Revised Water Rule Pulls Back from Overreach
The final rule from the EPA and the Army Corps removes millions of miles of streams and roughly half the country’s wetlands from protection under the Clean Water Act.
Read moreAuthor: Kristi Ruggles
Court Issues ‘Welcome Decision’ for Corn Growers
An appeals court ruling that the EPA did not properly grant exemptions to three small oil refineries is good news for corn growers and biofuels advocates.
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Tom Taylor Appointed VP in Newly Formed Ag Group
Taylor has been named vice president of specialty products in Alamo Group’s agriculture division.
Read moreAGI Buys Outstanding Shares in Affinity
AGI plans to level up on its Suretrack farm management software platform with a deal for another Canadian player in the same business.
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GKN Appoints New CFO
GKN Wheels and Structures has appointed Abdul Butt as its chief executive officer. He assumed responsibilities immediately.
Read moreLoftness is Now Employee-Owned
Member company Loftness Specialized Equipment has embarked upon an employee stock ownership plan. Since owner Marv Nelson’s death, ownership has been split among family members.
Read moreAGCO Expands in France
AGCO will invest $44.4 million to develop an “industry 4.0 site” in Beauvais, France.
Read moreThe Envelope Please … Something Extra This Issue
One of the newsletters that is arriving in your plant today has a separate card in the envelope. Affixed to that card is a 2020 metal plate to update your Association membership plaque.
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ASABE Revises Standard, Members Offered Safety Info
ASABE has revised its standard for operating mobile liquid and slurry tanks. Association members have no-cost access to an extensive compilation of safety standards as a benefit of membership.
Read moreU.S. Trade Deal with UK on Fast Track
The United States wants to conclude a trade deal with the United Kingdom this year.
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Supply Summit 2020: Registration Open
The Association’s spring meeting is 10 weeks away, and registration is at its lowest rate for one more week! Join us for this extraordinary networking opportunity and hear from pros, including an election year analysis, navigating generational shifts in a family business, and the start of a five-part series on operational excellence.
Read moreDrilling Into Details: Breakout Session Topics
In addition to the general sessions introduced in this issue, attendees will have options for breakout sessions. Check out these five discussion categories.
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Law Would Enable More Businesses to Offer 401(k)s
A piece of retirement legislation awaiting a Senate vote represents the largest change to retirement plan regulations in more than a decade.
Read moreDeere Discusses Plan to Boost Profits
Deere & Co. last week said it will cut costs and ramp up investment in data-driven agriculture technology and its services business to make itself more profitable. The company is also reviewing its overseas footprint in markets that have peaked or over-invested.
Read moreTrade Progress: China Deal, USMCA Advance
President Trump welcomes Chinese officials to D.C. this week to sign the recently negotiated phase-one trade deal with China. Final approval is expected as early as this week on USMCA.
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Scholarships Applications Open: Build Your Local Workforce
Educators may apply beginning Feb. 1 for $2,000 scholarships aimed at career prep for farm equipment manufacturing. Reach out to your local schools to build partnerships.
Read moreValmont Invests in Asia, Acquires AgSense
Valmont Industries has signed an agreement with Kazakhstan to invest in a new plant to produce irrigation systems in the Asian nation. The company also has agreed to acquire the remaining 49 percent stake in AgSense.
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Daugherty Sells to Ag Express
Ag Express Electronics in Des Moines has acquired the assets of the manufacturing and distribution divisions of The Daugherty Companies, an Association member. CEO David Daugherty has retired.
Read moreAg Economy Affects Buhler
Revenue at Buhler Industries decreased in 2019. The company expects to achieve higher gross margins in 2020.
Read moreLessiter Media Acquires Cover Crop Innovators
Lessiter Media Inc. has acquired Cover Crop Innovators from long-time farmer and consultant Steve Groff.
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Meeting Notice: Rotary Cutter Council
The council’s annual spring meeting will again be help in conjunction with the farm show in Louisville.
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Fears of African Swine Fever Prompt Global Response
Hunting dogs are being trained to sniff out dead wild boar. Drivers are being urged to not toss ham-sandwich scraps out of their car windows. Vaccine centers are being launched. And plans are underway to contain outbreaks.
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New Holland to Partner with Hemp Group
The alliance aims to solve one of the hemp industry’s biggest challenges: the absence of commercial scale harvesting and decortication equipment.
Read moreMahindra’s Tractor Exports Drop 13 Percent
Both sales and exports saw a double-digit decline in December-to-December comparisons.
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Mozilla Firefox Users: It’s Time to Upgrade
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is urging users of the Mozilla Firefox web browser to install an update.
Read moreDealer News
Check out who’s building, who’s expanding, who just landed an exclusive distribution deal, and who’s moving into a new professional role.
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Farmers End 2019 More Willing to Invest
The Ag Economy Barometer drifted sideways in December, but the Farm Capital Investment Index concluded 2019 at the highest index value for the year.
Read moreRural Mainstreet Index Shows Growth
The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) for December remained above growth neutral for the fourth consecutive month.
Read moreASABE, CSA Collaborate on Standard for Front Loader
ASABE and the CSA Group have initiated a project to revise standards related to front-end loaders.
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Dairy Industry Struggles
The state of Wisconsin lost 10 percent of its dairy farms in 2019. In related news, a second major milk producer filed for bankruptcy recently.
Read moreMileage Rate Drops by Half-Cent
The standard mileage rate for business travel in 2020 is 57.5 cents per mile.
Read moreMember Dues 100 Percent Deductible
For the Association’s most recently concluded fiscal year, the cost of membership dues are completely deductible.
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Pork Council: Bacon Does Not Come from Plants
Impossible Foods has unveiled its Impossible Pork. The pig sector said this: What’s impossible is to make pork from plants.
Read moreIowa, Illinois Surpass Billion-Dollar Mark in Trade Aid
USDA’s Farm Service Agency has paid out nearly $11 billion in 2019, with Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota receiving the most.
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Contact Your Reps, Time’s Up on USMCA
Farmers get their jobs done. Manufacturers get their jobs done. It’s up to lawmakers to get their jobs done and ratify USMCA.
Read moreIndustry Groups Celebrate Agreement on USMCA
The USMCA is expected to increase annual U.S. agricultural and food exports by $2.2 billion. Gains are expected primarily in dairy, poultry, wheat, and alcohol exports.
Read moreDone Deal: U.S., China Reach Phase One Agreement
A phase-one trade deal stipulates China buy $200 billion worth of U.S. goods and services, which includes $40 to $50 billion worth of agriculture products.
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Mini Trade Deal with Japan Good for U.S. Meat
Japan will lower or eliminate tariffs on $7.2 billion worth of U.S. farm exports starting Jan. 1. The president of the U.S. Meat Export Federation called it “one of the biggest developments in the history of red meat trade.”
Read moreVermeer Corp. Buys Schuler Manufacturing
Vermeer Corporation has purchased Schuler Manufacturing, a family-owned manufacturer of feeding solutions based in Griswold, Iowa. Products will initially be sold under the Schuler brand and transition to Vermeer as the two companies integrate.
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Jensen Joins Lessiter Media
Nick Jensen has joined Lessiter Media as director of business development, partnerships and innovation.
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Bush Hog Supports Breast Cancer Awareness
Bush Hog recently donated $10,000 to Joy to Life Foundation in Alabama from proceeds it raised by selling tickets to enter a drawing for a pink Bush Hog ZT.
Read moreDinamica Generale Acquires Zeltex
Dinamica Generale U.S. has acquired Zeltex, Inc.
Read moreUSDA Considers Third Round of Trade Aid
USDA will decide in January whether to issue the third tranche of payments under the 2019 Market Facilitation Program. A trade deal with China will not necessarily stop USDA from releasing the money.
Read moreUSDA, FCC Focus on Internet Capacity for Rural America
The FCC will establish a $9 billion fund to deploy advanced wireless services to rural America and designate $1 billion for precision ag needs. The USDA continues to invest in broadband infrastructure.
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Kubota Reports Rise in Revenue
Kubota’s revenues increased by 7.1 percent for the first 9 months of 2019 compared to the same period last year. The greatest gains came from domestic sales for the Japan-based company.
Read moreRaven Releases Q3 Earnings
Net sales for Raven Industries were down by 4.1 percent. Operating income decreased by 16.7 percent, primarily driven by increased spending on research and development and selling activities.
Read moreMahindra’s Sales Decline
Mahindra sales fell by 19 percent in November. Exports for the month shrunk 21.7 percent.
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S3 Wireform Names Outside Sales Rep
Megz Reynolds has been named as an outside sales representative for S3 Wireform, Inc.
Read moreCanada’s Farm Progress Show Rebrands
The Canadian farm show formerly known as Farm Progress has been renamed Canada’s Farm Show. Its focus in 2020 will shift from a consumer trade show to an industry networking and business event.
Read moreFarming Remains a Family Business
Family farms represented 98 percent of U.S. farms and 88 percent of production in 2018, according to a USDA report. The report also said most farmers earn more than the U.S. median income.
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