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.

Ag Growth International Inc. reported its financial results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2012, and declared dividends for December 2012, January 2013 and February 2013. Trade sales in the three and nine month periods ending September 30, 2012 increased $1.6 million (2%) and $20.7 million (9%) over the same periods in the prior

The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac) announced that it achieved record core earnings and program volume for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.

Alamo Group Inc. reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2012. Net sales for the third quarter were $156.1 million compared to net sales of $155.1 million for the same quarter of 2011, an increase of 1%.

Newly elected officers and directors of the Equipment Marketing & Distribution Association (EMDA) for 2012-2013 are:

The Jacksonville Fall Convention is over but, if you didn’t have a chance to check or forward any messages on the joint e-message system before leaving, there’s still time.

Fiat Industrial has announced a new management structure aimed at making it easier to merge with its U.S. subsidiary CNH Global N.V.

Ron Jones, of Dick Jones & Associates, was awarded the top prize in the C. P. Nicholson sponsorship competition. Jones, as a way to say thank you, was rewarded with a free registration to the Jacksonville Fall Convention.

– Titan Machinery announced that three central Nebraska Case IH agricultural equipment dealerships —
– RDO Equipment Co. announces a partnership with Vanderfield Pty Ltd, an Australian Deere dealer group. –
– Cervus Equipment Company has released results for the third quarter of 2012
– Rocky Mountain Dealerships has reported financial results for the quarter ending September 30, 2012
– Lessiter Publications reports that Bobcat is reversing its five year old decision to sell compact tractors as

Members of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association are invited to attend the 2013 Ag Executive Forum, by Farm Journal Media and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), held in conjunction with AG CONNECT Expo & Summit 2013.

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack urged Congress to break a logjam and pass a reform-minded farm bill, but two lobbyists said the deadlocked $500 billion bill may not be enacted for months, or even a year.

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

Former Secretary of Agriculture and current U.S. Senator, Mike Johanns, recently paid a visit to the corporate headquarters of CLAAS of America for a tour of the plant and to “talk shop” with CoA President Leif Magnusson.

Penton Media announced it acquired Farm Progress from Fairfax Media Limited of Sydney, Australia significantly expanding its agriculture sector footprint. The purchase price was $79.9 million before certain adjustments.

The 2012 U.S. corn crop is forecast at 10.725 billion bushels, 19 million bushels larger than the October forecast. The U.S. average corn yield is forecast at 122.3 bushels, 0.3 bushels larger than the October forecas

Hemisphere GPS Inc, said it will exit its non-agriculture-related business and cut 38% of its total workforce. The company, which appointed Rick Heiniger chief executive in September, said it expects to save $7 million annually from the restructuring. The total workforce will be reduced from 273 to about 170.

Mahindra & Mahindra’s Farm Equipment Sector, a part of the USD $15.4 billion Mahindra Group, reported their total tractor sales (domestic and exports) in September 2012 stood at 20,085 units, compared to 24,673 units for the same period last year, registering a fall of 18.6

At the September meeting of the Board of Directors of the North American Equipment Dealers Assn. (NAEDA), Paul Kindinger announced that he would be leaving the organization. His resignation was effective October 4, 2012.

Tractor Central will add locations in Westby and West Salem, WI, for a total of 10 locations, effective November 1, according to Agri-View.

Ag Flash Reports compares data from the current and past year of the U.S., Canadian and Russian unit retail sales of two- and four-wheel drive tractors and self-propelled combines. Highlights of the reports are listed below.

The Fall Issue of Ag Innovator, the Association’s quarterly magazine is being mailed out this week. Copies of this publication will also be available during the Jacksonville Fall Convention.

This issue includes a special advertising section, Industry Innovators 2012.

Worksaver, Inc. recently hired Kevin Seely as a new sales representative. Seely was previously employed within the chemical and fertilizer business and in store management for 18 years with the Tractor Supply Company store in Litchfield, I

Results from the most recent Dealer Sentiment & Business Conditions Update survey show that North American farm equipment dealers are feeling a bit better about their business prospects these days. At the same time, commentary from the survey indicates that dealers are still gun shy about making big plans for 2013.

According to new data from the Census Bureau, people who work from home some of the time tend to make more money than people who work exclusively at home or at the office.

AGCO announced a $20 million investment for its tractor manufacturing facility in Beauvais, France. The new complex will house the tractor cab production line and will also become home to a new Massey Ferguson International sales training center.

Manufacturing unexpectedly expanded in September after three months of contraction, reflecting stronger orders that ease concern the U.S. economy will slow further.

The U.S. Drought Monitor is produced in partnership between the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Click Headline for current image.

From an Association standpoint, we are continuously looking at ways to stay relevant to you, our member. In turn, we aim to pass this relevancy on to you, by helping you connect within the industry, maintain efficiency through utilizing our cost-saving programs, and gain knowledge about issues that impact not only the industry, but your company as well. Our purpose is simple: We are here to assist you, as a manufacturer, supplier or marketing member.

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 all our members.

On July 6, 2012, when President Obama signed into law the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, aka Highway Funding Bill, many small manufacturers of farm equipment may not have been thinking about the text that appears on page 371 of the 584 page law. That’s where you will find Subtitle F-Improved Daytime and Nighttime — Visibility of Agricultural Equipment.

Farm Credit banks issued a joint statement pledging to stand by farmers, ranchers, cooperatives and other agricultural borrowers grappling with severe drought conditions across the country.

With less than four months to go before opening day, pavilion booth space booked by members of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association for the 2013 AG CONNECT Expo & Summit has climbed by almost 20%, compared with the 2011 event.

The next two weeks hold the last chance for passage of SB 1169, the dealer supported legislation in Pennsylvania.

Titan Machinery Inc.’s fiscal second-quarter profit was down 17% as the agricultural and construction-equipment retailer saw its margins pressured by a drought and a

Ag Flash Reports compares data from the current and past year of the U.S., Canadian and Russian unit retail sales of two- and four-wheel drive tractors and self-propelled combines.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has initiated a project to revise a previously adopted ISO standard ISO 8759-1:1998,

Canadian production of corn and soybeans this year stands to backfill a small part of U.S. demand for those crops, after the Midwest drought slashed U.S. production.

Annual premiums for employer-sponsored family health coverage reached $15,745 this year, up 4% from last year, with workers on average paying $4,316 toward the cost of their coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation/Health Research & Educational Trust.

The survey, conducted from June 15-29, 2012, was based on the responses of 88 agricultural banks located within the boundaries of the Eighth Federal Reserve District.

By now you should have received your newly updated paper edition of the 2012-2013 Membership Directory.

Canada’s second-largest hog producer has entered receivership as the North American hog industry struggles under the bruising costs of animal feed, according to a report by Reuters.

Big Sky Farms, based in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, produces roughly one million pigs annually and accounts for 40% of Saskatchewan’s total hog production.

DTN Ag Policy Editor Chris Clayton recently outlined the debate over the rural vote in the upcoming U.S. presidential election. “Democratic President Barack Obama has supported rural America as farmers achieved record income over the past four years or is “anti-agriculture” and helped induce an unprecedented regulatory burden on rural America,”

Financial Post reports that Canada’s trade deficit rose to record levels, raising warning flags over the country’s elevated currency and lagging productivity. The trade deficit jumped to $2.34 billion in July, the highest level since

Drought, national elections and an expiring farm bill have every media outlet not only interest in agriculture but ready to take an aggressive position on what direction U.S. farm policy should take over the next five years.

Do you know of a company that would benefit from membership in the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association?

Farm equipment manufacturers are banking on soaring crop prices to help them weather this historic U.S. drought. Executives at the majors, foresee little disruption for the industry in coming quarters, even as the drought takes a heavy toll on the nation’s corn and soybean crops.

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