The House of Representatives has passed a bill that allows companies to offer compensatory time off instead of overtime pay to employees who work more than 40 hours a week. This excerpt of a column from Diana Furchtgott-Roth makes a case for the bill.

Our attorneys who specialize in human resources law walked us through the legal definition of a contractor in the most recent issue of Ag Innovator. This one-page read offers a clear and concise overview of the legal tests.

Even before the deluge that hit southern states this past weekend, farmers in Arkansas were in trouble. Floodwaters from rain that pummeled Kansas and Missouri in late April flowed downstream in May to wreak havoc in the state.

In the grip of an economic downturn, farmers are worried about losing overseas customers, and they’re anxious about what lies ahead during NAFTA negotiations.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has initiated the adoption of the following ISO standards.

The Rural Mainstreet Index in May rose to its highest level since July 2015. And, the farm equipment-sales index jumped to its highest level in more than two years.

The first six months of the fiscal year for Deere shows overseas sales are stronger than domestic sales. In ag and turf, sales increased 1 percent for the quarter and first six months primarily due to price realization.

Belltec Industries soon will expand its operations in Belton, Texas. The manufacturer of earth-boring equipment and other drilling products plans to build a $2.5 million addition to its property and employ an additional 10 people at its plant.

The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association will elect new members to its Board of Directors in November. The committee overseeing nominations has begun its work and invites you to nominate someone or consider volunteering your service.

Ag Growth International recently announced its financial results for the first three months of 2017. Trade sales are reportedly up by 36 percent over 2016 trade sales for the same quarter. Adjusted profit is about 25 percent higher this year than last.

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.

Fans of motor sports will learn a bit more about member company Sawblade.com in coming months. The company has begun a partnership with the Lucas Oil Pro Pulling League.

Governors and lawmakers in almost every state have taken some action to curb the climbing death toll from prescription painkiller overdoses, an important issue for manufacturers. Ohio just became the latest state to place a seven-day limit on prescriptions.

Arline W. Broyhill, who founded Broyhill Company with husband Roy, died on April 18. She and her husband Roy were charter members of the Association.

Robert J. Ratliff, founder and former president, chairman, and CEO of AGCO Corporation, died April 20. He was 85.

“Our supplier members took ownership of this meeting when the planning began many months ago, and they stayed on top of it until the final moments,” said Meeting Director Andrea Schnelten. “It would not have been the success that it was without them.”

The print edition of Shortliner went on hiatus in April. We return in May to celebrate anniversaries for both months. We’re doubly grateful for these—and every—member.

Jamie Silver, operations director for Muir Graphics in Peoria, Ill., will lead the Association’s Supplier Associate Section until April 2018. “I believe there is no other group that makes it this easy to connect with (prospective customers),”

Kelley Manufacturing Co. has named Jimmy Laska as its new director of sales and marketing. In his position, Laska is responsible for driving sales and promotional advertising for KMC equipment.

Kubota invested more than $50 million in a nearly 200,000-square-feet building, which will allow Kubota’s leadership and professional staff to enjoy lower taxes and less regulation in their new Texas home.

In the days leading up to the White House decision to tone down rhetoric about withdrawing from NAFTA, officials reached out to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to help ease tensions.

Bankers reported that borrowing soared among farmers. “We feel that all our farmers have sufficient equity and determination to survive the current downturn in the farm economy.”

Banks are more willing to lend this year than they were last. The rate of rejection has fallen from 35.3 percent in 2016 to 30.6 percent this year. Almost a third of bank CEOs reported no change in lending stemming from weak farm income.

Hackers continue to develop increasingly sophisticated methods for stealing data and funds. Among the latest: accessing payroll.

It has been a week since Monsanto and Deere terminated the tractor manufacturer’s purchase of Precision Planting LLC. Both companies have delivered a message of opportunity in spite of the deal’s breakdown, but details are few. The DOJ called the termination “a victory for American farmers and consumers.”

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has adopted two ISO standards for agricultural equipment symbols.

This article helps you up with dealers announcing consolidation moves: Schuneman Equipment Co., James River Equipment, Larson’s and Kibble Equipment, Pattison Agriculture, Nykolaishen Farm Equipment, William Nobbe and Company Inc. Also details on EDA announcement of a new board member.

Alamo Group Inc. has agreed to acquire 100 percent of the outstanding capital shares of Santa Izabel Agro Industria, LTDA, a privately held company based in Brazil that designs, manufactures and markets. . .

AGCO reported net sales of about $1.6 billion for the first quarter of 2017, an increase of about 4.4 percent compared to the first quarter of 2016.

The low-bed semi-trailer that carried the U.S. bomb dropped in Afghanistan in April was made by a member company. Landoll Corp. built the trailer that hauled what was characterized as the “mother of all bombs” by the White House and the media.

Survey shows 30 percent of dealers say their used equipment inventory is “too high” compared to 28 percent who felt that way the month before.

The vice chairman of Art’s Way Manufacturing Co. decided recently to open a tractor-and-trailer dealership in Marietta, Ohio. The elder McConnell, who is 86, describes himself as a dealer who took a “56-year break” to pursue a series of farm equipment manufacturing investments.

James Ketelsen, former president of Case and later chairman and CEO of Tenneco, died April 27 in Houston. He was 86. Case appointed Ketelsen as its president in 1967 at the age of 37.

You have by now received your copy of the spring issue of Ag Innovator magazine (See the digital edition at FarmEquip.org/AGI). We hope you’ve had a moment to read the article profiling member company Diamond Vogel Paint.

Alamo Group’s net sales for the first quarter of 2017 were $215.4 million—an increase of 2.1 percent compared to the first quarter of 2016.

Your company received an email from the Association recently asking you to update your listing for our membership directory. If we haven’t heard from you, we’ll be in touch again soon. We’re beginning production of the print directory, which is naturally on a more structured schedule than the continuously updated digital edition.

Manufacturers paid $36.9 million in premiums for cyber-specific policies in 2016, up 89 percent from the year before. Manufacturers accounted for

Kirby Manufacturing—and members of this Association—recently lost a colleague and friend. Art Burrows, who worked for Kirby Manufacturing for decades, died at his home on April 24. He was 66.

Average fines assessed by OSHA for serious workplace safety violations rose significantly in 2016. The higher fines are the result of an overhaul of the penalty structure ordered in 2015.

The spring issue of Ag Innovator is in the mail. It should arrive in most of your offices next week. Here’s your sneak peak.

We were pleased Monday evening to Tweet to our more than 2,000 followers that Oregon’s SB-982, a total rewrite of the states dealer distribution laws, would not advance out of committee this year.

Arline W. Broyhill, 96, co-founder of Broyhill Company, died Tuesday evening. She was this Association’s first lady in the early 1970s.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects cotton acres to see a 21 percent jump. If that holds true, U.S. cotton farmers will plant 12.2 million cotton acres this year.

Before the largest non-nuclear bomb ever detonated by the U.S. was loaded onto a plane, it rode on a trailer built at Landoll Corporation.

This headline from Rural Lifestyle Dealer caught our attention recently: J. Ward McConnell Jr.: From Dealer to Manufacturer and Back Again

The evolution of equipment manufacturing and engineering has led in recent decades to much safer tools on farms. Good news for all.

Data from the publication Rural Lifestyle Dealer suggests that farmers are increasingly well-prepared when they arrive on dealers’ lots. The factor that often seals the deal: financing.

If we gave out an award for the greatest distance traveled (images) …