Millions of Job Seekers, Millions of Jobs, Few Connections
Workers and jobs are mismatched because people have moved or opted for a new direction, and the openings often don’t line up with job seekers’ skills or ZIP codes.
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Author: Kristi Ruggles
Canada Loosens Border Restrictions with U.S.
More than a year after Canadian authorities closed the 5,500-mile U.S. border to most travelers, it plans to allow vaccinated Americans to enter for recreational reasons beginning Aug. 9.
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Convention in OKC: Sales, Solve Problems, Learn
Since the Summit in April, we’ve turned a corner in the pandemic and the industry. Business is booming, and with the boom comes questions around supply chain, labor, product pricing, and more. Your answers await at fall convention.
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Spouses/Guests to Visit OKC Bombing Memorial
The memorial and museum honors the victims, survivors, first responders, and others who were affected by the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
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States Debate Marijuana in Context of Work Comp
Courts and lawmakers are facing questions about whether workers’ comp should cover medical marijuana and whether a positive test for marijuana changes an employers’ responsibility to pay for workplace injuries.
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Biden to Sign Right-to-Repair Executive Order
A right-to-repair advocate called the move “great news for everyone concerned with repair monopolies.” Dealer groups have pushed back against legislation on the same issue.
Read moreDid You Get Your Summer Issue?
See thoughts from industry peers on how they are navigating supply chain disruptions and the labor shortage in the latest issue of Ag Innovator magazine.
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Growth in Ag Equipment Sales Hits High Mark
The farm equipment sales index in June logged the greatest growth it has shown since 2012. This marked the seventh consecutive month of growth.
Read moreCNH Industrial to Acquire Raven Industries
The acquisition, which closes in the fourth quarter, builds upon a long partnership.
Read moreAgrisolutions Acquires Andersen
A president in Agrisolutions’ global landscape said the acquisition “will strengthen our market position in Europe, especially with leading OEMs.”
Read moreIn Memoriam: Donny Jones
Jones held several patents for designs in the drilling bit industry. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, sailing, raising bird dogs, barbecue cook-offs, the America’s Cup, and NASCAR.
Read moreTalk to a Pro About Succession, M&A
The Association has formed a partnership with KCoe Isom to offer members no-cost, confidential consultations on succession planning and mergers and acquisitions.
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Farmers’ Reluctance to Build Weakens Investment Index
About a third of farmers expect farm input prices to rise by 8 percent or more in the upcoming year, which would be more than four times the average rise over the last 10 years.
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Firms That Pay Cyber Ransoms Get Hit Again
Eighty percent of businesses that pay ransoms in cyber attacks experience a subsequent attack, often by the same perpetrator.
Read moreDealer News
See who’s building, buying, and retiring.
Read moreHappy Anniversary, and Thanks for Joining
We publish these company names each month as a reminder that the Association continues to build upon its strength as an organization with fresh ideas and long-standing wisdom.
Read moreMembers Can Sell, Buy Surplus Supplies
Unverferth has more than 1,000 bolts and nuts for sale to other member companies. They are selling the supplies through the Association as part of a member benefit.
Read morePöttinger Expands in Austria
On the same day that operations began, the company broke ground on a second phase of expansion at the site.
Read moreBrandt Plans to Add 1,000-Plus Jobs
The Brandt Group of Companies plans to hire more than 1,000 new employees this year with the biggest expansions in Hudson, Ill., and two locations in Saskatchewan.
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Louisiana Passes Law on Machinery Repurchases
Legislators in Louisiana recently passed changes to a law that relates to the repurchase of certain machinery by a wholesaler or manufacturer.
Read moreAgrisolutions Acquires Andersen Steel
A president in Agrisolutions’ global landscape said the acquisition “will strengthen our market position in Europe, especially with leading OEMs.”
Read moreIn Memoriam: Donny Jones
Donald Wayne “Donny” Jones, who spent 43 years in the farm equipment industry and served six on our Association’s Board
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112 Percent Increase in Open Jobs
Some 1.4 million people were laid off or furloughed from February to April 2020. But as of May, manufacturers were trying to fill 851,000 positions—a record high for the industry and a 112 percent increase since last February.
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Commodity, Consumer Prices May Prompt Fed Rate Hike
The world hasn’t seen such across-the-board commodity-price increases since the beginning of the global financial crisis, and before that, the 1970s. Corn, soybeans and wheat have jumped to their highest levels in eight years.
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Shipping Costs Create Pricing Problems in Every Sector
The surge is the cost of freight is threatening to boost the price of products across virtually all sectors. One analyst suggests that the longer these extreme shipping freight rates last, the more companies will take measures to shorten their supply chains.
Read moreSpread of Virus Further Jams Freight in China
Amid a surge in COVID cases, ports issued notices suspending vessels from entering ports without reservations. The ports are only accepting bookings for export-bound containers.
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Half of States Stop Unemployment Boost
The U.S. Chamber has argued that one in four recipients of unemployment compensation are making more than they earned while working.
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Tractor/Combine Sales
Sales of big machines saw big growth in May.
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Equipment Dealer Cheats Lenders, Manufacturers
In total, three banks, the SBA and manufacturer financing divisions lost $6.4 million because of the fraud.
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White House to Launch Supply Chain Task Force
The task force will address the bottlenecks in the agriculture, construction, transportation and semiconductor sectors.
Read moreWhite House Pitches 15 Percent Minimum Corporate Tax
It is a response to situations in which companies have avoided paying federal income taxes despite turning a profit.
Read moreIt’s Back: Obama-Era Clean Water Rule Revisited
In response, AFBF President Zippy Duvall said that “clean water and clarity are paramount, and that is why farmers shouldn’t need a team of lawyers and consultants to farm.”
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Association Webinar: Tax Credits for Manufacturers
Participants will learn about the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit and Employee Retention Credit. The webinar is 9 to 10 a.m. Central on Tuesday, June 29. Go to FarmEquip.org/taxwebinar.
Read moreHow Do You Take Your News?
In the spirit of helping you manage the pile of papers on your desk and the number of emails in your inbox, the Association invites you to tell us how you prefer to receive this publication.
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Dealer News
A Florida dealership has expanded, and a former Deere exec joins All States Ag Parts.
Read moreHappy Anniversary, and Thanks for Joining
Every company strengthens our presence in the industry and enriches our opportunities to learn from one another, influence policy, and solve problems together. Your membership matters.
Read moreManufacturers Not Part of OSHA’s New COVID Order
Initial communication on the order suggested it would apply to all industries, but White House officials said the science didn’t call for that.
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Employers Step Up Vaccine Push
Employers are becoming more assertive in their quest to get employees vaccinated, emboldened by guidance from the EEOC.
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JBS Paid $11 Million Ransom in Cyberattack
JBS reports that the hackers do not appear to have gotten away with company, customer or employee data. The White House has linked Russia to the episode.
Read moreStellar Industries Buys MD Products and Solutions
Employee-owned Stellar Industries has acquired MD Products and Solutions, which makes ag and utility trailer products.
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Leverage Government Support to Strengthen Workforce
Pandemic stimulus programs offer a few great opportunities to recruit and retain employees in this labor market, and they are not all based on demonstrating hardship.
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Stay Ahead of Google Updates
and In Front of Customers
How well your website ranks on Google’s search engine results pages will now be impacted by how well your website performs for users.
Read moreRaven Enters Agreement with AGCO, Others
Raven’s Dominic Walkes said the “expertise of each organization will undoubtedly provide industry changing solutions for some of agriculture’s greatest challenges.”
Read moreVaderstad Acquires AGCO-AMITY JV
The acquisition offers the Väderstad Group access to distribution outlets in the U.S., as well as a U.S. manufacturing facility and the “benefit from the heritage and strong reputation of the Wil-Rich, Wishek and Concord brands.”
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Farmers Receive 14 Cents of Each Dollar Spent on Food
A decade ago, farmers received 17.6 cents of each dollar spent on food by Americans.
Read moreDeere Sees Upswing in Sales of Larger Models
The sale of farm and turf equipment climbed 8 percent in the second quarter, Deere said, and the company expects sales for the year to climb by up to 15 percent.
Read moreNew Alamo CEO Joins Company’s Board
Jeffery Leonard succeeded Ron Robinson on Monday and was appointed to the board of directors on the same day.
Read moreRecommend a Member Exec for Board of Directors
Nominees should serve in leadership positions in their companies and have a history of engagement in Association work and the farm equipment industry.
Read moreIn Memoriam: Ward McConnell
The elder McConnell’s tenure at Art’s Way is a single chapter in a career narrative like no other.
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U.S. Initiates Trade Dispute Against Canadian Dairy
The U.S. alleges that Canada is not upholding the terms of USMCA and using a system to set aside a s hare of the dairy market exclusively for Canadian processors.
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