law in violation of the right to free speech.
Read more
Cyber Attacks Rise by 156 Percent in Manufacturing
The pandemic provided new opportunities to cyber attackers, and manufacturing was hit hard.
Read moreBill Would Expand Use of PPP Funds, Extend Timeline
Legislation awaiting consideration in the Senate expands the terms of the loans from the Paycheck Protection Program and allows small businesses to spend more of the money on non-payroll costs.
Read more
KCoe Offers More Info on Forgiveness on PPP
The SBA may review any PPP loan for eligibility, accuracy of the loan amount, the borrower’s use of funds, and accuracy of the forgiveness calculation. Check out these stipulations for forgiveness.
Read more
Members With More Than One Business, Take Note
In cases in which a single employer has aggregated companies, if one company receives a PPP loan, all companies within the group are prohibited from claiming the employee retention credit.
Read more
China Pauses Ag Purchases as Tensions Escalate
China has promised “firm countermeasures” in response to a move by the White House on Friday to eliminate special treatment for Hong Kong. Those countermeasures are believed to include importing fewer commodities.
Read moreSales Fall in Deere’s Second Quarter
The loss of potentially $1 billion in net income is a microcosm of how the pandemic is impacting the agriculture supply chain and farmers.
Read more
USDA, Prosecutors Investigate Meatpackers
The president of the North Dakota Farmers Union said the industry has rarely seen such obvious market abuses by the meatpacking industry.
Read moreSurvey: Manufacturers Stay Course Amid Virus
More than one in five manufacturers adapted operations to produce personal protective equipment; 67 percent re-engineered processes to elevate health safety measures.
Read more
Nominate an Executive to Serve on the Board
Nominees should serve in leadership positions in their organizations and have demonstrated a history of engagement in Association work and the farm equipment industry.
Read more
Maximize Membership: Update Directory Listing
The printed digital directory is in production now. Update your listing to stay connected to others in the industry.
Read moreLast Call: Benchmark Survey Gets One More Week
The Association has made significant investment in this survey because members told us they value the information. And, the more companies that participate, the richer the data becomes. Please take a moment to complete it.
Read more
Farmers Show Improved Willingness to Spend
The Ag Economy Barometer suggests farmers felt less cautious about big expenses in April than they did in May. The survey overall shows subtle improvements.
Read moreIn Memoriam: Jim Hawkins
The former CEO of Weasler died in March.
Read more
ASABE Revises Front Loader Standard
The standard specifies safety requirements for the design and construction of agricultural front-end loaders to be mounted on tractors.
Read more
As Normalcy Returns, Adopt Visitor Policies
Consider implementing these protocols to protect your workforce and communities.
Read moreAg Auction Group Reports Strong Spring
Buyers are looking for well-maintained equipment. The company saw a sharp rise in sales of well-cared-for tractors that are 15 years old or older.
Read more
Business Booms at Small Meat Processors
As coronavirus outbreaks shut down or reduced production at major meat processing plants, farmers scrambled to find alternatives. As is the case with much around the coronavirus, this shift created winners and losers.
Read moreEthanol Production Jumps in May, Trails 2019
While the month-over-month gain is encouraging, it represents a decline in demand of 145 million bushels of corn compared to a year ago.
Read moreHouse Votes to Give Small Businesses Flexibility on PPP
The House on Thursday passed legislation that expands the terms of the Payroll Protection Program to allow employers to spend a greater portion on non-payroll expenses.
Read moreHelp Your Workforce Become Resilient
Leaders asking themselves how resilient their business is should also ask a more foundationally important question: How resilient are your people?
Read more
Take These Steps to Restore Operations
As we emerge from the depth of disruption, consider these steps in ramping up operations.
Read more
Expect Extension on PPP Compliance Deadline
The administration seems open to the possibility of extending the timeline to meet obligations of Payroll Protection Program, although a 24-week window is uncertain.
Read more
Farm Aid to Launch After Memorial Day
Farmers and ranchers seeking a lifeline from the Agriculture Department can sign up for a relief check starting Monday.
Read moreCNH Plant Reopens After Five-Week Closure
The plant suspended operations April 7 amid a quick case escalation in its community. It reopened with a series of new safety measures.
Read more
ASABE Offers Webinars on Braking Standards
Engineer and project lead Bruce Hawkins will lead webinars about what towed implements need brakes under the new standards. He also will answer questions about braking performance and offer a sizing overview.
Read more