After three consecutive years of decline, farm sector profits are forecast to increase in 2017. Net cash farm income for 2017 is forecast at

After a painful report for July, the Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index improved in August. The index, which ranges between 0 and 100, increased to 42.2 from 40.7 in July. The index considers

Hurricane Irma may have destroyed half of Florida’s $800 million citrus crop and 70 percent of ground crops. Overall losses to agriculture, which is the state’s second biggest industry, are estimated in the

Deere last week completed the acquisition of Blue River Technology for $305 million. California-based Blue River has designed technology for spraying equipment that

You’ve heard the famous line: “Houston, we have a problem.” Our optional NASA tour in Houston will see Historic Mission Control, where NASA monitored nine Gemini and all Apollo lunar missions.

Business leaders in the southern United States have put their disaster preparedness plans to the test in recent weeks. What they learned from their ordeals likely will be added to a body of information on how best to prepare and respond in such situations. They’ll be added to these thoughts from a business continuity pro who experienced Superstorm Sandy.

Whether this will be your first convention or your 50th, it’s good to review the definitions for the MarketPlace and Contact Session. They happen at the same time—next to one another.

A controversial rule that would have more than doubled the salary threshold for overtime pay was dealt its final blow in recent weeks. On August 31, the Texas court again struck down the rule, this time on merit.

The companies celebrating membership anniversaries this month represent more than two centuries of participation in the Association. We thank them—and each of you—for your years of commitment and the wealth of industry knowledge you share. We also welcome a new member applicant.

After years of stealing data for fraud and corporate espionage, hackers increasingly are trying a new way to profit from their digital break-ins: extortion.

A product from Worksaver, Inc. has been named one of the Contractor’s Top 50 New Products for 2017 by Equipment Today.

Talking with a member last week about our annual fall meeting I learned for him the most important convention moments often happened in the hallways during his casual conversations with colleagues.

He also said the meetings were more valuable to him when business was bad, because it was important to pick up ideas and try new things. In his words, when business was off, he worried he was missing something, and he came looking for it at meetings.

It is true of most of us that until we need something, we don’t know where we’ll go to get it. That is why executives so often tell us they didn’t know . . .

Another box store has announced that it is selling tractors. This time, it’s Rural King. The company has begun selling 10 models of TYM (a brand manufactured in South Korea) at seven pilot stores.

IndustryWeek has released its list of the 10 largest machinery manufacturers in the U.S. The list, which is based on 2016 revenues, includes farm equipment manufacturers in the No. 7 and No. 2 spots.

The president announced Gregory Ibach as Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP), Bill Northey as Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC), and Stephen Vaden as USDA’s General Counsel.

AGCO announced Tuesday it finalized its purchase of Precision Planting from the Climate Corporation.

The message from one Illinois farmer captured much of the meeting: “Crop insurance is working,” he told the committee. “Don’t screw it up.”

In response to a growing demand for maintenance professionals in manufacturing, Kondex has launched a Maintenance Mechanic Apprenticeship program.

While job satisfaction is key in creating a workplace focused on safety, lack of employee engagement and empowerment a “crisis” in the workforce.

One standard related to air quality in cabs has been published. A revision to another part of the series is almost complete.

The situation is Texas presents an “opportunity to see whose drones are capable and whose are merely toys,” says an executive in the drone industry.

The company has equipped 10 companies with the technology, which is expected to condense a day’s work to an hour.

We’ve been in communication with Association members based in Houston, convention contacts, and personal acquaintances in the city. The message has been consistent: Come. We’re back in business today and we’ll be ready in November.

“We talk about roadways and waterways and those kinds of things, but it’s also water infrastructure, it’s broadband infrastructure,” says Vermeer’s Mark Core. “There’s a lot of other elements for us to be competitive as a global player and to keep agriculture in the top where we need to be, and it’s in that whole infrastructure discussion.”

The Annual Business Meeting of the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association is 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017.

Trade negotiators from Canada, the United States and Mexico kicked off round two in Mexico City to discuss, among other things, digital commerce and small businesses—topics upon which consensus was possible, officials said.

Hurricane Harvey arrived on the Texas coast as harvest began for what the state expected to be a bumper crop of cotton. The storm came at what one cotton gin operator called “the worst possible time.” Harvest was about 10 percent complete.

Senior executives from 25 U.S. steel and steel-related companies sent a letter to the president last week, telling him the industry was suffering from government inaction, and he could change that course through his “bold leadership” and America First vision.

“What could possibly be more bipartisan than allowing Americans to keep more of what they earn and creating an environment for real job and wage growth in the country that we love so much?”

U.S. farm exports will total $139.8 billion this fiscal year, the third-highest tally ever and ending a slump in sales that begin in 2014, the USDA estimated in a quarterly report.

We are watching events in Houston with the rest of the world, celebrating the best of humanity with every rescue, and asking ourselves how we can contribute to the recovery.

We of course are uniquely interested because we will be in Houston soon, and we expect a few hundred of you to join us. We are in communication with the Hyatt Regency Houston as well as several city residents. We’ve learned that the hotel is dry and in operation. The off-site locations we plan to visit are open or expect to be open by Labor Day.

Thanks to the member companies who displayed our “Proud Member” sign this week in Decatur. Over 100 signs on exhibitor lots made a very strong statement regarding the “Choice, Value and Innovation our Members Bring to Agriculture.”

Our singular focus on shortline manufacturers, their suppliers and marketing teams has served the Association and our members well for more than 65 years, and that focus remains as strong today as it was when we began.

Changes on the dealer landscape include closures in South Dakota and Nebraska and construction in Idaho.

A ransomware attack known as “NotPetYa” will cost shipping giant Maersk as much as $300 million. The CEO acknowledged that the company was not able to recover quickly enough from the attack and is implementing a backup plan.

The Western Equipment Dealers Association elected a new president to lead its Board of Directors. He brings more than 20 years of equipment dealership leadership experience and worked with WEDA on its strategic plan.

Dealers feel better this year than last about their inventories of both new and used equipment, but their responses are subdued compared to manufacturers’ thoughts on inventories.

Deere forecasts ag equipment sales to be down for 2017 in the U.S. and Canada, but sales overall in the ag-and-turf division are up so far this year, primarily as a result of higher shipment volumes and price realization.

We hold our annual business meeting and elect directors to our board at the convention in November. Take note of the time and date, and take part in shaping the Association’s leadership team.

President Trump said at a rally in Phoenix on Tuesday that he may scrap the North America Free Trade Agreement. Take a look at the thoughts shared by leaders who spoke at the opening of trade negotiations last week.

Spouses and guests at the Marketing & Distribution Convention in Houston can choose between a walking food tour of trendy Rice Village or a trip to the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

The Association’s Marketing & Distribution Convention is a bit more complex than our spring meeting. These tips will help you make the most of your time in Houston whether you’re a convention rookie or an old-timer. And, don’t forget: Register by September 11 and save $100.

As is tradition at our Association meetings, we have set up opportunities for executives and guests to learn more about industries in the city we’ll visit.

In Houston, those industries are petroleum and space. Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of Space Center Houston and a trip to an offshore drilling rig museum.

Members celebrating anniversaries this month represent an impressive 310 collective years with the Association. They share the spotlight here with four companies who have recently joined.

Danuser Machine has begun an expansion that will include more offices and space for training. VP Glenn Danuser said the project reflects the company’s intent to double its office staff in the future.

Attorney General has agreed not to attempt to enforce a law passed this year by the state legislature which addresses what is commonly known as “dealer purity.”

A long-time friend of the Association died earlier this month. He had a 42-year career in farm equipment sales and was active in Association leadership roles.

ASABE has news to share about a standard for testing battery capacity for electric tractors and other equipment and a revision related to a tractor drawbar.

GROUP SCHUMACHER has begun a $4.5 million expansion at Schumacher Company in Durant, Iowa. The project will expand the capacity and upgrade manufacturing technology at the Durant site, which houses operations for the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Both publicly traded Canadian farm equipment dealerships recently released earnings reports from their quarters ending June 30, and both posted revenue gains.

The controversial rule that would have more than doubled the salary threshold for who can qualify for overtime pay is getting a makeover, and the DOL is asking for input on how to make it right.