WSJ Commentary: What Biden May Mean for Business
What might a new administration mean to trade, taxes, and COVID-19?
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‘Help Me Help You’ Remember That Line?
We are creating new ways to be of value to the shortline industry and our members, and we are asking you to help define our direction. Please take five minutes to complete a membership survey.
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How Did Candidates Influential to Ag Fare?
Fifteen-term incumbent Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) did not prevail in his race last week, which means the House Ag Committee will no longer be represented by someone hailing from one of the more agriculturally-focused districts in the country.
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Farmers’ Willingness to Invest in Capital Hits Record
Fewer farmers report a reluctance to spend on equipment and more report a likelihood that they will.
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Government Swamped with PPP Fraud Claims
The SBA found that tens of thousands of ineligible companies received PPP loans. The FBI has opened several hundred investigations that involve hundreds of millions of dollars.
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Ag Barometer Rises to Record High – Improving Financial Conditions
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose 27 points to a reading of 183 in October and set an all-time high for
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Rocky Mountain Dealerships Move to Go Private
CALGARY, ALBERTA, November 2, 2020 — Rocky Mountain Dealerships Inc. (“RME” or the “Company”) (TSX: RME) and 2223890 Alberta Ltd.
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EMDA Elects Leadership
Newly elected officers and directors of the Equipment Marketing & Distribution Association (EMDA) for 2020-2021 are: Kent Zimmerman, John Day
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COVID Claims Commodity Classic 2021 In-Person Event
In-Person 2021 Event Will Not Take Place Due to COVID-19 Restrictions ST. LOUIS, MO (October 30, 2020)— Commodity Classic has
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Alamo Group Announces 2020 Third Quarter Results
SEGUIN, Texas, Oct. 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE: ALG) today reported results for the third quarter ended
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PPP Loan Forgiveness: A Q&A
The Small Business Administration in August started accepting applications to have Paycheck Protection Program loans forgiven. Here are some things to know.
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Poor Pinot: Wildfires Affect Grapes
Smoke damage to the grapes may make them worthless for wine. Ash has coated fruits and vegetables. Worker health also is at risk.
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Success of Tariffs an Unanswered Question
President Trump’s trade war against China did not reverse a U.S. decline in manufacturing, economic data show. Administration officials point out nonetheless that the tariffs have succeeded in forcing China to agree to a phase one trade deal.
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‘Nuclear’ Verdicts Rise in Trucking Lawsuits
Nick Saeger, associate vice president for pricing and underwriting at Sentry Insurance, said “social inflation” is contributing to the growth of these high-
dollar awards as plaintiffs’ attorneys seek to play on the jurors’ emotions to drive the verdict, regardless of facts.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Startup Aiming to be Amazon for Ag Meets Resistance
FBN is an online marketplace for agricultural supplies positioning itself as an alternative that allows farmers to compare costs, negotiate prices, and gain control of expenses. Ag giants are resisting.
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Employers Hesitate to Adopt Payroll Tax Deferral
Beginning this month, employers can stop withholding part of employees’ share of Social Security taxes. The IRS will recoup the funds from employee paychecks in the first four months of 2021.
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Watchdog Group Seeks Names of PPP Recipients at $25K Level
The SBA contends that disclosing the names of loan recipients could violate their privacy because the loans are scaled to the size of a business’s payroll. But advocates for disclosure say it is important to gauge the program’s effectiveness.
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Farmers’ Willingness to Buy Trends Toward Positive
The barometer and its two sub-indices posted their most positive readings since February, when record highs were established and before the pandemic began. The Farm Capital Investment Index improved by five points.
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Canada Faces Shortage of Cross-Border Drivers
An executive for one fleet describes it this way: “The situation in the states is so bad that people with the qualifications that we require don’t want to go to there. They want to work in Canada only.”
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Farmers Prioritize Buying Equipment After Debt, Inputs
If farmers receive a fresh round of assistance this year, they will prioritize paying down debt. Competing for the funds after debt are equipment purchases and inputs.
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U.S. to Reimpose Aluminum Tariffs in Canada
The White House said certain types of aluminum were surging into the U.S. and depressing the industry. The administration argued that a depressed U.S. aluminum industry threatens national security and imposed a 10-percent tariff.
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Farmers Share Thoughts on Mood to Buy, Info Sources
In this most unusual year, when farmers cannot kick the tires at farm shows, they are defining their preferences for getting business information.
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Financial Outlook Troubling for Farmers
The Trump administration is expected to distribute a record $33 billion in payments to farmers this year. The funds would push government payments to 36 percent of farm income but still be too little to keep some farmers afloat.
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Grain Storage Looks Complicated This Year
USDA estimates suggest that storage capacity will be the second tightest since 1988 and only slightly below the record set in 2016, when supplies filled 101.7 percent of the nation’s grain bins.
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Farmer Bankruptcies Rise
About 580 farmers filed for bankruptcy protection during the 12 months ending in June 30. That was 8 percent more than the previous year.
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Lifestyle Changes Create Boon for Tractor Supply
Tractor Supply saw sales grow by 35 percent in the quarter ended June 27. Its net income jumped 54.5 percent.The company saw a 14 percent year-over-year increase in new customers last quarter.
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Nearly Four in 10 Acres is Part of 2,000-Plus-Acre Farm
In 1980, there were about 250,000 dairy farms in the country. Today, there are 30,000. That is among dramatic shifts in farm size over the past four decades.
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Hog Farmers Take Big Financial Hit in Pandemic
Hog farmers are seeking congressional action to keep the industry afloat amid the “largest economic hit” it has seen in 30 years.
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COVID-19 Disrupts Freight, Shifts Driver Demand
As the coronavirus pandemic took hold, it disrupted freight demand, forcing some carriers to furlough drivers while others were quick to hire those drivers as a way to swiftly onboard experienced commercial vehicle operators.
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Members’ Benchmark Data Arrives This Week
Profit leaders who took the survey gained their edge by better controlling operating expenses. Cost control more significantly influenced the bottom line than gross profits.
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Farmers More Inclined to Invest in Capital
Farmers’ perspective regarding whether or not now is a good time to make large investments in their farming operation improved markedly over the last two months.
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Three Farm Belt States Get Quarter of Relief Money
Iowa, Nebraska and Wisconsin have collected one-fourth of USDA’s corona-virus relief payments. California has the largest average payment.
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Temperatures Rise – OSHA Discusses Worker Safety
New and temporary workers are most at risk to the hazards of excessive heat. OSHA offers suggestions on drafting a heat illness prevention plan.
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Names of Recipients of PPP Loans Will Be Released Thursday
Disclosures will include names of recipients who received loans worth >$150K, addresses, NAICS codes, ZIP codes, and more
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Farm Journal Stages Virtual Competitor to Farm Progress
The show promises sponsors a 125 percent return on their investment by the end of 2020 and a 200 percent return by June 30 of next year.
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Manufacturers Move Away from China Supply Chain
One third of companies with global supply chains have moved–or soon will move–their sourcing and manufacturing activities out of China.
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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.
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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,”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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