On Thursday, April 10, during the 2013 Spring Clinic, registered spouses and guests will depart for one of our best tours yet — The Durham Museum, Upstream Restaurant and Omaha’s Old Market District. These three stops will provide attendees with a variety of activities from history to shopping, and as always, a fantastic lunch. We encourage our spouses and guests to register for the tour today. There’s no better way to spend an Omaha day than with old and new friends on the Spouse/Guest Tour.

New Hampshire’s Senate Bill 126 first seeks to amend the definition of a “motor vehicle”, which current law specifically exempts “farm tractors and other machines and tools used in the production, harvesting, and care of farm products” from being defined as a motor vehicle.

The pending legislation then decrees, not only are farm and utility tractors, forestry equipment, industrial and construction equipment now “motor vehicles” but goes further and identifies farm implements, farm machinery, yard and garden equipment, attachments, accessories and repair parts all as “motor vehicles”.

Our Association and its members welcome the opportunity to work with the sponsors and the farm equipment dealers in New Hampshire on this and any issues that need to be addressed.

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 appreciate the continued support of these companies and all of our members.

Member company Ag 1 Source, Hesston, KS, recently celebrated their 10 year anniversary as a agricultural recruiting organization. The company was founded in 2002 by a group of recruiters that believed agri-businesses deserved a recruiting partner that provided a higher-level of service, credibility, and professionalism than was previously available in the market place.

“This is a proactive step to protect the providers of food and fiber from outside groups wanting to stifle Missouri’s farm and ranch families. If activists get their way and stymie food production in this country, consumers already struggling in this economy will be unnecessarily forced to pay more at the grocery store.”

Exports of U.S.-made agricultural equipment increased 16% in 2012 compared to the previous year for a total $12.8 billion, with Africa leading the way in growth, according to the U.S. Commerce Dept. data.
The top 10 export destinations for American-made agricultural machinery in 2012 by dollar volume:

Canada – $4 billion, up 18%
Australia – $1.1 billion, up 5%

For the fifth consecutive year, Deere & Co has achieved a ranking among FORTUNE magazine’s “Top 50 Most Admired Companies”. Deere is ranked 40th on the “Most Admired” list, which is created after an assessment of more than 1,400 companies around the world and a survey of business leaders worldwide.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) revised its standard on standby electric power for farms. The new document, ANSI/ASAE EP364.4, Installation and Maintenance of Farm Standby Electric Power, includes updated reference information as noted in the most recent periodic review of the document.

ASABE has completed adoption of ISO standard ISO 730:2009 for rear-mounted three-point linkage of agricultural wheeled tractors. The adoption, ANSI/ASABE AD730:2009 DEC2012, Agricultural wheeled tractors — Rear-mounted three-point linkage — Categories 1N, 1, 2N, 2, 3N, 3, 4N and 4, replaces ASAE S217.12, Three-Point Free Link Attachment for Hitching Implements to Agricultural Wheel Tractors.

Titan International’s Maurice “Morry” Taylor, has delivered a rather blunt and to the point summary of how some outsiders view France’s work ethic in a letter saying he would have to be stupid to take over a factory whose staff only put in three hours work a day. Taylor told France’s left-wing industry minister in a letter published by Paris media that he had no interest in buying a doomed plant.

Art’s Way Manufacturing, Co. Inc., Armstrong, IA, recently announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2012. Total net sales for the company increased 31.9%, from $27.6 million in fiscal year 2011 to $36.5 million in fiscal year 2012. Ward added, “Net sales for our agricultural products segment were up nearly 9.3% due primarily to the acquisition of Universal Harvester Co., Inc.

In a recent article, the former Chairman of the House Ag Committee, Larry Combest took on a failed attempt in the U.S. Senate to avoid hard budget decisions, by circumventing the Ag Committees and eliminating nearly any resemblance of a farm safety net in the current farm bill. While the Senate attempt failed, it’s likely to resurface.

The summery of the former chairman’s thoughts below remain a relevant reminder of the fight ahead for a five year farm bill.

15% of American workers are current or former caregivers for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia, a number that can have wide-reaching effects on workforce retention and productivity. The new poll showed that only 47% of these caregivers were able to maintain their employment while providing care for the Alzheimer’s or dementia patient.

R.N. Johnson, Walpole, NN, announced it will close on March 28.a month and a half after John Deere canceled its dealer agreement with the business after 84 years. Deere equipment made up about 50% of R.N. Johnson’s sales.

RDO Equipment Co., Fargo, ND, recently named Mark Kreps as Vice President of Sales — Agriculture.

Titan Machinery Inc. said it has acquired Adobe CE, LLC

Fiat’s industrial tractor division announced its plans to merge with a second unit controlled by Fiat, and roll both into another merger with a Dutch unit.

Fiat Industrial SpA will be merged with its CNH Global N.V. (CNH) unit, and later with a Dutch unit, the company said.

On average, lenders across the District reported fourth quarter income and spending were higher than one year ago. In earlier surveys, lenders in the St. Louis and Louisville zones in particular had anticipated that the record drought of 2012 would significantly lower farmer income and capital spending. Instead, crop insurance helped to offset the impact of the drought in the hardest-hit areas.

Former Ag Secretary and first term U.S. Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska announced that he will not seek re-election in 2014, saying he wants a “quieter time” to focus on his family following a busy political career.

We are very pleased to announce the addition of two general session speakers to our Spring Management Clinic in Omaha. These speakers, along with the Plant Tours announced earlier this month, and our sessions dealing with factory automation, which will be announced next week, will make our April 9-12 meeting in Omaha one of the most content-packed meetings in the history of our Spring Clinics.

Agriculture & Turf sales increased 16% for the quarter largely due to higher shipment volumes and price realization, partially offset by the unfavorable effects of currency translation. Operating profit was $766 million compared with $574 million for the quarter last year. The improvement was primarily due to higher shipment volumes and price realization. These factors were partially offset by increases in selling, administrative and general expenses, warranty costs, production costs and research and development expenses.

The Agricultural Division of Alamo Group Inc. recently announced the appointment of Tom Taylor as Vice President of Business Development. The new position will be responsible for supporting dealer development and international growth initiatives as well as OEM and brand alliances for

Four U.S. Senators have announced legislation that would place a cap on the farm payments an individual farmer can receive in a year and close loopholes in the farm payment program. The Farm Program Integrity Act of 2013, introduced by

The U.S. and Chinese trade imbalances in manufactures continued to surge in 2012, with the U.S. deficit up by 8%, to $498 billion, and the Chinese surplus by 15%, to $755 billion, as noted in a new report from the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI).

Below are some of the bills that we are following in various states this year.
Kentucky: We are watching HB 295 — Maine: SB 144 — Pennsylvania: HB 346 — Texas: HB 963 — Vermont: H.B. 58 — New Hampshire: SB 126

Announced the formation of the GPS Innovation Alliance, an organization dedicated to furthering GPS innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association has reached out to this newly formed alliance on behalf of our members.

Buhler Industries Inc. reported revenue for the quarter was $76.7 million, surpassing last year’s record of $76.5 for a first quarter. Higher sales levels are due to continued strong demand for tractors, seeding and tillage.

Ram Trucks announced its “So God Made A Farmer” Super Bowl ad has surpassed 18 million views, more than exceeding the number needed to secure a $1 million donation to the FFA. The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association joined with more than 250 farm, ranch and agribusiness organizations, signing a Feb. 7 letter addressed to Chrysler Group’s CEO Sergio Marchionne, thanking him for the commercial’s “vital message” reminding viewers that “farmers and ranchers… must not be taken for granted.”

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

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has revised its standard defining the speed identification symbol for agricultural equipment.

The new standard, ANSI/ASAE S584.3 JAN2013, Agricultural Equipment: Speed Identification Symbol (SIS), corrects a transposed symbol contained in the previous version of the document

Before you renew or install software to protect your company’s computers, you may want to look at recent test results. PC Magazine reports that while Microsoft Security Essentials is free, its protection has been getting slammed in antivirus tests in the last few months.

H.R. 525, a House resolution that would amend the Controlled Substances Act to exclude industrial hemp from the definition of marijuana, was recently introduced by Representatives Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR). The Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2013, as the resolution is titled, carries with it the signatures of twenty-eight original co-sponsors.

Straub International, a Wichita Case IH dealer, is moving its Wichita store to a larger location. Farmers Equipment Inc. will open a new dealership in South Charleston, OH. Green Iron, a John Deere dealership, recently moved to their new $2 million facility in Ashley, ND. Titan Machinery Inc. announced that it has acquired Tucson Tractor Co.,

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is against Obama’s push to raise the minimum wage to $9 an hour. “I want people to make a lot more than $9 — $9 is not enough. The problem is you can’t do that by mandating it in the minimum wage laws. Minimum wage laws have never worked in terms of having the middle class attain more prosperity.” What works, he said, is helping the private sector grow.

Breaking: Chief Justice John Roberts wondered “why in the world would anybody” invest time and money on seeds if it was so easy to evade patent protection. – Court appeared likely Tuesday to side with Monsanto Co.

One third of Nebraska’s ethanol plants are not in production, reports the York News Times. The recent closure of the Ag Processing cooperative plant near Hastings, NE took the number of closed ethanol plants to seven. There are 24 ethanol plants in Nebraska.

Despite written policies protecting farmland across Central California’s agricultural heartland, the state’s most productive region is on track to lose 570,000 acres of prime, irrigated land to development by 2050, according to The American Farmland Trust.

AGCO reported net sales of approximately $2.7 billion for the fourth quarter of 2012, an increase of approximately 7.4% compared to net sales of $2.5 billion for the fourth quarter of 2011.

Highlights from AEM’s (Association of Equipment Manufacturers) monthly Ag Flash Reports for unit retail sales are listed below.

Hemisphere GPS Inc., Hiawatha, KS, signed and closed a definitive agreement to sell the business assets associated with its non-agricultural operations to the Canadian subsidiary of Beijing UniStrong Science & Technology Co. Ltd. for cash of $14.96M.

The Rotary Cutter Council will be holding a joint meeting with the AEM Industrial/Agricultural Mower Manufacturers Council before the National Farm Machinery Show. The meeting will be held on February 12, 2013 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Hotel, 830 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209, in room Coronet A.

If you have questions about the meeting please

All posted ads are run as “blind ads” with the association office acting as the go between. Persons currently employed by a member company are not permitted to place an ad seeking employment unless we are notified in writing by the prime contact of the member company that they have no objection.

Valmont Industries, Inc., Valley, NE, a provider of engineered products and services for infrastructure, mechanized irrigation equipment for agriculture, announced that it has acquired privately-held Locker Group Holdings Pty Ltd., an Australian and Asian manufacturer of perforated and expanded metal for the non-residential market, industrial flooring and handrails for the access systems market, and screening media for applications in the industrial and mining sectors.

TVV Capital announced that it has acquired Bigham Brothers, Inc., based in Lubbock, TX. A manufacturer of agricultural tillage and cultivating equipment, the company’s products are marketed through the Bigham Brothers and Lilliston product brands. Terms of the transaction

Kinze Manufacturing, Inc., Williamsburg, IA, recently held a grand opening of the Kinze Innovation Center with Iowa Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds in attendance. The Kinze Innovation Center is located at the Kinze world headquarters on Iowa Interstate-80 and houses all of the major agricultural inventions by Kinze founder and president Jon Kinzenbaw, as well as those made by Kinze engineers. Kinze designed the center to serve as a destination for customers, dealers and friends from all over the world.

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 appreciate the continued support of these companies and all of our members.

Thanks to the following member companies who participated in AG CONNECT Expo & Summit, held January 29-31 in Kansas City, MO.

This year’s Spring Management Clinic in Omaha, NE, April 9-12, provides members with a unique opportunity to tour some of the most technologically advanced manufacturing facilities this industry has to offer. This year, registrants will be able to tour their choice of four manufacturing facilities in the area that showcase some of the most modern technology available today in the ag industry. Register today and sign up for the following plant tours taking place on April 12.

“Paycheck Fairness Act,” introduced by Sen. Mikulski (D-MD) and Rep. DeLauro (D-CN) would prohibit companies from retaliating against workers who discuss salary information.

J D Equipment, Inc. has begun construction on a two and a half acre site in New Albany, OH

Butler Ag Equipment, a division of Butler Machinery of Fargo, ND, announced it will buy Johnson Farm Equipment Co

Rocky Mountain Dealerships Inc. said it has completed its previously announced agreement to purchase 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of MJ Solomon Ltd., operating as Murray’s Farm Supplies

CNH Global reported net income for the quarter ended Dec. 31 of $195 million, up from $193 million in the year-ago period. Equipment sales increased 3.4% to $4.9 billion, driven by an 8.6% surge in agricultural equipment sales. For full-year 2012, net income increased 21.6% to $1.1 billion, from $939 million in 2011.

USAgNet reports that the total variable input costs for the 2013 corn and soybean crops are likely to stay about the same as last year, a Purdue Extension farm business management specialist Alan Miller said. Variable input costs are the costs of production that vary directly with the crop grown, but don’t include fixed costs, such as cash rent.