Study Finds Gains, Losses in $15 Minimum Wage
The pay raise would mean higher wages for 27 million people but also lead to job loss, higher prices, and a widening federal deficit.
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Texas Farmers, Ranchers, Reel from Winter Blast
Early estimates put crop losses at $300 million. Said one expert: “Peach trees that had started budding, those buds are going to be toast at 15 degrees.”
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Food Inflation: Production Prices Rising
After a year of disruption throughout the food supply system, farmers, especially those who are raising cattle, hogs and poultry, are getting squeezed by the highest corn and soybean prices in seven years.
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Rural Mainstreet: Outlook Soars to Highest in Decade
Data from researchers who assess the economy in rural communities reported signs of strength in farm country.
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Summit: Hear from Pros on Life Post-COVID, Farmer Attitudes, Ag Economy
Based on a preliminary conversation with officers of the board, if the Association can host an effective meeting in the context of compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, we will be in Kansas City from April 7 to 9.
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Farmers’ Willingness to Buy Remains Strong
The index that measures farmers’ willingness to buy equipment held strong at its record high of 93. The percentage of farmers expecting to increase their machinery purchases also held at its highest level of the last year.
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OSHA: Cover Cost of Vaccine, Do Not Distinguish Vaccinated
The guidelines also suggest employers consider protections and reasonable accommodations for workers at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19,
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Machine Guarding Checklist
Member companies have password-protected access to a 66-page document created by Sentry that offers guidance on creating a product safety process. Catch a glimpse of what’s in the manual here.
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Tips for Post-COVID Business Travel
As travel returns, which it no doubt will, it will bring with it a whole host of new complexities around keeping costs and risks low. Companies will need to be prepared with a sound strategy and technology to support it in order to stay on top of the competition.
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Human Connection: How Work Gets Done
As we march ahead on plans for Supply Summit 2021 in Kansas City, (Registration is open!) we take a look at related news and advice on this virtual business world.
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Suppliers Struggle, Steel Prices Soar Amid Rebound
“We can sell everything we have,” said Brad Serlin, president of United Scrap Metal Inc. “Steel mills that were out of the market all of a sudden are doing big orders.”
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Trucking Market Expected to Expand Capacity in 2021
Freight volumes have expanded beyond pre-pandemic levels. The trucking workforce, meanwhile, has contracted. Still, companies are investing in more trucks and plan to expand.
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Requiring Vaccines: Employers Can But Likely Won’t
Employers appear not to be mandating vaccines. Some are offering financial incentives to encourage it.
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Futurist: Broadband, Robots to Transform Ag
“Whether it’s Bezos or Musk or Loon, somebody will crack the code and we will have connectivity on the farm to connect everything together, from grain bins to soil moisture probes,” Robert Saik said.
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New Stimulus Package Expands Benefits, Eligibility
A business is eligible for the second round of PPP if they do not have more than 300 employees and can show a more than 25 percent reduction in gross receipts for any quarter in 2020.
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Circumstances Are Uncertain, the Association is Not
We will create opportunities for substantive, productive conversations with industry experts and industry peers. We promise you ideas, connections, and solutions.
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Ag Barometer: Farmers Ready to Buy
Farmers feel good about their financial positions, according to the Ag Economy Barometer. The Farm Capital Investment Index, which measures producers’ willingness to make big purchases, hit a record high in December.
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Orders Underway for Fully Electric, Driverless Tractor
The tractor, which has a starting price of $50,000, can operate with or without a driver. It begins to ship this fall.
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Ag Bets on Carbon as New Cash Crop
Farmers who participate in the carbon credit programs have generally received between $7 and $40 per acre. An Iowa farmer who received a $75,000 check in November discusses the benefits.
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Soaring Metal Prices Signal Recovery, Drive Up Member Costs
Tim Burenga, a member of the Association’s Board of Directors and executive at Worksaver, says the industry is seeing a “perfect storm” in material prices.
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Fed Plan Unveiled Monday Includes More PPP
The first of the two-part proposal includes funds for another round of the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses, as well as money for the unemployed, schools, and vaccine distribution.
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Farmers Plant More Wheat Amid Price Rally
U.S. farmers expanded seedings of winter wheat this fall for the first time in eight years.
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Commentary: Stop the Bleeding in Staff Turnover
You can find out what turnover costs your company using a no-cost online calculator. If the amount alarms you, slow the churn by understanding the causes–not the symptoms–of resignations.
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Fraudsters Make Cash Hauls with SBA COVID Programs
One family allegedly created 72 phony companies to collect $7.2 million through an SBA program. A person posing as Donald Trump won a $5,000 grant.
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Shipping Containers for Ag in Short Supply
U.S. retail demand for imports has pushed container freight rates from China to the U.S. West Coast beyond $4,000 per container. Meanwhile, the average price to ship goods by container from Los Angeles to Shanghai has been $518. That’s creating a pinch for farm exports.
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IRS Makes Consequential Change to PPP Rules
The IRS is disallowing tax deductions on PPP expenses if a company “reasonably believes” that a loan may be forgiven.
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Equipment Trend Lags Gender Trend in Ag
More than a third of farmers are women. They use equipment designed for a male frame, which increases the likelihood of in jury and slows their productivity. Businesses are surfacing to meet their unique needs.
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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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