Trump Calls for Additional Support for Farmers
The White House wants the USDA to move quickly in distributing a new $16 billion aid package to U.S. producers.
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Author: Kristi Ruggles
Canada Reports Sobering Unemployment Data
Employment in Canada cratered in March, wiping away more than three years of job creation in a month and underlining the economic pain the COVID-19 pandemic has delivered in North America.
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Protein Processing Plants Hit Hard by Virus
Smithfield Foods, which processes about 5 percent of U.S. pork, has closed indefinitely in response to a significant number of COVID-19 cases at the plant.
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Tips from the EPA on Disinfecting Your Plant
Check out this list of
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Capacity for Raw Steel Falls
The current week production represents a 33.6 percent decrease from the same week last year
Read moreSIMA Reschedules Next Show
The COVID-19 outbreak made the fall show difficult to plan. SIMA returns to its new fall schedule in 2022.
Read moreIn Memoriam: Floyd Steinman
Steinman is survived by his wife of 61 years–Anna Mae.
Read moreCNH to Suspend Production in Grand Island
Because of COVID-19, the Case New Holland manufacturing facility in Grand Island, Neb. will temporarily suspend operations after Thursday. General
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Borrowers, Bankers Hit Glitches in SBA Loan Kickoff
By Monday morning, the SBA had approved more than 100,000 loans totaling $30 billion in spite of glitches in the application process. Find a link to the loan application here.
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Shift in Consumer Dining Habits Hits Farmers
The COVID-19 pandemic has left restaurants shuttered and created a frenetic pace at grocery stores, which has led to a shift in the food supply chain that stands to reshape agriculture in the short-term.
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Commentary: Consider This an Opportunity to Reset
A crisis offers an opportunity to reset the business and to raise the internal sense of urgency to make changes. Consider these strategies during this drama
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Industry Moves
Find out what’s been happening with Kubota, CNH Industrial, Raven Industries, and DOT Technology.
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USMCA Delayed, Tariff Relief Anticipated
Lawmakers and business groups have ramped up pressure on the administration to grant tariff relief to companies reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. The virus also has forced a delay in the start date for USMCA.
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Dealer News
Find out who has acquired whom in deals that include a New Holland dealership in Alberta and Deere operations in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Read moreBraking Standard to Affect Towed Implement Makers
A years-long industry project to develop five new braking standards for agriculture equipment is complete. ASABE also recently published a revised standard for lighting and marketing requirements on field equipment.
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Pandemic Sends Ag Economy Barometer Downward
The survey by Purdue University and the CME Group captured an anxiety among farmers that is indicative of the national mood.
Read moreUSMCA Delayed, Tariff Relief Likely
In response to the all-consuming demands of COVID-19, the administration is considering suspending tariffs, with exceptions. The implementation of USMCA also is on hold.
Read moreEmerge Stronger: Take Note of Innovations During Crisis
Ask these questions to capture best practices–and identify what can be eliminated–when the new normal emerges.
Read moreEmployee Election Form for COVID-19 Leave
Use this sample of an election form for employees seeking leave.
Read moreStimulus Offers Loans with Option for Forgiveness
The $2.2 trillion response deal allows small businesses to acquire grants and loans up to 125 percent of their payroll with the opportunity for loan forgiveness for businesses that can quickly ramp up or sustain their workforces.
Read moreDOL Clarifies Questions on New Families First Act
Clarifications issued Friday help employers make sense of the intermittent leave policy and how FFCRA works for businesses affected by closures or stay-at-home orders.
Read moreFarm Equipment Makers, Related Industries React
Deere, AGCO, CNHI, and Alamo have reacted to the pandemic by temporarily shuttering overseas operations. Domestically, there is news of layoffs and plant closures resulting from employees testing positive.
Read moreIn This Fast-Moving Story, Online Resources Rule
The Association is building a web resource to serve as the go-to resource for manufacturers navigating the implications of COVID-19.
Read moreMember-Relevant Highlights of $2 Trillion Stimulus
New stimulus bill provides billions in loans to small businesses that can be converted to grants that will not require repayment.
Read moreSee a Webinar on HR Legal Issues Related to covid-19
Webinar invitation: Ask an attorney your HR legal questions around covid-19.
Read moreDeere Suspends Operations in Brazil
Deere & Co. is halting production in agricultural behemoth Brazil as the coronavirus outbreak erodes sales for the world’s biggest
Read moreCEO for CNH Industrial Resigns
The Board of CNH Industrial N.V. reached a unanimous decision and accepted the resignation of Hubertus Mühlhäuser as chief executive
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HR Resources from KCoe
Member company K-Coe Isom has compiled a toolkit with valuable information related to payroll and related employment questions.
Read moreEmployment Law Questions Emerge Around COVID-19
Association partner Nilan Johnson Lewis have drafted a series of responses to questions facing employers related to the coronavirus.
Read moreBill Calls for Paid Leave at Small Companies
The bill requires employers of small companies to pay up to $511 a day for sick leave and up to $200 a day for family leave.
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At Times Like This, Your Membership Matters Even More
A trade association can shine at a moment like this by seeking answers to your collective questions and serving as a clearinghouse for information.
Tell us what you need.
Association Looks Ahead After Summit Cancellation
The global outbreak that ultimately caused the cancellation of this meeting is expected to continue to disrupt supply chains and the workforce. The Association is committed to providing members information that helps them navigate these unprecedented circumstances.
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Carrie Gunnerson to Retire from Art’s Way
Carrie Gunnerson, CEO of Art’s Way Manufacturing, will retire in the third quarter of the 2020 fiscal year.
Read moreUSMCA: Implementation Begins
USMCA, described by Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer as the “gold standard by which all future trade agreements will be judged,” has been ratified by the final partner.
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Trade with China: Leaders Stay Focused on Phase One
Trade leaders for U.S. and China stay focused on deal amid global pandemic.
Read moreJob Growth Remains Strong in February
U.S. hiring topped expectations in February. Unemployment ticked down, and average hourly earnings rose.
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Bayer Nears Settlement Reportedly Worth $10 Billion
Bayer has agreed on draft settlement terms with a half-dozen law firms representing tens of thousands of plaintiffs alleging that Roundup weedkiller causes cancer. Bayer has said that protecting itself from future litigation is a condition of any settlement.
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Farmers Await White House Response on Biofuels Ruling
President Trump hopes to meet this week with the chiefs at USDA and EPA to decide whether to appeal a court decision that represented a victory for biofuel advocates.
Read moreDealer News
New Holland dealer Delta Power Equipment soon will take possession of a dealer with two Ontario locations.
Read moreRocky Mountain Reports Earnings for Q4, Year
Rocky Mountain Dealerships last week released financial results for its quarter and year. President and CEO Garrett Ganden said that “by all measures, 2019 was a tough year.”
Read moreTractor Makers in India Report Strong Month
Two India-based tractor makers reported gains in sales in February compared to 2019.
Read moreCyber Scams Evolve, Pose New Risks
Today’s cyber scams are sophisticated frauds that cost American businesses and individuals billions of dollars a year, federal investigators say. Estimated losses have soared.
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Employers: Use New W-4 Form
The new W-4 form is required for employees who receive their first check in 2020 and employees who want to change something on their Form W-4.
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FAA Rule Would Limit Potential of Drones on Farms
The FAA is proposing that drone users must connect to the internet and broadcast a signal to alert others. The rule poses problems for farmers.
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Plan to Widen Mississippi River is Good News for Ag
A plan to deepen the Mississippi River in the southern U.S. is akin to “bringing the ocean 50 miles closer to the farmer.”
Read moreU.S. Trade Deficit Narrows
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in January as exports fell but imports fell more. The politically sensitive trade gap with China widened.
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Rural Mainstreet Wobbles Above Growth Neutral
The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index declined in February but remained above growth neutral. The farm equipment sales index increased but did not yet break into positive territory.
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Canceled: Supply Summit 2020
We look ahead to Orlando in October, where will we reconnect, learn, and grow your business.
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Regular Members Should Receive Survey Email Today
Regular members of the Association should have received an email today connecting you to a benchmark survey. This confidential survey is a benefit of membership that offers insights into plant profitability, productivity, and financial management. The deadline to complete the survey is April 17.
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Optimism, Willingness to Invest, Build Among Farmers
The Farm Capital Investment Index, which assesses farmers’ willingness to invest in equipment and other capital, continues to strengthen.
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