Alert Regarding Paycheck Protection Program
Starting this Friday, April 3, 2020, small businesses and sole proprietors can apply for a loan through the Paycheck Protection
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Stimulus 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 moreEssential Business? Guidance in a Stay-At-Home Order
CISA GUIDANCE On March 23, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued “Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce: Ensuring
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Member-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.
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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.
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U.S. Moves Tax Deadline to July 15
In these unprecedented circumstances, the federal government wants you to focus on your business not your tax return.
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Bill 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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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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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.”
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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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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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USDA Predicts Better 2020 for Ag, More Aid Possible
In spite of challenges such as the coronavirus and competition from Brazil, the USDA’s chief economist sees “more hopeful signs” for farmers.
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Myers Spring Expansion
Myers Spring last week welcomed members of its community and the shortline industry to celebrate the opening of a new
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Truckload Market Changes May Lift LTL Market
A YRC executive says a ripple in the massive truckload market can create a tidal wave in the less-than-truckload market, and such a wave may be surging.
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Virus Puts Pressure on Farm Equipment Supply Chain
Executives say they are taking measures that include tying up sources outside China and booking air freight to fly in parts and components from China. One said its company is paying 40 percent more to domestic vendors for components that used to come from China.
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Farmers Join Forces for Responsible Climate Policy
Farm and ranch groups representing millions of U.S. producers are launching a coalition committed to environmental and economic sustainability.
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Tell a Teacher: Apply for Funds to Train Equipment Builders
Educators may now apply for scholarships that will prepare them to train students for careers in farm equipment manufacturing. They have until Feb. 29. Find the link to apply here.
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Supply Summit: Walk, Run, Crawl, Shoot, Golf, Network!
Each Summit comes together in partnership with the Supplier Board of Governors, who host the networking opportunities and think creatively about new ways to engage. Here’s what’s in store in Albuquerque.
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Bayer, BASF to Appeal $265 Million Dicamba Verdict
A jury ruled last week that the makers of dicamba herbicides should pay $250 million in punitive damages atop a $15 million compensatory damages ruling.
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ASF Vaccine Shows Promise, Availability Seems Distant
U.S. officials have developed a 100-percent effective vaccine against African swine fever, but it likely will not be available for commercial use for years.
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Jury Awards $5 Million to Widow in Tractor Fatality
A jury in Oklahoma recently awarded a woman $5 million in a civil suit claiming her husband’s death in a tractor accident was the equipment manufacturer’s fault.
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Union Membership in Manufacturing Hits New Low
The share of American workers in labor unions fell to a fresh record low in 2019. Union membership in manufacturing fell to 8.6 percent.
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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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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.
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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.
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Browser attacks: Homeland Security urges all Firefox users to update browsers immediately
If you use Mozilla Firefox’s web browser, you’ll want to drop what you are doing right now and update it.
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Ag Express Acquires The Daugherty Companies
Warren, Indiana, January 2, 2020 — In a joint announcement today, the principals of Ag Express Electronics, Inc. of Des
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IRS 2020 Standard Milage Rate
IR-2019-215, December 31, 2019 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service has issued the 2020 optional standard mileage rates (PDF) used to calculate
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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.”
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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.
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Groups Launch Program to Battle Farmers’ Stress
The American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Farmers Union, and Farm Credit have introduced a program to train people who work with farmers and ranchers to recognize signs of stress and connect those farmers with professional help.
Read moreNick Jensen Joins Lessiter Media as Director of Business Development, Partnerships & Innovation
Lessiter Media (LM) announced that Nick Jensen has joined the company as Director of Business Development, Partnerships & Innovation.
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Farmers’ Willingness to Invest in Capital Hits 21-Month High
Agricultural economy sentiment in November matched its highest reading of 2019, which included a big bump in how willing farmers are to invest in equipment and other capital.
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Pork Producers Put Dollars to Potential in China
U.S. pork producers see a potential $24.5 billion annual market in China within 10 years if the Trump administration can gain unrestricted trade access after the Asian country’s hog herd has been devastated by disease.
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Ahoy, Soy: Beans Arrive on China’s Shore
American soybeans that were once stranded on ships along China’s coast are now coming ashore. The beans were stranded because although a 30 percent retaliatory tariff had been waived, buyers still had to pay a deposit.
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Cattle Ranchers Fight Fake Meat Movement
Cattle ranchers and their allies are pushing regulators to scrutinize alternative meat-makers, recruiting food scientists to test plant-based products for potential health risks, and ramping up counter-campaigns to highlight beef’s nutritional benefits. They’ve even drafted responses to questions posed to digital assistants.
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Overtime Rule Takes Effect Soon
The Department of Labor’s new overtime rule takes effect Jan. 1. Find out what it means for your business and take these steps to prepare.
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Comments Close on Biofuels Rule, NCGA Persists
The comment period closed last week on the EPA’s supplemental proposed rule for the 2020 biofuels blending mandate. The NCGA said the proposal would provide half of what President Trump committed to farm-state senators.
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Save the Date!
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China Lifts Ban on U.S. Chicken, Opens Market Amid Pork Shortage
The opportunity to fill China’s pork gap with chicken has U.S. poultry executives salivating. China has lifted a ban put in place after the avian flu outbreak in 2015. With the country losing much of its swine herd, it is hungry for protein and importing chicken again.
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Scenes from the Marketing & Distribution Convention
More than 400 executives from the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association and the Equipment Marketing & Distribution Association gathered in St.
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USDA Sends Hurricane Aid to Southern Farmers
The USDA is providing up to $800 million in block grants to states hit by Hurricanes Florence and Michael in 2018. A spokesperson said $381 million will go to Florida, $337 million to Georgia and $25 million to Alabama.
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Board Elects Officers, Members Elect Directors
Janea Danuser will lead the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association in 2020. Members of the Board of Directors elected her as president on Wednesday. In a separate election, member companies elected four executives to the Board of Directors.
Read moreEmployers’ Legal Responsibilities Around Marijuana
As more states legalize marijuana, employers seek guidance on their workplace policies. That guidance is available to members on this issue and many others.
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Farmers Feel Better About Tomorrow, Worry More About Today
Although the Ag Economy Barometer dipped only slightly, there was a relatively large sentiment shift among ag producers as they were noticeably more pessimistic about current conditions but somewhat more optimistic about future economic conditions.
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Beef Prices Rise in Response to Demand in Asia
Cattle prices in the U.S. have risen since September as a protein shortage in Asia drives bets that livestock will be in increasingly high demand.
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Sponsors Support Convention
The Association, like its member companies, strives to deliver the best product it can for the greatest value. In our
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Association Partners with ASABE to Provide Resources, Advocacy for Members
Manufacturing members of this Association who do not belong to ASABE are entitled to a CD or USB card that contains 275 current ASAE/ASABE standards, engineering practices, and data. This is a $650 value, and it is only part of what the Association offers members in standards advocacy and resources.
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U.S., Japan Reach Agreement on Trade
A limited trade deal between the U.S. and Japan will deliver similar access to Japan’s agricultural market that Tokyo was offering under the Trans-Pacific Partnership. It also will help producers keep pace with competing nations that are now benefiting from their own trade agreements with Japan.
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