Proxibid (proxibid.com), will provide live online bidding for RDO Equipment Co.’s Year End Reduction Auction, the first ever live auction webcast for RDO Equipment Co. The event will take place

Business Insider reports there are a growing number of defamation suits being filed as the result of consumers posting bad reviews online of a company’s products or services. The reputations of many businesses, and even farm equipment manufacturers, can be made or broken in just a few keystrokes.

The Internal Revenue Service has issued the 2013 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2013, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

The 75th edition of SIMA, the International Trade Exhibition for Agricultural Equipment and Livestock Farming, will be held from February 24-28, 2013 at the Paris-Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center in Paris, France.

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

Twitter pages have gotten a bit fancier (and more Facebook-like) whether you like it or not. The original user’s Twitter page, which featured the option of a profile photo and a page background of your choosing, now features a third element added to your page’s look. Users can now add a “header” photo that surrounds their profile photo.

The company expects North American tractor market to be flat in 2013 and expects the South American tractor market to grow 5% to 10% in 2013 and the Western European tractor market to be flat, to down 5% in 2013.

Richenhagen said that the company expects pricing to increase 2.5% to

The Agrievolution Alliance, the global coalition of agriculture equipment manufacturing associations, announces the 2013 Agrievolution Forum, to be held December 5-6, 2013 at the Hotel Taj Mahal in New Delhi, India. Proposed themes are global food security and state of the global agriculture machinery industry.

“It’s the fact that rural America, with a shrinking population, is becoming less and less relevant to the politics of this country,” Vilsack said. “We had better recognize that

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently determined that grain sorghum ethanol qualifies as a renewable fuel under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) Program. Governor Sam Brownback said approving the sorghum pathway will help enable the U.S. to meet RFS requirements with domestically-produced ethanol and generate economic growth in Kansas.

As we find ourselves in the holiday season, many small business owners will be hosting parties for their employees. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) recently released the following office party warnings:

House Ag Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) has announced the seven House Republicans who will be joining the Agriculture Committee in January. While some are hopeful a five-year farm bill can be absorbed into an overall budget-cutting bill that could avert the looming “fiscal cliff” of tax increases and spending cuts, its clear many issues still divide ag supporters in congress.

Mike Kloster, president of Worksaver, Inc. Litchfield, IL, recently announced the promotion of Tim Burenga to Vice President of Worksaver, Inc.

In addition to continuing his duties in plant management and purchasing, Tim will become more involved in the long term strategic planning for the company.

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.

Now that crop insurers and USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) know the final market value of drought-damaged crops, the pace of indemnity payments is starting to pick up, a senior official with the insurance program told members of The Chicago Farmers at the group’s annual holiday meeting in Chicago.

With Tuesday night’s signature of Gov. Rick Snyder, Michigan became the 24th state to free workers from laws that enforced collection of union dues and/or fees from workers, regardless of their desire to belong to, or support, the actions of a union.

The victory in the Great Lakes State provides supporters of the right-to-work legislation its strongest foothold yet in a region where union bosses and their bussed-in protestors (supported by much of the press) have recently suffered blows in Indiana and Wisconsin.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced legislation last week to crack down on what some say is a growing problem: metal theft. According to National Insurance Crime Bureau, metal theft has increased more than 80% in recent years. Thieves steal high-priced metal from critical infrastructure, businesses, homes, churches and even veterans’ graves. The Metal Theft Prevention

U.S. businesses and government agencies will finance more than $742 billion in equipment acquisitions in 2013, according to the U.S. Equipment Finance Market Study 2012-2013, released by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation.

Ever wonder what Monsanto’s return on investment is when it comes to research dollars? Last year, the seed company saw a $6.1 billion gross profit from $1.5 billion it spent on seed-and-traits R&D, Robb Fraley, Chief Technology Officer, recently told investors in New York, at Citi’s 5th Annual Basic Materials Symposium. “

If the U.S. Congress and President Obama fail to act, the federal government will begin taking more than half the value of family farm estates exceeding $1 million beginning next year.

Up to 24% of America’s farm and ranch families could be forced to hand over a large chunk of their heritage to the Internal Revenue Service when a family member dies. This would economically devastate rural communities.

News on the following dealers: Stubbendick Implement – Neff Farm Equipment – AGRO and Cervus Equipment Corp. – Titan Machinery Inc. – US Tractor & Harvest

mericans will leave an average of 9.2 paid vacation days on the table this year, a 48% increase from 2011’s average of 6.2 unused paid vacation days.

Deere has reported net income of $687.6 million, for the fourth quarter ended October 31, compared with $669.6 million, for the same period last year. Deere Agriculture & Turf sales increased 16% for the quarter and 13% for the year largely due to higher shipment volumes and price realization, partially offset by the unfavorable effects of currency translation.

Titan Machinery Inc. announced a definitive agreement with VAIT D.o.o. to acquire a CaseIH dealership in the Vojvodina region of Serbia. —

Green Line, Grand Island, NE has a new home in central Nebraska that may be the biggest John Deere dealership in the state.

The Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI) recently released results from a “vision session” with about 30 agriculture leaders from across Saskatchewan, Canada, representing producer groups, processors and manufacturers. The response was that participants want to see their machinery get “smarter” but not necessarily smart enough to take the wheel.

Crary Industries, Inc. and Wayne’s Tile Pro announced that the two companies entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement that covers all of Wayne’s Tile Pro operations.

Michael “Mike” B. Todd, age 66, passed away Thursday, November 15, 2012 at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.

Todd was a Managing Partner at Hardee By EVH

Alamo Group’s, Alamo Industrial, in Seguin, TX recently honored employees and the executive management team for going 2,000 days without a lost-time accident.

“What you have achieved is absolutely amazing,” Ian Burden, president of Alamo Industrial, told the workers. “The thing about safety is it has got to be a culture. You have to want to be safe.”

As a member of this Association, the best way to get the most out of your annual dues is to get involved. We offer many opportunities to become more active, including numerous committees. Whatever your interests or knowledge, there is a committee that will benefit from your input. Find out which committee described below, would best fit your skills.

The U.S. Treasury Department repeated that China’s currency remains, “significantly undervalued” but declined again to label Beijing a currency manipulator. Beijing manages the value of the yuan to keep it lower than it would be if determined by markets, making Chinese exports cheaper on world markets.

In the latest data, released Nov. 26, the trend continued in August, with ag print dollars increasing 8.5% as total industry print revenue decreased 7.4%, compared with the sales data for August 201

“Steel needs a major player to buy underperforming mills and shut them down…” Global steel has a big problem: It’s too big and it’s getting bigger. The Wall Street Journal reports that steel mills around the world have a production capacity of 1.8 billion tons but will take orders for only 1.5 billion tons, this year.

The Obama administration has effectively nullified a provision of the federal health law that would have allowed insurers in the small group market to charge smokers up to 50% more than nonsmokers.

CNH confirmed receipt of a sweetened offer from Fiat Industrial after the earlier offer was unanimously rejected as inadequate and not in the best interests of CNH and its shareholders. Turin, Italy-based Fiat offered an additional cash dividend to sweeten its offer for CNH shares not currently held by it. Fiat Industrial already owns about 88% of CNH’s shares.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has begun to release the long-awaited federal rules for health insurance plans.

Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus told the Great Falls Tribune (Montana) that he wants to protect an estate tax reduction from any deal averting the fiscal cliff. In the interview with his hometown newspaper Baucus said he is working to preserve a reduction in estate taxes that exempts the first $5 million of an estate’s value for individuals and taxes the remainder at 35%.

A market summary compiled by the Missouri Department of Agriculture shows that corn stover is selling in the state for $60 to $100 per ton, or $35 to $45 per large round bale.

While ag headlines for the most part remain upbeat, the last month of 2012 continues to hold uncertainty for members trying to make year end tax decisions, most of it tied to unknown 2013 U.S. tax laws.

Pete Davis provides a short list of reasons why he believes the fiscal cliff won’t get resolved easily and Kiplinger’s tax experts suggestions for year end tax planning.

New student enrollment which dropped by nearly 4,000 at ABA-accredited law schools last year, and now a new survey of admissions offers by test prep company Kaplan shows that slightly more than half, reduced the size of their incoming class this year.

The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) increased for the third consecutive month indicating the rural economy is showing signs of improvement. The farmland price index posted its highest one month increase since the initiation of the survey in 2005.

What started out as chilling crime of violence and total lack of regard for human life, has opened the door for OSHA to cite a Dallas, TX company for four safety violations following a May incident in which an elderly clerk was dowsed with a flammable liquid and set on fire during a robbery

The Palmer Drought Severity Index simplistic design leaves room for scientific interpretation error that can cause some scientists to overstate drought trends.

According to Reuters, a group of grain traders can proceed with a lawsuit to overturn new price-settlement rules at CME Group that they say are killing business in the historic open-outcry trading pits, a judge in Chicago ruled.

The USDA Economic Research Service issued the 2012 Farm Income Forecast, which projects a $4 billion decline from last year’s all-time high and a nearly $2 billion decline in net cash income, though value of production is expected to increase.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that a plurality (48%) of likely U.S. voters continues to believe that if Congress and the president raise taxes to reduce the federal deficit, they are likely to use the money for new government programs instead.

Members seeking Salesperson, Production Manager, Regional Sales Manager. If you are interested in any of these positions and NOT currently employed by a Member, forward your resume, cover letter and salary requirements to Elaina@FarmEquip.org.

With Democrats picking up several seats in the U.S. Senate last week, watch for changes in the make up Ag Committee… additional Democrat seats. Unlikely the Farm Bill currently stalled in Congress will receive much attention during the lame duck session. Thad Cochran is looking seriously at reclaiming the post of top GOP on Ag Committee.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) was a big loser on several fronts last week, spent more than $675,000 in support of measure, which was defeated by a 65 to 35 margin. Also failed to take out Rep. Steve King (R-IA) spent upwards of a million dollars.

Voters in North Dakota first to enshrine the right to farm in state constitution. Voters in California rejected a controversial measure that would have required labels to be placed on products containing genetically modified ingredients.

“Manufacturers and their employees across the nation are already struggling due to the uncertainty of the fiscal abyss. By the end of 2012, the U.S. economy will have taken a 0.6 percent hit to GDP as a result of our fiscal crisis. Manufacturing will remain a central player in our economic future and in solving the fiscal abyss.”

The retail cost of menu items for a classic Thanksgiving dinner including turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the basic trimmings increased less than 1% this year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has initiated a project to develop a new standard on design specifications related to grain bin entry. The new standard will direct bin manufactures to include interior anchorage points to which safety equipment can be attached.