U.S., China, Take First Steps After Phase One Deal
The U.S. and China took the first steps last week in implementing a trade deal that ultimately could generate an additional $32 billion in agriculture exports to China.
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ASF Vaccine Shows Promise, Availability Seems Distant
U.S. officials have developed a 100-percent effective vaccine against African swine fever, but it likely will not be available for commercial use for years.
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Art’s Way Reports Strong Finish to 2019
Net sales increased by 16 percent for the fourth quarter compared to the same quarter last year. Sales in the ag segment increased by 59 percent for the final quarter.
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Unverferth Buys Force Unlimited
Unverferth Manufacturing has purchased Force Unlimited, manufacturer of Pro-Force fertilizer spreaders.
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Sukup Wins Innovation Awards
Five new products from Sukup Manufacturing Co. have been named by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) as among 48 outstanding ag innovations of 2019. In other news, Steve Sukup officially assumed the role of president and CEO on Feb. 1.
Read moreAI Marketing Tool Identifies Equipment Prospects
Fastline Media has introduced a marketing product focused on identifying anonymous website visitors. It identifies online visitors and provides their name, address, and email.
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Dealer News
Check out the latest in dealership mergers, acquisitions, and a closure.
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EDA, Others, Unite Against Right-to-Repair
EDA’s Natalie Higgins said the association has “worked in lockstep” with AEM and other associations to oppose “an onslaught of so-called right-to-repair bills …”
Read moreEmployers: Switch to Revised I-9 Form
The United States Citizenship & Immigration Services has changed the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, as of Jan. 31. Find the new form here.
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AGCO’s Sales Dip in Final Quarter
Net sales at AGCO dipped by about 3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2019. Net sales for the full year of 2019 decreased by 3.3 percent.
Read moreNet Sales Fall at CNHi
Revenue for the agriculture segment at CNHi was down 7.2 percent for the quarter and 6.2 percent for the year. The company expects farmer sentiment to stabilize this year.
Read moreDeere Downsizes at Construction, Forestry Plant
John Deere Dubuque Works announced Friday that it will lay off 105 employees.
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Breaking Down the Breakout Sessions
Looking for export advise? Tips for mitigating liability risk? Help understanding what’s ahead for hemp? Tools to navigate (or influence) sales tax law? The latest on safety standards? We’ve got you covered.
Read moreSuppliers: Showcase Space is Filling Fast
Sixty-one companies have reserved their space in the 2020 Supplier Product Showcase in Albuquerque. Only nine booths remain inside the exhibit hall.
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Supercharge Your Email Marketing
Email marketing continues to deliver for shortline manufacturers. Check out these three strategies to optimize your impact.
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Jury Awards $5 Million to Widow in Tractor Fatality
A jury in Oklahoma recently awarded a woman $5 million in a civil suit claiming her husband’s death in a tractor accident was the equipment manufacturer’s fault.
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USMCA: Success in D.C. Does Not Mean Done Deal
President Trump signed his signature trade deal with Mexico and Canada last week, but the three countries still must meet many of their obligations before the pact can take effect. A former aide to the president has cautioned that the pact may not be in force until 2021.
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Final Round of Trade Aid to Farmers ‘Imminent’
Sonny Perdue told farmers that the final 2019 installment of trade was on the way. In 2020, he expects a robust export market to restore farm incomes.
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Union Membership in Manufacturing Hits New Low
The share of American workers in labor unions fell to a fresh record low in 2019. Union membership in manufacturing fell to 8.6 percent.
Read moreRevised Water Rule Pulls Back from Overreach
The final rule from the EPA and the Army Corps removes millions of miles of streams and roughly half the country’s wetlands from protection under the Clean Water Act.
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Court Issues ‘Welcome Decision’ for Corn Growers
An appeals court ruling that the EPA did not properly grant exemptions to three small oil refineries is good news for corn growers and biofuels advocates.
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Tom Taylor Appointed VP in Newly Formed Ag Group
Taylor has been named vice president of specialty products in Alamo Group’s agriculture division.
Read moreAGI Buys Outstanding Shares in Affinity
AGI plans to level up on its Suretrack farm management software platform with a deal for another Canadian player in the same business.
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GKN Appoints New CFO
GKN Wheels and Structures has appointed Abdul Butt as its chief executive officer. He assumed responsibilities immediately.
Read moreLoftness is Now Employee-Owned
Member company Loftness Specialized Equipment has embarked upon an employee stock ownership plan. Since owner Marv Nelson’s death, ownership has been split among family members.
Read moreAGCO Expands in France
AGCO will invest $44.4 million to develop an “industry 4.0 site” in Beauvais, France.
Read moreThe Envelope Please … Something Extra This Issue
One of the newsletters that is arriving in your plant today has a separate card in the envelope. Affixed to that card is a 2020 metal plate to update your Association membership plaque.
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ASABE Revises Standard, Members Offered Safety Info
ASABE has revised its standard for operating mobile liquid and slurry tanks. Association members have no-cost access to an extensive compilation of safety standards as a benefit of membership.
Read moreU.S. Trade Deal with UK on Fast Track
The United States wants to conclude a trade deal with the United Kingdom this year.
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Supply Summit 2020: Registration Open
The Association’s spring meeting is 10 weeks away, and registration is at its lowest rate for one more week! Join us for this extraordinary networking opportunity and hear from pros, including an election year analysis, navigating generational shifts in a family business, and the start of a five-part series on operational excellence.
Read moreDrilling Into Details: Breakout Session Topics
In addition to the general sessions introduced in this issue, attendees will have options for breakout sessions. Check out these five discussion categories.
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Law Would Enable More Businesses to Offer 401(k)s
A piece of retirement legislation awaiting a Senate vote represents the largest change to retirement plan regulations in more than a decade.
Read moreDeere Discusses Plan to Boost Profits
Deere & Co. last week said it will cut costs and ramp up investment in data-driven agriculture technology and its services business to make itself more profitable. The company is also reviewing its overseas footprint in markets that have peaked or over-invested.
Read moreTrade Progress: China Deal, USMCA Advance
President Trump welcomes Chinese officials to D.C. this week to sign the recently negotiated phase-one trade deal with China. Final approval is expected as early as this week on USMCA.
Read moreValmont Invests in Asia, Acquires AgSense
Valmont Industries has signed an agreement with Kazakhstan to invest in a new plant to produce irrigation systems in the Asian nation. The company also has agreed to acquire the remaining 49 percent stake in AgSense.
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Daugherty Sells to Ag Express
Ag Express Electronics in Des Moines has acquired the assets of the manufacturing and distribution divisions of The Daugherty Companies, an Association member. CEO David Daugherty has retired.
Read moreAg Economy Affects Buhler
Revenue at Buhler Industries decreased in 2019. The company expects to achieve higher gross margins in 2020.
Read moreLessiter Media Acquires Cover Crop Innovators
Lessiter Media Inc. has acquired Cover Crop Innovators from long-time farmer and consultant Steve Groff.
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Meeting Notice: Rotary Cutter Council
The council’s annual spring meeting will again be help in conjunction with the farm show in Louisville.
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Fears of African Swine Fever Prompt Global Response
Hunting dogs are being trained to sniff out dead wild boar. Drivers are being urged to not toss ham-sandwich scraps out of their car windows. Vaccine centers are being launched. And plans are underway to contain outbreaks.
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New Holland to Partner with Hemp Group
The alliance aims to solve one of the hemp industry’s biggest challenges: the absence of commercial scale harvesting and decortication equipment.
Read moreMahindra’s Tractor Exports Drop 13 Percent
Both sales and exports saw a double-digit decline in December-to-December comparisons.
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Mozilla Firefox Users: It’s Time to Upgrade
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is urging users of the Mozilla Firefox web browser to install an update.
Read moreDealer News
Check out who’s building, who’s expanding, who just landed an exclusive distribution deal, and who’s moving into a new professional role.
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Farmers End 2019 More Willing to Invest
The Ag Economy Barometer drifted sideways in December, but the Farm Capital Investment Index concluded 2019 at the highest index value for the year.
Read moreRural Mainstreet Index Shows Growth
The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) for December remained above growth neutral for the fourth consecutive month.
Read moreASABE, CSA Collaborate on Standard for Front Loader
ASABE and the CSA Group have initiated a project to revise standards related to front-end loaders.
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Dairy Industry Struggles
The state of Wisconsin lost 10 percent of its dairy farms in 2019. In related news, a second major milk producer filed for bankruptcy recently.
Read moreMileage Rate Drops by Half-Cent
The standard mileage rate for business travel in 2020 is 57.5 cents per mile.
Read moreMember Dues 100 Percent Deductible
For the Association’s most recently concluded fiscal year, the cost of membership dues are completely deductible.
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