A fundamental shift has occurred in the attitudes of farmers. These producers used to show more optimism about the future, but recently, those expectations have trended sideways, and their attitudes about current conditions have improved.

Large employers say the cost of healthcare plans may grow 5 percent next year to an average of more than $14,000 per employee. Employers will shoulder approximately 70 percent of those health costs, leaving employees on the hook for an average of $4,400.

CNH reported net sales for agriculture increased 3 percent in the second quarter of this year compared to last year. Net sales declined in North America.

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.

Lawmakers have brought back a bill for consideration that would amend the U.S. tax code to permanently set a five-year depreciation schedule for certain farm equipment.

Members at the Marketing & Distribution Convention in Houston will have the opportunity to hear attorney Trent Johnson discuss the baseline provisions in dealership contracts. He’ll also be available for a limited number of no-cost, one-on-one meetings.

The Association of Equipment manufacturers and a handful of major tractor manufacturers have asked a federal court to block a law in North Dakota regarding contracts between independent equipment dealers and their suppliers. We believe the suit is a move toward dealer purity disguised as a federal trademark issue, and we are NOT a party to it.

The national agriculture community continues to wait for the appointment of 15 people who will serve as undersecretaries to the USDA. The appointments may be delayed until after the August recess.

A recent Supreme Court decision on product liability will “extremely limit the notion that large companies can be sued by anyone, anywhere,” according to a legal analyst.

More pieces of farm equipment traveling on roadways in New York may soon require a “slow moving” emblem. A bill is in process now to increase the rate of speed at which such an emblem would be required.

Put down your phone. Take your hands off the keyboard. Your equipment dealer probably wants to see you in person.

Another group health insurance provider has exited the market because of “uncertainty and upheaval” in the industry. The insurer has “little confidence” that things will improve soon.

Farmers in Kansas won a nearly $220 million settlement from Syngenta AG over the GMO case that caused U.S. corn prices to plummet after China rejected shipments. Thousands of other corn producers and traders also seek damages from Syngenta.

Farmers’ ability to repair their own equipment is a time-and-money issue, but it’s about something else, too. There’s a psychological benefit to tinkering with the things we buy. It “answers to a very basic human need.”

The EPA recently released proposed volume requirements for 2018 and a diesel volume requirement for 2019.

The strength of this Association rests with its members. We take this opportunity to thank the companies who have milestone anniversaries this month, and we welcome recent applicants.

The ASABE has completed a revision to its field equipment safety standard. Learn how you can access the new information.

Now’s the time to plan for the 2017 Marketing & Distribution Convention. Early registrants save over $200 and enjoy more flexibility when they make appointments. Calendars fill quickly for wholesalers and independent reps.

Strip-Till Farmer soon will debut the first in a series of webinars for the strip-till community. Jack Zemlicka will host the first session on July 19.

Employers who have adopted integrity testing find that the practice can pay for itself by reducing costs associated with workers comp claims.

Alamo Group Inc. has completed the previously announced acquisition of Old Dominion Brush Company, Inc.

Jobs in manufacturing grew at their fastest pace in three years. The news is part of a generally optimistic jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sentry Insurance broke ground recently on a new 270,000-square-foot office in Stevens Point, Wis.

U.S. steelmakers want the White House to play tough with nations that offer state support for steel production. U.S. farmers, however, feel differently. Ag groups last week urged the Department of Commerce to “avoid igniting a trade war.”

A university in Michigan recently introduced goats into its ground maintenance plan, and the union that has had the university’s grass-cutting contract has filed a grievance. The complaint says the goats are doing jobs that could go to laid-off union workers.

One of the first tasks of a newly formed federal task force on rural America is to remove barriers to economic prosperity. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer says that means the U.S. will insist that if a country blocks an ag import from the United States, the country better base that decision on science.

Worried about becoming the victim of cyber theft? Follow these low-cost, low-tech strategies for a little peace of mind.

Infrastructure plan calls for improved broadband in rural areas. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue calls efficient internet connectivity as important today as telephone, water, sewer, and roads.

Farmers haven’t have this much corn in storage since 1988. That could be why they planted a record number of soybeans this year.

A publication that covers agriculture for the western U.S. profiled a member company recently. The story called attention to the unique and vital role of shortline manufacturers.

Registration is underway for the Marketing & Distribution Convention in Houston from Nov. 7 to 9. Save with early registration discounts.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., is calling on Ag Secretary Perdue to allow emergency haying in addition to the emergency grazing expansion that was announced June 29.

The Purdue/CME Group’s June survey of 400 U.S. agricultural producers indicates producers feel their farm operations’ financial positions are stronger now than a year ago

Machinery giant John Deere has announced the acquisition of Mazzotti, a privately-held sprayer company based in Ravenna, Italy.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing lower biofuel quotas in 2018 than those currently on the books and required by federal law.

Oil prices tumbled to their lowest level in seven months last week as high oil inventories continued to erode confidence in the ability of major producers to ease a global supply glut.

A key part of House Republicans’ plan to overhaul the way corporations pay taxes is on life support. A proposed tax on imports would generate about $1 trillion over the next decade to finance lower corporate tax rates without adding to the deficit. But the tax faces strong opposition from retailers, automakers and the oil industry, and a growing number of congressional Republicans oppose it, too.

Findings from the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural communities show, among other things, that three out of four bankers see a shortage of skilled workers and one in four reports rejecting a higher percentage of farmer loan applications. The farm equipment sales index declined by tenths of a point.

The Equipment Dealers Association (EDA) Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Kim Rominger as EDA’s new President/CEO.

Data released last week from the Federal Reserve showed a manufacturing climate that is perhaps less volatile. A dramatic gain in April was followed by a manufacturers reported a subtle dip in May. An acceleration in the near term looks unlikely given the slowdown in the auto industry.

There’s a little bit of genius tucked into the manufacturing operations of our members. You are a problem-solving and innovating

AgJunction has appointed Jeff Morris as vice president and chief marketing officer. Most recently, Morris served as senior director of marketing and product management for Trimble.

In dealer news this week, Ohio Ag Equipment acquired Witmer’s, also in Ohio, and a dealer association announced a program with an equipment finance group to offer dealers a financing source.

Member company AGCO-Amity has named a new CEO. Keith Whitaker, who has been with the company since 2015, will lead its growth strategy and expand its distribution opportunities.

Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont Co. won U.S. antitrust approval for their $73 billion merger. The so-called merger of equals is among other mega-deals that could reshape the global agrochemicals industry.

No one hopes a company’s CFO will be kidnapped, but in terms of risk to an organization, one cyber product leader suggests that a kidnapped CFO is less damaging to a manufacturer than a piece of malware in the system.

It happens to all of us in every line of business. We think we’re speaking clearly, maybe even being redundant, but inevitably, we hear from our customers or clients or members that they simply were not aware of what we offered.

In this issue ofShortliner, we’re going to hit a few highlights from the “I didn’t know” file. This is not a comprehensive list of benefits but rather a look at those less frequently mentioned.

President Trump last week called for an expanded apprenticeship program in the U.S. and signed an executive order to double its funding to $200 million. The order calls for strategies for creating industry-recognized apprenticeships and the best ways to encourage the private sector to create apprenticeships.

Kentucky, which hosts the largest industrial hemp research program in the nation, recently celebrated the opening of a new plant that processes the fiber. The plant, Sunstrand, occupied an 8,000-square-foot-space when it opened in Kentucky in 2015. The new space is 25,000 square feet.

“Cuba should be an easy market for U.S. corn farmers,” said Wesley Spurlock, president of the National Corn Growers Association. “Instead, that market has gone to our competitors, costing us an estimated $125 million in lost opportunity each year. If trade with Cuba were normalized, it would represent our 11th largest market for corn. Instead, we have just 11 percent market share in a country only 90 miles from our border.”