In 2016, Brazil surpassed Canada as the top destination for U.S. ethanol exports, reaching 267 million gallons. Canada received 259.3 million gallons from the U.S. China was third at 179.2 million gallons.

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.”

WSJ hammers Trump on Cuba: President Trump’s announcement may appease Cold War-era hawks and the minority of Cuban-Americans who still support the embargo, but the American business community, especially agriculture, need access to Cuba’s market.

Glencore has approached grain trader Bunge Ltd. about combining the companies, a deal that would give the Swiss miner a major presence in the U.S. agriculture market.

The high-profile prosecution of medical providers has highlighted the fraud problem in California, and lawmakers, in cooperation with workers compensation professionals, are targeting providers in their next steps to reform the system.

As Kubota moves from a shortliner model to a full liner model and expands their dealer development, they are now more of a threat to other major manufacturers, but they also represent an opportunity for dealers.

Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Ag, had this to day about climate change: “At USDA, we rely on sound science and we remain firmly committed to digging ever deeper into research to develop better methods of agricultural production in that changing climate.”

The USDA expects to see an increase in the agricultural trade surplus in 2017. Exports are projected at $137 billion, which is a $1 billion increase from the February forecast.

Seven member companies are celebrating milestone membership anniversaries this month. Six more are just getting started. Whether it’s decades or days, your membership is appreciated.

As has been the case in earlier dealer surveys, shortline manufacturers won high marks from their dealers in EDA’s Dealer-Manufacturer Relations Survey.

NAAA said “agricultural aviators are deeply concerned about their ability to fly safely in air space where pilots could encounter any unmanned aircraft, be it commercial or otherwise.”

The monthly reading of the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer was 130. That’s consistent with previous months and significantly stronger than a year ago. Producers’ feelings about what lies ahead improved while their perception of current circumstances dipped.

A survey of manufacturers in a seven-state region reveals the most positive outlook in the survey’s 23-year history. This level of optimism is especially remarkable given uncertainties over trade and immigration, analysts say.

In an article in the spring issue of Ag Innovator, CEO Dan Ariens describes how the 15 management principles at Ariens Co. have helped create a work culture in which everyone takes ownership of continuous improvement. Read Ariens’ full story and see the the principles at FarmEquip.org/AGI.

The editors at Strip-Till Farmer are preparing for the Fourth Annual National Strip-Tillage Conference on August 4 and 5 in Omaha.

Fastline Media Group has named Nancy Stephen as manager of Pink Tractor.

Members of Congress will be in their districts more days in July and August than any other time of year. It is important that they hear from manufacturers and the ag industry about what we need: tax reform and relief from federal regulation.

Jim Hellbusch has been elected to the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement.

Industry experts predict that while manufacturing employers will need to fill nearly 3.5 million jobs by 2025, as many as 2 million of those could go unfilled because of the inability to find skilled workers that match employers’ needs. The solution to the problem is collaboration.

Webb Sickle Service has changed its name to Webb Cutting Components to better reflect its growing product lines and capabilities.

U.S. Department of Labor soon will begin to implement guidelines for opioid prescriptions for federal workers injured on the job. Sentry Insurance, which manages workers’ compensation claims for many member companies, has added new programs that focus specifically on opioids. 

Environment and Climate Change Canada, along with Health Canada, are considering the enactment of new stand-alone regulations to prohibit the import, use, and sale of asbestos, as well as the manufacture, use, sale, and import of products containing asbestos.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine says drug companies were dishonest with doctors and the public about their painkillers’ risks. “The evidence is going to show they knew what they were saying was not true and they did it to increase sales,” he said.

Are you looking for a distribution partner? The members-only section of the website has a search tool for you.

A California farmer faces trial in federal court this summer and a $2.8 million fine for failing to get a permit to plow his field and plant wheat. The case could set precedent requiring other farmers to obtain costly, time-consuming permits just to plow.

CCTY Bearing has hired Joe Huffer as a strategic sales manager. Huffer will lead business development in agricultural, material handling and construction accounts.

Looking for a state statute governing warranty, buyback or lemon laws? It’s at your fingertips. As a member of Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association, you have access to a library of state laws related to farm equipment.

If you would like to serve or wish to nominate a regular member for the Association’s Board of Directors, please contact Mike Kloster at mikek@worksaver.com.

The AGMA Foundation has appointed Association member Scott Moss with Comer Industries to serve as chairman of its board of directors.

Buhler Industries recently reported that revenue for the second quarter was $79.5 million, down 1.9 percent from the second quarter of 2016.

Another corruption scandal in Brazil took the real down by more than 8 percent last week, making it even more difficult for U.S. corn and soybean prices to compete for exports.

The Trump administration has reached an agreement with Beijing on a broad range of trade measures, one of which opens a promising market for American cattle farmers.

Corn and soybeans nationally are on schedule, according to data released Monday from the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The crop progress report looks at the rate at which things have been planted compared to last week, last year, and a five-year average. We offer a synopsis here.

Job candidates born in the 1980s and 1990s seek a positive social atmosphere at work and a company that is committed to the environment or the social impact of its products and services.

Sub-Sahara Africa represents one of the fastest growing agricultural markets in the world, and RDO Equipment Co. intends to jump into that market through a partnership with an African entrepreneur.

U.S. Supreme Court tightens rules for where patent lawsuits can be filed. The decision is expected to make it harder for so-called patent trolls to launch cases in friendly courts.