Chipotle CEO Steve Ells claims his company is having trouble finding enough “responsibly raised” (without antibiotics and hormones) beef in the United States. According to Breitbart.com, Chipotle now imports beef from Australia. There, said Ells, “cattle spend their entire lives grazing on pastures or rangelands, eating only grass or forages.”



In a letter to Ells last week, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples wrote that the company’s decision to import beef was “premature” and inconsistent with the environmental stance Ells and Chipotle have taken. He wrote that, unlike Australian beef, Texas products would not “leave a substantial carbon footprint before ending up in a Chipotle burrito.” Staples added he was dismayed by Ells’ implication that Australian meat is more “responsibly raised” than meat produced by Texas ranchers.

A Chipotle spokesman responded by saying that drought conditions have resulted in herds not being available in sufficient quantities to meet the company’s needs. S

Join a proven team as Production Manager for an ag component manufacturer. Manage all stages of steel component production, including planning, scheduling and staffing to meet production schedules and customer requirements.

Key responsibilities include implementing and leading 5S/Lean/Process Improvement for the organization and responsibility for overall quality of all completed materials.

Voters are more negative than ever about the state of the U.S. health care system, and once again a majority believes the new national health care law will make it worse.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 31% of likely U.S. voters rate the current health care system as good or excellent. Thirty-five percent (35%) describe the system as poor, up from 31% in May and the highest negative in regular tracking since November 2012.

Yasuo Masumoto, chairman and president of farm and industrial machinery maker Kubota Corp., died while staying in a Tokyo hotel. He was 67.

The executive failed to leave his room after breakfast and was found collapsed in the bathroom after the company raised concerns, a spokeswoman for the Osaka-based manufacturer said. At press time, the cause of death had not yet been determined.

Power plant regulations “could severely harm the international competitiveness of energy-intensive, trade-exposed U.S. industries like steel” and that “additional regulation of the electric utility sector will result in increased electricity costs for industrial consumers, who ultimately have the compliance costs and risks passed on to them.”

The Rasmussen Employment Index, which measures worker confidence, jumped five points in May to its highest level in over six years of monthly tracking. At 100.1, worker confidence is up from last month’s finding of 95.6. In March, the index had hit a previous six-year high of 96.2.

The California Chamber opposes SB 1188, identifying it as a “job killer,” given the significant expansion of frivolous litigation it likely will create regarding alleged product defects that arise after an express warranty has expired. SB 1188 further specifies that materiality is not just limited to health and safety issues, as courts currently require. This definition will significantly expand product defect litigation, especially class actions, as any alleged product defect deemed “material” once it has occurred, and the buyer will undoubtedly claim knowledge of this defect would have impacted the decision to purchase it.

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.

The Washington Grain Commission and Northwest Farm Credit sponsored the film, and several scenes in the film were shot in the beautiful Palause region of Eastern Washington. (Trailer Video)

A portion of the ticket proceeds from the film will help support “Feed My Starving Children,” a non-profit organization that provides food to nearly 70 countries around the world.

In an effort to help keep our members up-to-date on changes to these important standards, over the past decade we have provided copies of the standards to our regular members, free of charge. (The 2014 CD-Rom is a $499 value at the non-ASABE member price.) Once again this year our Board of Directors has decided to offer this standards information to regular members who do not already have access via ASABE membership. We can send one copy per company while supplies last.

While the company did not mention it, a Tax Foundation report revealed one reason jobs are fleeing Illinois is that it is getting more and more expensive for businesses to operate in the state.

The Tax Foundation’s 2014 State Business Tax Climate Index confirms the state’s worsening position. Illinois has dropped 15 spots, to 31st from 16th, since 2011, the year the state passed a record income tax hike. This lower ranking means it’s become even more difficult for businesses and entrepreneurs to compete in Illinois’ unfriendly tax environment.

A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) judge ruled that technicians conducting service calls at customers’ homes may wear buttons and display bumper stickers that read: “WTF, Where’s The Fairness,” “FTW Fight To Win,” and “CUT the CRAP! Not My Healthcare.” An employer sent home over 1,500 employees and asked others to remove the buttons, said lexology.com.

An agricultural equipment manufacturer is accepting applications for a Territory Sales Manager who will be based out of the territory he/she will serve. The Territory Sales Manger is responsible for planning and executing marketing and sales-related activities directly related to company products. The territory includes Oklahoma, Texas, Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas.

The USDA Economic Research Service released findings from a pesticide use study. Over the last five decades, pesticide use on corn, soybeans and other crops, as well as active ingredients, has changed dramatically in U.S. agriculture, including herbicide, insecticide and fungicide use.

Economic Information Bulletin No. (EIB-124), issued May 2014, examines trends in conventional pesticide use in U.S. agriculture from 1960 to 2008, focusing on 21 crops that account for more than

With total food demand expected to increase by 70% in 40 years, and food prices forecast to rise as much as 100%, there is “enormous opportunity” for innovation and investment in agricultural technology, according to a recently published white paper from the Kauffman Foundation and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

“A lot of the knowledge and skill sets are gone because the humans who used to do that work have either retired or died…” Companies have to grapple with such challenges as a shallow pool of component suppliers, an inexperienced workforce, and other shortcomings that developed during the country’s long industrial decline.

An Association member seeks a Senior Business Development Manager (SBDM) to build market position by locating, developing, defining, negotiating, and closing business relationships.

The SBDM will collaborate with the General Manager and Director of Business Development to execute and evolve the comprehensive strategic business plan and expand business development efforts by contributing to annual business plans, helping to implement and execute such plans, tracking initiatives and outcomes, identifying and recommending targets, and expanding existing client relationships.

The consultative sale requires advanced communication, sales management, and relationship-building skills.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) whereby employees who file untimely complaints against their employers alleging violations of the OSH Act will be told to contact the NLRB.

The statute of limitations to file a complaint with OSHA is just 30 days from the date of occurrence, but employees have 6 months from the date of occurrence to file unfair labor practice charges against their. . .

Deere has announced an alliance with Dawn Equipment Company, Inc., a Sycamore, IL-based manufacturer specializing in ground engaging tools and active control systems for planters. Their agreement allows Deere to sell and support Dawn’s hydraulic-controlled down-force systems, row cleaners and closing wheels for planters.

Equipment sales were $345.0 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to $334.7 million in the first quarter last year. Parts sales were $68.4 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to $62.8 million in the first quarter last year. Revenue generated from service was $37.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2015, compared to $32.0 million in the first quarter last year. R

Bigham Ag announced the appointment of Norm Burgeson to the position of vice president of Sales & Marketing. In this role, Burgeson will be responsible for developing, implementing and executing the company’s North American sales growth strategies. Burgeson will be based in Bloomington, Ill.

“I am pleased to welcome Norm to our leadership team,” said Lucas Sutterer, CEO at Bigham. “Norm is a strategic sales leader with a proven track record of successfully building strong sales teams and developing customer focused sales programs, services and processes. I am confident that his experience and track record will help move Bigham to the next level.”

The USDA in May released its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates. This report presents an initial assessment of U.S. and world crop supply and demand prospects and U.S. prices for 2014/15.

The report predicts the following:

Bush Hog announced it has hired Tony Marchese as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, effective May 5. Bush Hog is part of the Ag Division of the Alamo Group (ALG), Seguin, TX.

Deere & Co. reported a 9.5% decline in second-quarter net income in mid-May, citing lower demand for farming equipment, and cut its sales forecast for the year, Associated Press reported. With farmer income projected to decline, Deere said sales of its agriculture and turf equipment could fall . . .

Case was a colossal abuse of the justice system, in which the animal-rights groups and their lawyers apparently believed the ends justified the means. It also marks the first time in U.S. history when a defendant in an Endangered Species Act case was found entitled to recover attorneys’ fees against the plaintiffs due to the Court’s finding of frivolous, vexatious and unreasonable litigation. . .

Ag Growth International Inc. announced its financial results and Danuser Machine Co. has introduced the Hammer, a hydraulic post driver, to its production list while expanding manufacturing space by over 32,000 square feet.

The 2012 Census of Agriculture indicated that the United States is quickly losing mid-sized family farms, and U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is concerned. In early May, he said that, of the 2.1 million farms in the U.S., 68% are smaller than 180 acres and thus likely to be hobby farms or worked by part-time farmers.

According the results of the survey conducted by the USDA and the University of Maryland Bee Informed Partnership, total losses of managed honey bee colonies from all causes were 23.2% nationwide. That number exceeds the 18.9% level of loss that beekeepers say is acceptable for their economic sustainability . . .

Advance-fee loan schemes, in which self-described loan brokers demand upfront payments for loans that never materialize, have intensified since the financial crisis, as banks tightened lending standards, making it more difficult for small businesses to obtain financing, reported The Wall Street Journal. “It was a costly lesson,” said one victim. “There’s no need to pay upfront for a loan.”

While unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have ag-tech circles buzzing, promising a bumper crop of real-time imagery, satellites may steal some of their thunder if they can deliver actionable images every week across America’s heartland, reported Farm Industry News.

During the closing days of the Missouri legislative session, our Association expressed its strong opposition to language added to a House Bill dealing with all-terrain vehicles, off-road vehicles and utility vehicles, without hearings or any opportunity for public input. The substitute version, which passed the Senate, would have forced Tesla Motors to abandon its direct-to-consumer sales model in Missouri.

A Purdue Extension agricultural economist published two articles that outline what the 2014 farm bill could mean for farmers and agriculture in the Midwest, announced Purdue University. The articles, “What Will the 2014 Farm Bill Mean for Midwest Agriculture?” and “Beginning to Evaluate Choices in the Farm Bill,” are available for download free of charge . . .

President Obama on May 21 signed a proclamation designating a new monument in southern New Mexico that will cover nearly a half-million acres, the largest monument designation President Obama has made to date. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association opposes the decision, the organization announced in a news release.

The joint boards of SouthWestern Association (SWA) and Canada West Equipment Dealers Association (CWEDA) recently voted to proceed with a merger of these two associations to form the new Western Equipment Dealers Association (WEDA)

After offending farmers with its aggressive ad campaign claiming local-raised food is healthier and anything else is bad, Chipotle is feeling the effects of what some would call Karma, reported porknetwork.com.

Summer grilling season will cost meat lovers a few more dollars this year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation

LEON’s Manufacturing Co. is selling the following pieces of used equipment from its factories:

• Press Brake
• Shears
• Lake Erie 1000 Ton Brake
• Iron Workers

After years of strong growth, agriculture is poised for a “transitional year” in 2014 as the sector digests lower commodity prices and a drop in planting acreage, predicted Paul Schickler, DuPont Pioneer president, as quoted in The Des Moines Register.

Canada’s new anti-spam law, designed to protect consumers while allowing businesses to continue competing in the global marketplace, will take effect on July 1, 2014, according to a Canadian government website. On January 15, 2015, sections of the Act related to the unsolicited installation of computer programs or software come into force.

Roughly half of the companies targeted by these patent claims have revenue under $10 million, and the number of lawsuits alleging patent claims rose 12.4% to 6,092 in 2013. Most lawsuits arise from firms that license or litigate patents as their core activity and target small companies,

Alamo Group Inc. announced it completed the acquisition of the operating units of Specialized Industries, LP, a portfolio Company of ELB Capital Management, LLC, for approximately $190 million, on a debt-free bas

Coming off one of the most successful Spring Conferences in our Association’s recent history, we are excited to announce that we have selected the Westin Hotel located in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, as the venue for our 2015 Spring Conference. The official meeting dates are Wednesday though Saturday morning, March 18-21, 2015, with additional activities planned for those who can arrive early or extend their stay through the weekend.

The second dealership will be CLAAS-owned and operated. The new harvest center, scheduled to open in the Regina area before fall, will offer the full line of CLAAS products, service and parts support.

Predicting the future can be fun, but divining the course of technology is not always easy. Certain ideas appear destined to come to market, but others that seem less likely can actually take hold. In Farm Industry News, Willie Vogt and Jodie Wehrspann list the top trending technologies that could impact your business in the next 10 years. . .

Remlinger Manufacturing announced it will begin marketing and selling harrows from Kelly Engineering to Wisconsin, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, California, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, the majority of Eastern Ohio, Ontario and Quebec.

Alamo Group Inc. reported net sales for the first quarter of 2014 were $171.2 million, compared to net sales of $158.4 million for the first quarter of 2013, an increase of 8%. Net income for the quarter was $7.2 million, compared to net income of $6.9 million in 1Q13, an increase of 4%.

AGCO reported net sales of approximately $2.3 billion for the first quarter of 2014, a decrease of approximately 2.9% compared to net sales of $2.4 billion for the first quarter of 2013.

Following a four-year-long battle, Chesterman Farm Equipment Ltd. (CFEI) last month won a tribunal appeal against CNH Canada Inc. The tribunal has ordered CNH to pay Chesterman $139,846 plus $60,670.61 interest because the company cancelled the Chesterman’s CNH dealership agreement at the end of 2006.

Cervus Equipment Corp. announced its financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.

Revenue increased by $25.2 million or 17.8% ($15.6 million from the agricultural equipment segment and $9.6 million from the CIT segment).

Milk prices are poised for a retreat of some 15% by the end of the year, undermined by a significant supply response to high values, reported Agrimoney.com, citing a source that also blamed record raw material prices for a cut to profit hopes.