House lawmakers on the Ag Committee have long targeted March to have a draft farm bill on the table. That seems less likely now because, in its current form, the bill would not win support from Democrats because of cuts to the food-stamp program.

The standard was determined to be outdated and redundant.

Trying to decide if the 2018 Supply Summit & Showcase is worth the time and money? The Association, and your colleagues in the industry, make the case for why it’s a good idea. Ten cases, in fact. Register today at Meeting.FarmEquip.org.

When the creator of Tractor Mike got a huge response to a video he posted on YouTube explaining how to hook up a three-point implement, he realized he’d stumbled onto a great tool for communicating with farm equipment customers.

It’s been 14 months since the United States withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. This month, leaders from the remaining 11 countries signed a deal.

Total sales at Rocky Mountain Dealerships decreased by 4.3 percent due to a decrease in used equipment sales year-over-year. That decrease was offset by improved revenues for new equipment, parts, and service.

Legal experts say more employers are turning to them for advice on how to appropriately conduct investigations into claims of sexual harassment. Check out the advice in this article, and take a second look at a magazine story written by the Association’s HR attorneys in the winter issue of Ag Innovator.

The USDA says soybean exports for the first quarter of the fiscal year have declined more than 20 percent. The decline is related to a huge Brazilian crop.

One of the services most frequently requested by members has been statistical and benchmarking industry data. It has also proven to be one of the most difficult services to deliver. You have the opportunity now to receive that data if you participate in a survey. Please take the time.

Governors from Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota, and Nebraska sent a letter to President Trump asking him to not change the Renewable Fuel Standard.

CNH Industrial N.V. has announced that Richard Tobin is stepping down as CEO to pursue another executive opportunity. Derek Neilson, who has been with CNH for nearly 20 years, has been named interim CEO.

The farm equipment sales index, while still below the mark considered “growth neutral,” has improved. It was 22 in March 2017. This month, it is 37.2. Creighton University reports encouraging news overall in this month’s index.

Farmers seem more upbeat about current conditions than in the recent past. The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer has increased by 14 points since December. The February survey recorded the second-highest reading since data collection began in 2015.

Exoskeletons are moving onto the manufacturing scene. They may be upper-body rigs that attach like harnesses. They may be two-armed tanks. Regardless, in the early going, they offer the possibility of reducing occurrences of the most common workplace injuries.

A Czech tractor maker is buying selected models from a South Korean manufacturer and has gained a foothold in the Russian market. The tractors are headed for select markets, including the United States.

An announcement from the White House that the U.S. would impose tariffs on imported steel drew criticism from U.S. manufacturers and overseas trade partners. Among worries are possibilities that countries will buy fewer U.S. farm commodity exports and that steel prices will cut profit margins for shortline manufacturers.

Kubota Corp. plans to build three new plants in the United States. The move marks the start of engine production in this country for the Japanese manufacturer.

This summer’s driving season is likely to be the most expensive since 2014. Rising oil prices are the clearest culprit. Also contributing to the increase are higher demand and refiners due for maintenance.

Median weekly earnings for American workers fell in late 2017 after hitting a plateau earlier in the year. Why are low unemployment, robust business investment and soaring confidence measures not causing faster real wage growth? Analysts point to a few possibilities.

The senator who championed the needs of rice and cotton farmers from his home state of Mississippi will leave Congress on April 1.

The newly confirmed Bill Northey will begin his tenure with the USDA by applying his expertise to the now-in-progress Farm Bill.

Perdue tells farmers: “Hear me clearly, all of you. I have not and will not support any policies in this country that diminish the demand, undermine the RFS and are harmful to our agricultural producers. I will not.”

Many business owners considering changing how their company is structured to lower their tax bill have until March 15 to decide.

The Alamo Group reported a 15.5 percent increase in net sales for the fourth quarter of 2017 and a 10.5 percent increase for the full year.

The Association welcomes Acieta as a new member applicant and wishes a happy March membership anniversary to these companies.

Spouses and guests at the 2018 Supply Summit are invited to Lauritzen Gardens, a botanical garden and arboretum in Omaha.

With this issue of Shortliner, we re-introduce a series of articles to raise awareness about the work of the Association’s committees and councils. We begin with the Education Committee.

In an industry all too familiar with uncertainty, this week is no different. Top of mind for many of us is news about the possibility of tariffs on steel imports. And, in Kansas and Connecticut, bills have been filed that would affect relationships among manufacturers, distributors, and independent dealers.

RDO Equipment Co. has acquired Washington-based equipment dealership Evergreen Implement.RDO Equipment Co. now has more than 80 locations.

Robert K. Schnell, who was executive vice president of this Association from 1984 to 2009, has died. He is being remembered as a man “with a gruff exterior but a big heart.”

Many of you received an email Monday from Industry Insights—a third-party firm conducting a survey on behalf of our Association. The survey will gather business and financial data and return it to you as a tool to assess your own operations against others. The Association intends to make the industry data available only to companies that respond.

A true character. A gentleman. Insightful. Dedicated to the industry. Former presidents of this Association and Bob Schnell’s colleagues share their thoughts on his life and legacy.

Charles E. Sukup, president of Sukup Manufacturing Co., has been elected into the National Academy of Engineering. The election is considered the highest professional distinction accorded an engineer.

Thinking about how you’ll continue to offer health insurance to your workforce? Curious about the tillage market beyond North America? Trying to make sense of tax reform?

Join us at the 2018 Supply Summit & Showcase.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers has revised a standard on the diaphragm design of metal-clad, wood-frame rectangular buildings.

Deere & Co. is acquiring King Agro, a privately held manufacturer of carbon fiber technology products with headquarters in Valencia, Spain, and a production facility in Campana, Argentina.

Farm Equipment dealerships who took part in a Cost of Doing Business study appear to be making gains in sales inventory levels, but expenses are rising, and total profits from operations have declined.

Company reported $74.6 million in sales for the quarter ending December 31. That was a $27.5 million improvement over the first quarter of 2017.

he dealer sentiment report for January from Ag Equipment Intelligence says the huge backlog of new and used equipment continues to diminish.

Administration weighing broad-based tariffs and quotas to curb imports of steel and aluminum to protect national security. Officials stressed no final decisions have been made.

Survey of bankers in 10 Midwestern states this month, pushing the Rural Mainstreet Index to its highest point since May 2014.

Manufacturing price index surged to the highest level since May 2011.

“We won’t charge them anything and we send them our product, same product as they’re sending us; and they’ll charge us 50 and 75 percent tax—and that’s very unfair,”

Optimize your visibility with this captive audience by sponsoring part of the 2018 Supply Summit.

Federal initiatives introduced in 2014 to make trade with Cuba easier appear to have increased sales to the island country.

Manufacturers come to the Supply Summit & Showcase to find products—and partners—to resolve production problems.

Ag Chair Conaway said disaster legislation “sets us up nicely to get a farm bill done on time.” He praised his party’s leadership for getting cotton and dairy included in the disaster bill.

Take a peek inside someone else’s plant during the Supply Summit. Both tours begin at 11:30 a.m. Friday. Participants need to register in advance.

Ag Committee Chairs are committed to maintaining a strong safety net for agricultural producers during these times of low prices and uncertain markets and continuing to improve our nation’s nutrition programs.

New product line is based on a Canadian design, produced by Degelman Industries, that has been licensed to Kinze to build at its manufacturing facility in Williamsburg, Iowa.