Mahindra’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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Pork Council: Bacon Does Not Come from Plants
Impossible Foods has unveiled its Impossible Pork. The pig sector said this: What’s impossible is to make pork from plants.
Read moreIowa, Illinois Surpass Billion-Dollar Mark in Trade Aid
USDA’s Farm Service Agency has paid out nearly $11 billion in 2019, with Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota receiving the most.
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Contact Your Reps, Time’s Up on USMCA
Farmers get their jobs done. Manufacturers get their jobs done. It’s up to lawmakers to get their jobs done and ratify USMCA.
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Industry Groups Celebrate Agreement on USMCA
The USMCA is expected to increase annual U.S. agricultural and food exports by $2.2 billion. Gains are expected primarily in dairy, poultry, wheat, and alcohol exports.
Read moreDone Deal: U.S., China Reach Phase One Agreement
A phase-one trade deal stipulates China buy $200 billion worth of U.S. goods and services, which includes $40 to $50 billion worth of agriculture products.
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Mini Trade Deal with Japan Good for U.S. Meat
Japan will lower or eliminate tariffs on $7.2 billion worth of U.S. farm exports starting Jan. 1. The president of the U.S. Meat Export Federation called it “one of the biggest developments in the history of red meat trade.”
Read moreVermeer Corp. Buys Schuler Manufacturing
Vermeer Corporation has purchased Schuler Manufacturing, a family-owned manufacturer of feeding solutions based in Griswold, Iowa. Products will initially be sold under the Schuler brand and transition to Vermeer as the two companies integrate.
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Jensen Joins Lessiter Media
Nick Jensen has joined Lessiter Media as director of business development, partnerships and innovation.
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Bush Hog Supports Breast Cancer Awareness
Bush Hog recently donated $10,000 to Joy to Life Foundation in Alabama from proceeds it raised by selling tickets to enter a drawing for a pink Bush Hog ZT.
Read moreDinamica Generale Acquires Zeltex
Dinamica Generale U.S. has acquired Zeltex, Inc.
Read moreUSDA Considers Third Round of Trade Aid
USDA will decide in January whether to issue the third tranche of payments under the 2019 Market Facilitation Program. A trade deal with China will not necessarily stop USDA from releasing the money.
Read moreUSDA, FCC Focus on Internet Capacity for Rural America
The FCC will establish a $9 billion fund to deploy advanced wireless services to rural America and designate $1 billion for precision ag needs. The USDA continues to invest in broadband infrastructure.
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Kubota Reports Rise in Revenue
Kubota’s revenues increased by 7.1 percent for the first 9 months of 2019 compared to the same period last year. The greatest gains came from domestic sales for the Japan-based company.
Read moreRaven Releases Q3 Earnings
Net sales for Raven Industries were down by 4.1 percent. Operating income decreased by 16.7 percent, primarily driven by increased spending on research and development and selling activities.
Read moreMahindra’s Sales Decline
Mahindra sales fell by 19 percent in November. Exports for the month shrunk 21.7 percent.
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S3 Wireform Names Outside Sales Rep
Megz Reynolds has been named as an outside sales representative for S3 Wireform, Inc.
Read moreCanada’s Farm Progress Show Rebrands
The Canadian farm show formerly known as Farm Progress has been renamed Canada’s Farm Show. Its focus in 2020 will shift from a consumer trade show to an industry networking and business event.
Read moreFarming Remains a Family Business
Family farms represented 98 percent of U.S. farms and 88 percent of production in 2018, according to a USDA report. The report also said most farmers earn more than the U.S. median income.
Read moreAMC Names New Executive Director
Donna Boyd, who has roots in Winnepeg and leadership experience with non-profit organizations, has been named executive director of AMC.
Read moreDealer News
Check out the latest in dealer news, which includes a new CFO, an expansion, and a store closure.
Read moreGoodman Recognized for Leadership, Service
Andy Goodman, president and CEO of the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealers Association, recently was recognized for his 25 years of service representing equipment dealers. He retires at year’s end.
Read moreSen. Booker Introduces Farm Reform Bill
Sen. Cory Booker this week unveiled a proposed moratorium on expanding large factory farms in a bill aimed at reforming the agriculture system, breaking up monopolistic practices in the industry and holding corporate farms responsible for environmental impacts.
Read moreCorn Yield Contest: Friendly Fun, Innovation
Despite adverse growing conditions that impacted most farmers, improved seed varieties, advanced production techniques and innovative growing practices allowed corn growers to achieve record yields.
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Manufacturers Will Spend Less in 2020
Factory executives forecast capital expenditures will decrease 2.1 percent in 2020, which if realized would be the first annual decline in 11 years. That compares to a reported increase of 6.4 percent in 2019.
Read moreTransportation Insights Acquires FreightPros
Transportation Insight has acquired Meridian Logistics LLC of Austin, Texas, which does business as FreightPros. FreightPros brings “deep expertise” in the LTL brokerage market.
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Ag Industry Engages More in Climate Conversation
Historic weather episodes may be contributing to a shift in thinking among farmers on climate change. “Everybody I talk to, including farmers, they say ‘Yeah, we need to talk about this. … We’re seeing things we’re not used to seeing,” says an Iowa farmer and Trump advisor.
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Groups Launch Program to Battle Farmers’ Stress
The American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Farmers Union, and Farm Credit have introduced a program to train people who work with farmers and ranchers to recognize signs of stress and connect those farmers with professional help.
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Cows Go to Happy Place Using Virtual Reality
A team of developers in Russia has fitted a herd of cows with their own virtual reality glasses. It is an attempt to determine if creating a virtual idyllic setting improves milk production.
Read moreMore Weird News About Cows: A Floating Farm
A company aptly named Floating Farm has created a dairy operation aboard a three-story barge in the Netherlands. The cows live on the top floor and are managed largely by robots.
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Farmers’ Willingness to Invest in Capital Hits 21-Month High
Agricultural economy sentiment in November matched its highest reading of 2019, which included a big bump in how willing farmers are to invest in equipment and other capital.
Read moreTrade Aid Helps Farmers’ Balance Sheets
Nearly one-third of projected U.S. net farm income this year will come from government aid and federally funded commodity insurance payments, according to a forecast issued last week by the USDA.
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Pork Producers Put Dollars to Potential in China
U.S. pork producers see a potential $24.5 billion annual market in China within 10 years if the Trump administration can gain unrestricted trade access after the Asian country’s hog herd has been devastated by disease.
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Ahoy, Soy: Beans Arrive on China’s Shore
American soybeans that were once stranded on ships along China’s coast are now coming ashore. The beans were stranded because although a 30 percent retaliatory tariff had been waived, buyers still had to pay a deposit.
Read moreNet Sales Rise, Forecast Falls for Deere
Deere’s net sales in agriculture and turf increased for the fourth quarter and the year while operating profit fell. The company attributed the dip in operating profit to, among other things, higher production costs and an increase in research-and-development spending.
Read moreDeere Offers Employees Voluntary Separation
Deere rolled out a volunteer employee buyout program last week ahead of its fourth-quarter earnings call.
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Leadership Change at Sukup Manufacturing
Charles Sukup will step down as CEO. His brother, Steve Sukup, the company’s CFO, will take the helm of the family business.
Read moreAGI Reports Rise in Trade Sales
Ag Growth International reported a 7 percent increase in total trade sales for the third quarter of 2019.
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Cattle Ranchers Fight Fake Meat Movement
Cattle ranchers and their allies are pushing regulators to scrutinize alternative meat-makers, recruiting food scientists to test plant-based products for potential health risks, and ramping up counter-campaigns to highlight beef’s nutritional benefits. They’ve even drafted responses to questions posed to digital assistants.
Read moreSummit Details Taking Shape, Dates Shift Slightly
Association staff members are in Albuquerque this week exploring the city on behalf of Supply Summit attendees and examining how our group can best use space in the hotel. As the schedule has taken shape, we have tweaked the dates of the meeting to extend it by one day.
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White House Restores Metals Tariffs in South America
President Donald Trump on Monday said he would restore tariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum imports from Brazil and Argentina. He said the countries have been “presiding over a massive devaluation of their currencies, which is not good for our farmers.”
Read moreChina Deal (and Tariff Deadline) Are Close
President Trump told reporters Monday that China wants to find common ground in trade negotiations. Kellyanne Conway, a senior adviser to Trump, said a trade deal with China is possible by year’s end. New tariffs are scheduled to take effect Dec. 15.
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