Ag-Pro Companies announced the acquisition of Mid Georgia Tractor — Jenner Sales has taken over operation of Tri-Co Equipment — Butler Ag Equipment announced the acquisition of Henkens Equipment

Winnipeg-based AGI announced Tuesday it signed an acquisition deal with Westeel’s owner Vicwest Inc. and Irish building materials manufacturer Kingspan Group. Kingspan said Tuesday it will buy Winnipeg-based Vicwest for $12.70 cash per share, pegging the enterprise value of Vicwest at about $350 million.

Even those who already met the law’s requirement to offer health insurance to at least 70% of full-time staffers by 2015 are trying to determine whether their plans are affordable to their employees, as required under the law. The cost cannot exceed. . .

Smaller businesses, those with 50 to 99 workers, have until 2016 to comply with the law. Companies with fewer than 50 workers are exempt from the employer mandates

Art’s Way Manufacturing Co., Inc. announced its financial results for the three and nine months ended Aug. 31, 2014.

Third quarter sales for the company’s manufacturing division were $9.3 million, compared to $8 million the same period of 2013, an increase of 17.0%. Nine-month sales for 2014 in the division were $21.4 million, compared to $22.7 million for the same period in 2013.

A 50-year-old family-owned and -operated, short-line equipment manufacturer seeks an Ag Products Sales Manager.

Business models to market are direct-sales staff, independent sales representatives and distributors.

The position requires extensive travel throughout North America. Estimated travel time is 50%.

The planned 20,000-square-foot expansion to its Litchfield, MN, facility will enable Custom Products to begin manufacturing cabs using expanded processes for several new major customers. Some of the added capabilities include warehouse expansion, new tube-bending equipment and the addition of an off-site paint and finishing facility. The company projects that an additional 31 jobs will be added, due to the increased volume.

The United States will make a one-time final contribution of $300 million to the Brazil Cotton Institute, and Brazil will terminate the cotton case and give up its rights to countermeasures against U.S. trade or any further proceedings in the dispute. Brazil also agreed not to bring new WTO actions against U.S. cotton support programs while the current U.S. Farm Bill is in force or against agricultural export credit guarantees under the GSM-102 program.

Final results from Farm Equipment’s “2015 Dealer Business Outlook & Trends” survey indicate that equipment early orders are down compared to what North American farm equipment dealers have seen over the past few years. Just over 300 dealers responded to the question, “How do your pre-sells or early orders this year compare with early orders last year at this time?” and 60% said their early orders are down. In last year’s survey . . .

Bill Smyth runs Westover Winery in Livermore Valley, CA, as a hobby, and he’s going out of business after being fined $115,000 for using volunteer workers.

Smyth, a retired teacher, said he usually works only about 10 hours a week at the winery, sells about $200,000 worth of wine a year, and nets about $11,000 in income.

This month we thank the following companies for their membership in the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association and their continued support. We look forward to having them, and you, as members for many more years.

Congratulations to these member companies on their October anniversaries.

Omni Gear, a Houston, TX-based manufacturer of power transmissions and gearboxes, announced it is sponsoring a Formula E race team, Team China. Formula E is an FIA-governed single-seat vehicle series, and the world’s first fully-electric racing series.

For a second time, AGCO cut its forecast for full-year earnings, citing “lower sales levels across all regions”. . . The group attributed its downgrade to “lower sales levels across all regions, lower production and foreign currency translation”, with the rise of the dollar to a four-year high against other currencies such as the euro.

How can shortliner manufacturers best work with their independent dealers during the current market correction?

What issues keep dealers awake at night?

To gain further insights, and perhaps hear some answers, to the Dealer Panel on Thursday, Nov. 6. – During this panel discussion, industry experts will discuss sales expectations, consolidation, dealer purity, state regulations and, in general, how to improve the important partnership between shortline manufacturers and their independent dealers.

Deere & Co. said it will lay off nearly 10% of its workers at a factory in southern Brazil, citing falling equipment sales in South America and “the volatility of the Brazilian market” . . . The Horizontina factory, where the layoffs will take place, has roughly 1,800 workers and produces mechanical harvesters and planters. Deere has four other factories in Brazil.

On October 3, Kondex Corporation celebrated National Manufacturing Day with a visit from U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI). The senator toured Kondex’s plant near Lomira, WI, and gave a presentation on the state of the nation to Kondex associates; approximately 100 students from Lomira Middle and High Schools; and representatives from the Lomira School District, Village of Lomira, Dodge County Board, and Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM).

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) announced the completion of three standards projects related to power take-off drive shafts and related equipment.

The new standards are:

Revision ANSI/ASABE S604.1, Safety for Power Take-off (PTO), PTO Drive Shafts, and Power Input Connection (PIC) for Agricultural Field Equipment

Adoption with deviations of ISO 5673-1:2005, ANSI/ASABE AD5673-1:2005, Agricultural tractors and machinery — Power take-off drive shafts and power-input connection — Part 1: General manufacturing and safety requirements

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has initiated a project to nationally adopt recently amended international standard ISO 730:2009, Agricultural wheeled tractors. Rear-mounted three-point Linkage. Categories 1N, 1, 2N, 2, 3N, 3, 4N and 4.

“They’re kickin’ in the front door, knocking over the vase, while they’re walking out with your television set. They’re just prolific. Their strategy seems to be: ‘We’ll just be everywhere all the time, and there’s no way they can stop us,’” Comey said.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has initiated four standards projects for rotary disk, drum, and flail mowers.

KMW Ltd., manufacturer of front-end loaders and backhoes for tractors, announced the addition of Kansas Tractor Works to its operation. Kansas Tractor Works, located in Lyons, KS, provides detailed assembly and pre-delivery services on both farm and utility equipment.

The Western Equipment Dealers Association announced its Board of Directors, effective Sept. 1, 2014.

Cameron Bode, South Country Equipment, Emerald Park, SK, has been elected president, and Scott Eisenhauer, P&K Equipment, Enid, OK, has been designated vice president. Bode will lead the seven-member board of directors, which is responsible for managing the association’s budget and programs.

The National Labor Relations Board increasingly sides with employees who insult and curse at their employers, according to the Wall Street Journal.

In several recent cases, NLRB seemed to condone profanity and insubordination among U.S. workers, as it ruled in favor of those who were fired after cursing at their employers or supervisors.

The USDA predicts that Brazil’s pork exports will soar 20% next year, and beef shipments will reach an all-time high, spurred by Russia’s quest to replace supplies it forfeits by banning imports from the U.S. and the European Union.

The increases will reflect the boost to Brazilian trade from Moscow’s decision to ban for a year shipments from many Western powers in retaliation for sanctions they imposed over the Ukraine crisis.

Titan Machinery Inc. acquired certain assets of Midland Equipment, Inc., consisting of one agriculture equipment store in Wayne, NE, which expands Titan’s agriculture presence in the state. In its most recently reported fiscal year, Midland Equipment, Inc. generated revenue of approximately $4.5 million.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon’s veto of an omnibus agriculture bill will stand after the House’s attempt to block his veto failed by one vote.

SB 506 began as a bill for dairy farmers and contained the “Missouri Dairy Revitalization Act of 2014.” One main provision was a subsidy to help dairy producers pay for federal insurance.

Earlier this year, the Senate Finance Committee approved a handful of tax extenders, including two-year reinstatement of the $500,000 section 179 expensing level for small businesses. Then the entire House approved permanent restoration of section 179 to the $500,000 level. But now the Senate committee’s proposed package has stalled in the full Senate, waiting to come up for a vote.

Since 1975, Sentry Insurance Co. and the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association have worked together to provide products liability coverage to farm equipment manufacturers and wholesale distributors.

Sentry Insurance Co. announced this week an average dividend of 10% for product liability insurance participants whose policy expired in the 2014 calendar year. Due to the tiered dividend program, those in their first year with their policy expiring in 2014 will receive 3.5% of their premium as a dividend. Those in the program for two years will receive a 7.1% dividend, and those in the program for three full years will receive a 10.6% dividend.

Many employers routinely require mid to upper level employees to sign noncompetition agreements, and those can create a variety of problems for the employer and employee. Some states, such as California, oppose noncompete agreements, according to The Howe & Hutton Report. They “blue-pencil” overly restrictive noncompetes, striking or revising certain provisions, while others throw out such agreements in their entirety.

We were pleased to see the Wisconsin Department of Transportation issue a clarifying rule earlier this month that allows farm equipment with rubber tracks to operate on state roads.

While the law passed earlier this year contained nothing new regarding tracks, some confusion arose due to media reports regarding the use of tractors and wagons with tracks in the state. Wisconsin Towns Association Executive Director Richard Stadelman issued a statement to the press, asserting that “tracked vehicles are not legal to operate on Wisconsin highways.” However, he did not site any statue that prohibits their use.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts record crops this year for corn and soybeans, the two largest U.S. crops in terms of production. Barring a devastating freeze or torrential rains before the harvest ends, corn production is projected at 366 million tonnes and soybeans at 106.5 million tonnes, reported Yahoo!News.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has initiated a revision to ANSI/ASAE S343.3, Terminology for Combines and Grain Harvesting.

The standard, which contains terminology pertinent to grain combine design and performance, improves communication among engineers and researchers and provides a basis for comparative listing of machine specifications. Last updated in 1990, the standard is being revised to align terminology with currently used practices.

A producer of tillage tools, poultry house maintenance tools, and peanut harvest equipment seeks an International Sales Manager. The position is responsible for all activities related to international sales and marketing.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has initiated a project to revise standard ASAE S207.12, Operating Requirements for Tractors and Power Take-off Driven Implements. The revision will included adding Type 4 PTO specifications and updating the reference documents and standard format.

Massey Ferguson, a tractor brand of AGCO, and Woods Equipment, an implement and attachment brand of Blount International’s Farm, Ranch, and Agriculture Division, announced they have entered into an agreement to pair their respective products.

Our Tillage Product Council landed two superb speakers for its Tuesday afternoon council meeting during our Fall Convention.

Ron Heck will discuss “Calories—Global demand for food produced in the U.S. and how the American farmer should plan accordingly.” Mr. Heck served as President of the Iowa Soybean Association during the development of the 1995 Farm Bill and chaired the Public Affairs Committee of the American Soybean Association during the development of the 2002 Farm Bill. As Chairman of the American Oilseed Coalition, he represented the North American oilseed industry during the WTO Ministerial Talks in Cancun in 2003 and Hong Kong in 2005.

Your best bet: Book with us now! We are starting to run short on the rooms for which we have contracted at $99 per night, and those same rooms are currently listed at $187 on the Rio’s website.

Rod Neier, President and CEO of Roto-Mix, LLC, announced several promotions and organizational changes within the company. Mark Cooksey was promoted to Vice President of Operations, Kelly Wittman was promoted to Director of Manufacturing Operations, and Angus Snyder was promoted to Director of Materials Management.

Also, Roto-Mix hired Doyle Bacon to serve as Technical Services Manager, and Kevin Zahrt, Director of Wholesale Operations, will assume responsibility for the company’s marketing activities, field quality and training.

The Association continues to provide free listings on its website (FarmEquip.org/Surplus) for our regular members to advertise for sale their surplus supplies and equipment. The only limitation is that items offered cannot be lines the company normally sells.

Just email to surplus@FarmEquip.org the information you would like us to post, and we will do the rest.

For example, here is a new listing:

Cotton futures tumbled after China, the top cotton consumer, revealed it will slash import quotas, amid reforms aimed at reversing the country’s build-up of huge inventories of the fiber.

Declines in cotton contract prices followed the announcement by China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) that the country will issue just 894,000 tonnes of levy-free import quota for 2015, the minimum permitted by agreements with the World Trade Organization

The editors of Farm Equipment magazine have announced that the focus of its every-other-year 2015 Dealership Minds Summit (a unique conference and networking event for dealership managers) will center exclusively on “The Next Generation” of management & ownership transitions within farm equipment dealerships. Open to professional equipment dealers, the event will be held January 13-14, 2015 at the Historic Hilton Netherland Plaza in downtown Cincinnati.

Fred P. Hochberg, Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (Ex-Im Bank) recently visited Ace Pump Corporation’s headquarters in Memphis, TN, to discuss how the bank helps small businesses create American jobs by expanding exports. The visit was part of a 28-city tour by Chairman Hochberg and other Ex-Im Bank officials.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) informed the McDonald’s Corporation that the Office of the General Counsel will allow the company to be named as a joint employer of workers at its franchise-owned restaurants. This decision resulted from numerous unfair labor practice charges filed by union-backed groups against franchisees that included the corporation as a charged party.

U.S. farmland prices fell for a ninth successive month, amid worsening agriculture sector sentiment that has sent conditions in the farm machinery market to the worst in at least nine years, Agrimoney.com reported.

An index compiled by Creighton University showed farmland prices in major farming states such as Illinois, Iowa and Kansas at 41.4 for August, below the 48.3 points recorded for July, and the 50.0 mark that indicates a neutral market.

If you have not already done so, now is the time to start making plans for our Fall Convention in Las Vegas, which opens in less than eight weeks.

With executive registrations for this meeting running far ahead of prior years’, we increased the number of rooms reserved for our attendees. Still, we have fewer than 70 rooms remaining at the special rate of $99 per night. While it’s unlikely Las Vegas will run out of rooms during our meeting, we have talked with several members who noticed airfares are moving higher and some flights are already shown as unavailable.

Please note the following adjustment to the schedule:

“Because we compete as an independent brand in an industry dominated by iconic brands like John Deere, our avenues of distribution are limited,” Miller said.

“We make a world-class product that I would put up against any other machine in our industry, but we have struggled to expand our market presence because 99% of farm equipment dealerships carry their major lines of Case IH, John Deere and Agco,” he added. “Continuing to operate as a small niche player was not a viable long-term strategy, so we proactively sought out this partnership with CNH.”

Rather than slashing costs, small businesses are now spending more on new plants and industrial machinery, trucks, computers, office equipment and furniture, reported the Wall Street Journal.

Among 798 small private firms with less than $20 million in revenue, 51% said in August that they planned to increase their capital spending in the next 12 months. That is a record high, and it is also up from 42% a year ago, according to the survey by WSJ and Vistage International, an executive-advisory group.

This month we thank the following companies for their membership in the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association and their continued support. We look forward to having these companies, and yours, as members for many more years.

A sponsorship is one of the best ways to stand out and leverage your participation at the Fall Convention. If your company sponsors a speaking program session, a refreshment break or a reception, your personnel can take this opportunity to network with fellow attendees and display or distribute marketing materials.

Deere & Co. announced it will lay off approximately 460 employees at the company’s Waterloo, IA, reported AgriMarketing.com. This pushes Deere’s job cuts in Iowa to 1,000 when combined with layoffs announced earlier for plants in the Des Moines and the Quad Cities areas.

When Deere announced third quarter earnings on Aug. 13, the company said it needed to reduce agricultural equipment production for the balance of the year to respond to “current market demand for its products.”

A Dearborn-area Ford Motor Company worker filed federal charges against the United Auto Workers (UAW) union and the company for violating his rights, according to a news release issued by the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation.

Todd Lemire, a 16-year Dearborn Tool & Die plant worker, filed the charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in August.