With the current tax season upon us, we are required by the IRS to remind members that as a result of ongoing lobbying activities (by this Association) on behalf of our members, a small portion of dues payments are not deductible by members as an ordinary and necessary business expense.

Farmers could be required to report “chemicals of interest” they possess and use under measures the Obama administration is considering to avoid disasters such as a Texas blast that killed 14 people last year.

Members of Indiana’s agricultural community rose up in support of a bill that is meant to limit trespassing on farmland. Senate Bill 101 would create a new crime known as “agricultural mischief” and it’s aimed primarily at . . .

Our International Relations Committee is making a second request for some very basic information to help it better serve the needs of our member companies. This is a very quick survey to complete with only eight questions, all of which provide multiple choice answer

Orthman Manufacturing Inc. has opened a product assembly facility and warehouse in Kempton Park, South Africa.

Orthman also announced the appointment of William “Bobby” Loder as Customer/Dealer Product Support Manager.

ASABE is accepting public comments on the draft of X620 (to become S620 when complete), Safety for Anhydrous Ammonia Application Equipment. Comments will be accepted until February 28, 2014.

Beyond fighting over the final, contentious issues, there could be increased pressure on conferees to act swiftly on the bill — projected to reduce the deficit by about $20 billion — as members eye potential offsets for a pending three-month jobless benefits extension.

Of the more than 50 tax provisions which expired with the closing of 2013, one thought to be critical to farmers, ranchers and small manufacturers is related to small business expensing. Under the expired Section 179, small business expensing provision, the maximum amount that a small business can immediately expense when purchasing business assets instead of depreciating them over time was

he Wall Street Journal notes that since the 1970s, annual federal appropriations bills have explicitly prohibited the federal workplace overseer from descending on small family farms. Specifically, OSHA does not have jurisdiction over “farming operations” with 10 or fewer employees. OSHA officials have found a novel way to circumvent this statutory restraint.

“There seems to be a slippery slope problem here,” Randolph said. “Under your First Amendment theory… could Congress say that all companies now have to report the conditions under which their products are manufactured overseas, what the pay rate is, whether they are using child labor? Is that the next step here?”

Brian Nelson has been named president of HCC, Inc. Mendota, IL, effective January 1, 2014, succeeding Don Bickel.
Nelson has been the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of HCC for the past two years and has . . .

Bandit Industries said the company turned down the acquisition offer from Alamo Group and will remain privately owned by current owners Jerry Morey, Mike Morey Sr. and Dianne Morey. The company said it will continue to explore options for a potential sale of the company.

Since the U.S. job market began recovering in early 2010, the number of men working at all levels in manufacturing has risen 7%, according to Labor Department data. Over the same period, the number of women in manufacturing has edged down 0.3%.

While the budget agreement reached this week in Washington would avert another government shutdown in January there was little hope that anything will be done to renew the 55 federal tax credits set to expire at year-end.

The expiration of the tax breaks is no surprise to the business community, which has become accustomed to Congress extending them retroactively — most recently in the “fiscal-cliff” deal.

Highlights from AEM’s (Association of Equipment Manufacturers) monthly Ag Flash Reports for unit retail sales are listed below. For complete data, go to . . .

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has revised its standard for electrified irrigation systems. The new document ANSI/ASAE S397.4, Electrical Service and Equipment for Irrigation, incorporates numerous updates to normative references, citations for which have changed since the. . .

A federal appeals court has overturned a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decision that barred employers from requiring workers to sign arbitration agreements forbidding them from filing class actions or collective claims on such issues as . . .

“When you allow people to be on unemployment insurance for 99 weeks, you’re causing them to become part of this perpetual unemployed group in our economy,” Reportedly the U.S. Federal budget deal worked out this week does not include an extension of the federal long-term unemployment benefit.

Over the last year, we have seen several disturbing examples of what can occur when public policy issues emerge in states where this Association has very few, if any member companies. No manufacturing facility, no owners, no employees, no tax base and no voters will always equal… no influence on the outcome.

With strong member support in Wisconsin, we believe there is an excellent chance for our members’ voice to be heard and to ensure that common sense and reason find their place into the discussion of how the state will regulate the use of farm equipment on its public roadways.

We recently learned that Lamont B. Webster, 85, of Kewanee, IL passed away November 17, 2013.

Webster enjoyed a rewarding career in the farm and outdoor power equipment industry, serving as President of Lindsay Bros. Inc., and later as . . .

We would like to recognize the following companies for their continued support of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association and thank them for their membership over the years. We look forward to many more years of having these companies, and yours, as members. Please help us congratulate the following members on their anniversaries

After a week of mixed signals from the major players working to find a compromise on the Farm Bill, it’s now clear that no vote will occur in 2013 on a new 5 year bill. The House voted to extend current policy through January 31, 2014, but the Senate Majority Leader announced he would not allow a vote on the 30 day extension.

Salford Farm Machinery Ltd., based in Canada, a manufacturer of tillage, seeding and fertilizing equipment for the global marketplace, has partnered with GenNx360 Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on. . .

At the recent Agritechnica show, Mitas signed a long-term agreement with CLAAS to supply Continental and Mitas branded farm tires for CLAAS combines and tractors.

Kubota has announced it will be building its first European tractor factory in northern France. Work on the site near Dunkerque is due to start in December 2014, with mass production scheduled to begin by. . .

Dawn Equipment, Sycamore, IL, a manufacturer of actively controlled planter attachments has entered into agreement with 640 Labs, a Chicago based agriculture analytics company and manufacturer of the . . .

Net farm income is forecast to be $131.0 billion in 2013, up 15.1% from 2012’s estimate of $113.8 billion. After adjusting for inflation, 2013’s net farm income is expected to be the highest since. . .(graphs)

The Federal Communications Commission has voted along party lines to consider a proposal to allow cellphone conversations at 35,000 feet which will bring those “private” conversations to a seat near you.

lamo Group, Seguin, TX, announced that it has entered into a letter of intent to acquire Bandit Industries, Inc. and its related affiliates. Bandit designs, manufactures, distributes and services. . .

During Missouri Farm Bureau’s annual meeting, the state’s Attorney General is quoted as saying “I don’t believe voters in California should be able to set agricultural policy in Missouri, so my office is preparing to sue California in federal court.”

Ingersoll Tillage Group and Corporacion Patricio Echeverria (CPE) better known worldwide by its brand Bellota, announced that ITG will acquire the majority controlling interest in Bellota.

Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer, has unveiled his proposal to nearly double the federal gas tax to applause from some special interest groups, but in clear opposition to public opinion.

Members who are exporting or planing to export to the EU should be aware that a revised list of Machinery Directive Harmonized Standards was published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ) on November 28, 2013. These Harmonized Standards provide. . .

The Obama administration recently announced a one-year delay of online enrollment for small businesses looking to purchase health coverage through federal Obamacare exchanges, another high-profile setback for HealthCare.gov, politico.com reports. It’s the second delay for online small business enrollment, which the administration had said would begin this month.

Kinze Manufacturing, Inc., Williamsburg, IA, recently announced the world’s first electric multi-hybrid concept planter, created to help farmers optimize their seed hybrids and increase their yields. Multi-hybrid technology provides farmers with the ability to automatically change the seed hybrid they are planting as the. . .

The total number of people in the U.S. now receiving federal disability benefits hit a record 10,982,920 in November, up from the previous record of 10,978,040 set in May, according to newly released data from the Social Security Administration.

The North American Equipment Dealers Association (NAEDA), St. Louis, MO, named Richard E. “Rick” Lawhun, president and chief executive officer effective January 1, 2014. Prior to joining NAEDA, he served as president and CEO of the American. . .

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued the 2014 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical, or moving purposes. Beginning January 1, 2014, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups, or panel trucks) will be. . .

Jon Kinzenbaw, founder and president of Kinze Manufacturing, Inc., Williamsburg, IA, was awarded the George Washington Carver Distinguished Service award at Iowa State University’s Alumni Association Honors and Awards Ceremony on November 8

Buyers of U.S. farmland appear undaunted by falling grain prices, paying top dollar for land coming up for sale at autumn auctions, although showing a more cautious tone than in recent years, AgriMarketing reports.

ennifer McNelly, president of NAM’s Manufacturing Institute, talked about the shortages of skilled labor and the need to change the perception of manufacturing jobs to make them cool again. She praised the work of Tony Raimondo, Sr., of Behlen Manufacturing in Columbus, NE, in having former students of technical education programs spread the word to the next generation of workers.

A new study from CareerBuilder suggests your college major may not necessarily define your career path. Thirty-two percent of college-educated workers reported that they never found a job related to their college major.

Keep your calendars marked for the upcoming Spring Conference & Supplier Product Showcase, April 6-9, 2014. The Showcase will take place on Tuesday, April 8, 2014.

Cervus Equipment Corp., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, has announced financial results and operational highlights for the quarter

Bobcat Co., West Fargo, ND, has expanded its dealer network with the addition of two Total Equipment and Rental locations in New Mexico and Texas

Rocky Mountain Dealerships Inc. reported its financial results for the quarter

he year-over-year pace of manufacturing production was 3.3% in the Federal Reserve Board’s most recent industrial production report. Manufacturing output has risen 1.1% in just the past three months, with capacity utilization up from 75.7% to 76.2% over that time frame.

For the third quarter ended September 30, 2013, the company reported revenues of $11.4 million, an increase of 9% from $10.5 million in the third quarter of 2012. Strong quarterly results in the OEM and Agronomy Service divisions, up 27% and 41%, respectively, from the comparative period, were partially offset by. . .

While current headlines are full of news that could leave one with a degree of apprehension, as we enter the final month of the year, from my viewpoint, 2013 has provided much for our industry and has given this Association much to be thankful for.

During our annual meeting in Indianapolis last month, I had the pleasure of reporting to our Board of Directors that this Association of farm equipment manufacturers, suppliers and marketing members, not only remains financially strong, but that we are attracting new members at a record rate, in an industry where consolidation continues to be a major factor.

Large companies would be required for the first time to make their worker injury and illness records public under a new rule that a Labor Department agency is set to propose, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The EPA dropped the bad news for corn farmers with a recent release of the Obama administration’s proposed 2014 renewable fuel standard (RFS), revising the total renewable volume obligations downward for the first time. The target number, if it becomes law, would be a reduction of nearly…

A leaked United Nations backed report on global warming claims the global food supply is at risk, with yields of wheat, rice, corn and other major crops projected to drop by as much as 2% each decade for the rest of the century, even as demand rises.