CNH Industrial has announced that its consolidated revenues for the most recent quarter rose by 17.1 percent. Net sales for agriculture equipment increased by 15 percent.

A tight labor market is leading to delays and rising costs for companies that use trains and trucks. Railroads and trucking companies can pass increases on to their customers, but it can be harder for customers, which creates a drag on profits. One company reported an 8 percent increase in freight costs in its first quarter, which took $2 million off its bottom line.

Although NAFTA talks stalled earlier this month, there’s an indication of progress. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland is heading to Washington in an attempt to rekindle negotiations on the agreement and seek permanent exemptions on steel tariffs.

Elton Malish, founder of K&M Manufacturing Co., Inc., in Taylor, Texas, died April 29. He was 79.

With the ratio of unemployed people to open jobs at virtually one-to-one, the job market would be expected to tilt in favor of workers and job-seekers. But the sharp jump in openings has not led to a comparable jump in pay.

Do your products contain any of the 900-plus chemicals listed in California’s Prop 65? If so, as of August, manufacturers must have a warning label. Learn more at FarmEquip.org/Prop65.

Member company NTN Bearing Corporation of America turned 100 this spring. “When a corporation has been doing business globally for 100 years, it is indeed reason for celebration,” said President and CEO Pete Eich.

NAFTA negotiations stalled last week after the U.S. proposed new rules related to component parts for cars and trucks. The break in talks brought the countries to the deadline in which President Trump said he would impose steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico. A decision Monday delayed that imposition.

Brad Nelson, who was a member of the board of directors for the Agricultural Manufacturers of Canada for more than a decade, has died. Nelson was the former general manager of Honey Bee in Frontier, Saskatchewan.

Charles Grassley, who serves on the Senate Ag Committee, offers his thoughts on trade deals with Canada and Mexico and countries in the Asia-Pacific region. He speculates on the possibility of a trade deal with Japan and talks about Trump’s plan to protect farmers if the deals fail.

Richard A. Unverferth, co-founder of Unverferth Manufacturing Co., Inc., was inducted posthumously into the Ag Hall of Fame in Putnam County, Ohio. His son said he would have been “humbled and appreciative.”

Farmers are worried about trade, specifically what’s at stake for soybeans. While their mood overall has soured since March, farmers’ willingness to make significant investments in equipment changed little.

With the Marketing & Distribution Convention in Minneapolis approaching this fall, the Association’s Membership Committee will focus its work on reaching out to prospective member companies within a 500-mile radius of the Twin Cities.

In 1987, 15 percent of all cropland was on farms with at least 2,000 acres. Twenty-five years later, 36 percent of cropland was on farms with at least 2,000 acres. That finding is among many in a decades-long analysis by the USDA that confirms a trend toward fewer and bigger farms.

A division of Fastline Media Group is offering a free webinar Wednesday (May 2) on how farm equipment manufacturers can convert website visitors into sales leads.

A draft of the 2018 Farm Bill released by the U.S. House of Representatives would reduce spending by about $100 billion over 10 years compared to the 2014 bill. About 90 percent of the cuts would come from the nutrition program.

The Association welcomes three membership applicants this month and thanks these member companies celebrating milestone membership anniversaries in May.

American ginseng retails for about $120 a pound, which is 1,700 times more expensive than U.S. corn. This tiny but lucrative U.S. industry, based primarily in Wisconsin, is now threatened by a 15 percent tariff imposed by China.

Committee balloting closed April 18 on the proposed changes to the current ASABE Agricultural Equipment Braking Standard. While not all comments are posted, it is clear that many in the industry do not support the change.

The state has passed a law that the governor says will right an imbalance between employees’ skills and employers’ needs.

Nearly 100 of you took the time to provide feedback about the Supply Summit & Showcase in Omaha. Thank you. If you did not complete the survey, even if you did not attend the Summit, we’d like to hear your thoughts on two key questions.

Looking for ways to offer feedback to employees that is less awkward and better received? This columnist suggests, among other things, first acknowledging what works well, being specific, and being brief.

A suburban man on a tractor led police on a low-speed chase through two Central Illinois counties last week. The chase hit an estimated top speed of 22 mph before it ended when the man on the tractor was bested by a narrow bridge.

AGCO has reported net sales of approximately $2 billion for the first quarter of 2018, an increase of about 23.3 percent compared to the first quarter of 2017.

State and local governments are increasingly adopting laws and regulations that prohibit employers from requesting salary history from job applicants. Find a link here to a database of states and cities that have passed such bans.

For the first time since the middle of 2015, the Rural Mainstreet Index has recorded three straight months of overall indices above growth neutral. The farm equipment sales index, while still below growth neutral, continues to trend upward.

Hiring is up, but employers remain cautious about the future.
Instead of boosting wages, they’re offering better benefits, increased flexibility and professional development opportunities. They’re also relying on contract workers.

Jon Sherrod with Bondioli & Pavesi will serve as chairman of the Supplier Board of Governors for the next year. Joining him in officer roles are Joe Sampson from Osmundson, Scott Moss of Comer Industries, and Marc Adams with GBGI.

The 65th Annual 3i SHOW will be March 21, 22, and 23 in 2019. Priority renewal for 2018 exhibitors has begun.

Beall Manufacturing and Cutting Specialists have announced that Travis Hogan has been promoted to director of marketing and sales. He succeeds Art Fultz, who retired in October.

Art’s Way Manufacturing Co. saw a 21.4 percent increase in consolidated corporate sales during the first quarter of this fiscal year. Executives attribute the increase to greater demand for ag products and an increase in sales of modular buildings.

Jim Walker, Case IH vice president in North America, has retired effective immediately. Walker was with Case for longer than 11 years.

After three difficult years, Kuhn, which is the largest business unit of the Swiss engineering group Bucher Industries, sees “a clear recovery.” Trends are especially encouraging in Europe. The company expects the rebound in North America to lag.

Opponents to right-to-repair legislation in Oklahoma have killed the bill.

The 2018 Supplier Product Showcase in Omaha may match our all-time high participation number. Check out the companies who will exhibit and develop a plan for making the most of the showcase.

Member company GKN Shafts & Services, part of one of Britain’s oldest engineering firms, has been sold.
Melrose Industries, which specializes in turning around manufacturing businesses and selling them, bought the company with the support of 52 percent of its shareholders.

Kubota Canada Ltd. (KCL) has taken over the distribution of Great Plains equipment. The move comes two years after Kubota Corp. acquired five divisions of Great Plains.

In an always evolving industry, we value even more the stability that comes with decades-long relationships. That is why each month we celebrate the companies marking milestone membership anniversaries.

Research conducted by security firm McAfee reveals that ransomware attacks increased by 59 percent in 2017 and became more focused on operational disruption rather than financial gain.

Heritage Tractor has acquired Larson Farm and Lawn, and Koenig Equipment is acquiring the assets and operations of Buchanan Power Equipment.

A dip in sentiment among farmers measured by the Purdue/CME Ag Economy Barometer reflects uncertainty about trade. Jim Mintert, principal investigator on the barometer, will speak to members at the Supply Summit in Omaha.

Manufacturing members have until Friday to meet the deadline to participate in an Association-commissioned survey intended to provide data that allows companies to assess their business operations and finances compared to other member companies.

A 13-year-old boy was rescued Monday after falling into a river of sewage in Los Angeles and getting swept away in the mazelike underground sewer system. Searchers located him after discovering a handprint on a sewage pipe.

Among the top 18 states for producing winter wheat, only 32 percent of the crop is in good to excellent condition. That’s significantly less than a year ago. A handful of states are bucking the trend.

Rural areas gained population between 2016 and 2017 for the first time since 2010.

BKT USA, Inc. and BKT Tires Inc. has appointed Leigh Johnston as marketing manager for BKT USA, Inc. She will be responsible for brand building, planning trade shows, and more.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer is hopeful that a NAFTA deal will be reached soon, but he told CNBC last week that because of elections, there is a narrow window for reaching a deal.

Terry Flanary from National Tube Supply will facilitate a roundtable conversation on steel tariffs during the Supply Summit. Because interest in the issue is intense, the Tillage Council, whose meeting conflicted with the roundtable, has rescheduled its speaker for the fall convention in Minneapolis.

Jeremy Fogo has been promoted to vice president of product, solutions and experiences at PEER Chain.

Product development engineers, manufacturers, and inventors need to prepare for the patent process. Follow these tips.