Rural Mainstreet Inches Upward
The May farm equipment-sales index increased slightly. The confidence index sank.
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Member Changes Name
Kodiak by Paladin Attachments has changed its name.
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Kcoe Isom Offers Financial Health Webinar
The no-cost session will cover assessing your finances, managing cash flow, working with lenders, and building financial strength amid uncertainty.
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Nominate a Member Executive
The Association is seeking nominees to stand for election to the Board of Directors. Nominees should serve in leadership positions and have a history of engagement in the Association and the farm equipment industry.
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World Dairy Expo Cancels 2020 Event
For the first time in its 53-year history, World Dairy Expo has been cancelled.
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Judge Says Animal Activists Can Secretly Record at Work
A judge handed a victory to animal-rights advocates by declaring parts of a law in violation of the right to free speech.
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Cyber Attacks Rise by 156 Percent in Manufacturing
The pandemic provided new opportunities to cyber attackers, and manufacturing was hit hard.
Read moreBill Would Expand Use of PPP Funds, Extend Timeline
Legislation awaiting consideration in the Senate expands the terms of the loans from the Paycheck Protection Program and allows small businesses to spend more of the money on non-payroll costs.
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KCoe Offers More Info on Forgiveness on PPP
The SBA may review any PPP loan for eligibility, accuracy of the loan amount, the borrower’s use of funds, and accuracy of the forgiveness calculation. Check out these stipulations for forgiveness.
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Members With More Than One Business, Take Note
In cases in which a single employer has aggregated companies, if one company receives a PPP loan, all companies within the group are prohibited from claiming the employee retention credit.
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China Pauses Ag Purchases as Tensions Escalate
China has promised “firm countermeasures” in response to a move by the White House on Friday to eliminate special treatment for Hong Kong. Those countermeasures are believed to include importing fewer commodities.
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Sales Fall in Deere’s Second Quarter
The loss of potentially $1 billion in net income is a microcosm of how the pandemic is impacting the agriculture supply chain and farmers.
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USDA, Prosecutors Investigate Meatpackers
The president of the North Dakota Farmers Union said the industry has rarely seen such obvious market abuses by the meatpacking industry.
Read moreSurvey: Manufacturers Stay Course Amid Virus
More than one in five manufacturers adapted operations to produce personal protective equipment; 67 percent re-engineered processes to elevate health safety measures.
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Nominate an Executive to Serve on the Board
Nominees should serve in leadership positions in their organizations and have demonstrated a history of engagement in Association work and the farm equipment industry.
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Maximize Membership: Update Directory Listing
The printed digital directory is in production now. Update your listing to stay connected to others in the industry.
Read moreLast Call: Benchmark Survey Gets One More Week
The Association has made significant investment in this survey because members told us they value the information. And, the more companies that participate, the richer the data becomes. Please take a moment to complete it.
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Farmers Show Improved Willingness to Spend
The Ag Economy Barometer suggests farmers felt less cautious about big expenses in April than they did in May. The survey overall shows subtle improvements.
Read moreIn Memoriam: Jim Hawkins
The former CEO of Weasler died in March.
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ASABE Revises Front Loader Standard
The standard specifies safety requirements for the design and construction of agricultural front-end loaders to be mounted on tractors.
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As Normalcy Returns, Adopt Visitor Policies
Consider implementing these protocols to protect your workforce and communities.
Read moreAg Auction Group Reports Strong Spring
Buyers are looking for well-maintained equipment. The company saw a sharp rise in sales of well-cared-for tractors that are 15 years old or older.
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Business Booms at Small Meat Processors
As coronavirus outbreaks shut down or reduced production at major meat processing plants, farmers scrambled to find alternatives. As is the case with much around the coronavirus, this shift created winners and losers.
Read moreEthanol Production Jumps in May, Trails 2019
While the month-over-month gain is encouraging, it represents a decline in demand of 145 million bushels of corn compared to a year ago.
Read moreTales of Warning and Tips from Sentry
As part of an extensive online resource to help businesses navigate the COVID-19 landscape, Sentry Insurance offers these lessons and suggestions.
Read moreHouse Votes to Give Small Businesses Flexibility on PPP
The House on Thursday passed legislation that expands the terms of the Payroll Protection Program to allow employers to spend a greater portion on non-payroll expenses.
Read moreHelp Your Workforce Become Resilient
Leaders asking themselves how resilient their business is should also ask a more foundationally important question: How resilient are your people?
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Take These Steps to Restore Operations
As we emerge from the depth of disruption, consider these steps in ramping up operations.
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Expect Extension on PPP Compliance Deadline
The administration seems open to the possibility of extending the timeline to meet obligations of Payroll Protection Program, although a 24-week window is uncertain.
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Farm Aid to Launch After Memorial Day
Farmers and ranchers seeking a lifeline from the Agriculture Department can sign up for a relief check starting Monday.
Read moreCNH Plant Reopens After Five-Week Closure
The plant suspended operations April 7 amid a quick case escalation in its community. It reopened with a series of new safety measures.
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ASABE Offers Webinars on Braking Standards
Engineer and project lead Bruce Hawkins will lead webinars about what towed implements need brakes under the new standards. He also will answer questions about braking performance and offer a sizing overview.
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AGI’s CFO to Leave Position
The Board of Directors for AGI has begun a search to find a successor for CFO Steve Sommerfeld.
Read moreBuhler Consolidates Production
Buhler will expand operations in Willmar, Minn., and cease production in Fargo, N.D.
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Need ‘Social Distance’ Visual Reminders?
Member Company Muir Omni Graphics has window clings, floor markers, and other products that remind employees to mitigate risk.
Read moreDun-Lap Digital & Screen Graphics Rebranded as Vernon Graphic Solution
Dun-Lap Digital & Screen Graphics has rebranded as Vernon Graphic Solutions.
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How to Respond to Positive Cases
The infection rate in rural communities increased by 170 percent in a month-long span. Know how to respond at your plant.
Read moreFewer Businesses Apply for Second Round of PPP
As of late last week, more than 40 percent of the funds remained available in the Paycheck Protection Program. That is in stark contrast to the rapid depletion of the fund in the first stimulus package.
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KCoe Offers Guidance on Keeping, Applying for PPP
Every PPP borrower should answer—and document responses—to these questions, and remember, if you have questions, your membership entitles you to a no-cost, confidential consultation with an expert.
Read moreDeere, UAW Negotiate to Keep Plants Operating
Deere agreed to provide paid sick leave to employees who thought they might have been exposed to the virus but did not get tested and offered other safety measures that kept the plant operating.
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Member Companies Adjust, Prioritize Communication
Operations at member companies throughout North America have changed dramatically to reflect our new normal.
Read moreAlamo Group Reports on Q1
Alamo Group’s net sales for the first quarter of 2020 increased by 20 percent compared to the same quarter in 2019. Net sales for the company’s Agricultural Division decreased by 4.4 percent.
Read moreCongress Discusses Next Stimulus, Payments Coming for Farmers
Direct payments should be on their way soon to farmers. Meanwhile, lawmakers discuss support to small businesses as part of a new round of stimulus funding.
Read moreCNH Releases Q1 Numbers
Net sales were down for the first quarter due to impact of the coronavirus.
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Friendly Reminder: Benchmark Survey Due Soon
You will receive an email nudge this week from the folks at Industry Insights reminding you to submit your information next week for the 2020 Business Profile & Financial Performance study.
Read moreAg In Motion Becomes Virtual Event
Ag In Motion Discovery Plus is July 21 to 25. The digital format is in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read moreLawmakers to Focus on Small Businesses This Week
Proposals include extending the timeline on PPP and allowing businesses to use more of the funds for overhead. Some lawmakers want to create new funding vehicles.
Read moreWhite House Doubles Down on Supply Chain in China
A longstanding priority for the president has become a “whole of government” push amid what officials call a “perfect storm.”
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