Terra Drive Systems has expanded its partnership with CNH Industrial.

You’ve heard about the meetings, no doubt, and you are reading this newsletter. But what else does the Association offer its members?

Titan Machinery Inc. recently released its financial results for the quarter ending October 31. The company reduced its used equipment inventory by $86 million, or 32 percent, during the first nine months of its fiscal year. In the agriculture segment, revenue for the third quarter was $205.5 million, compared to $211.3 million in the third quarter last year.

The Data Breach Insurance Act, H.R. 6032, would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business tax credit for the purchase of qualified data breach insurance. The credit would apply for five years and be equal to 15 percent of the annual premiums paid or incurred for the insurance in the ordinary course of the taxpayer’s trade or business.

December farm equipment-sales index increased to 16.3 from November’s 15.4, the December number in 2015 was 8.8.

The confidence index, which reflects expectations for the economy in the coming six months, rose to 43.9 in December from 39 in November.

Former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue is President-elect Donald Trump’s likely candidate to run the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a senior member of Trump’s transition team said this week.

Perdue, a Democrat-turned-Republican who founded a grain and fertilizer business, served on Trump’s agricultural advisory committee during his campaign.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has completed its adoption, with deviations, of ISO 12934:2013, Tractors and machinery for agriculture and forestry–Basic type–Definitions.

This is one of our best-ever speaker lineups, and the Association is backing this program with major cost-saving incentives for manufacturers who register more than one executive or bring a purchasing agent.

Vanderloop Equipment recently hosted a grand opening.

A strengthening dollar is a sign of rising optimism for the U.S. economy. While good for U.S. consumers and companies that purchase components abroad, the dollar’s rise promises to hit U.S. manufacturers reliant on sales in overseas markets.

It’s been a big year in agriculture technology. Take a look at a quick-hit list of what one expert says are among the most meaningful developments and what may come next.

Attorney Todd Janzen will join us in Little Rock in April to discuss legal issues related to autonomous farm vehicles and the collection, storage, and use of on-farm data.

Deere has agreed to pay a former employee $275,000 to settle a whistleblower lawsuit. The suit was brought last year by the U.S. Department of Labor on behalf of a pipe fitter who alleged he was fired in 2012 in retaliation for reporting unsafe working conditions at the Moline facility and filing a complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The winter issue of the Association magazine is on its way. You’ll find stories on what to expect from a Trump administration, the nation’s aging infrastructure, antitrust laws, and more.

Twenty-six states currently give workers the right not to join a union or pay fees as a condition of their employment. While the laws are not the only drivers of economic health, many businesses won’t consider operating or expanding in states that don’t have them.

Seven companies are celebrating milestone membership anniversaries this month.

The strength of the Association is its members, so we thank these companies, and every member company, for their commitment. Because of you, the Association can serve as a respected voice in the shortline industry.

Workers at AGCO’s plant in Jackson, Minn., are using augmented-reality glasses that display diagrams and images of instructions to help them conduct quality checks on tractors and chemical sprayers.

AgJunction now owns the GAC2 controller product that used to belong to Forkworks. Both companies will continue to develop and sell to their respective markets.

Analysts forecast $134 billion in agriculture exports in fiscal year 2017, which is a $1 billion increase. The increases are expected primarily in dairy and livestock byproduct exports. Grain and feed exports are forecast to increase by $300 million to $29.6 billion.

With the the acquisition of assets complete, see how will SMA and TISCO will integrate operations of the aftermarket parts business.

The Federal Reserve says growers are borrowing more to pay bills, repayment rates are plunging, and the number of bankers requesting additional collateral is the highest in 25 years.

The mood among farm equipment dealers, in October, reflects challenges in the farm economy.

The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine is preparing to propose new load-rating provisions for implements of husbandry to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO).

Voters in 22 states approved ballot measures in November that will provide $201 billion in funding extensions and new revenue for state and local transportation projects, according to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized the increases in renewable fuel volume requirements across all categories of biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program.

A Japanese man recently was arrested after admitting he stole a company president’s wallet during a job interview.

The death of Fidel Castro in November began a conversation about what’s next in the relationship between the U.S. and Cuba—a conversation that’s important to agriculture.

Todd Rickett, a Nebraska native and co-owner of the Chicago Cubs, will serve as deputy commerce secretary in the Trump administration.

In its 2016 edition of Rural America at a Glance, the USDA reported a 1.3 percent increase in employment between 2013 and 2015 in rural communities. In 2015, rural median earnings rose by more than 2 percent. Median household incomes increased by 3.4 percent. And, the ratio of rural earnings to urban earnings rose from 77 percent in 2007 to nearly 84 percent in 2015.

From January to September 2016, U.S. exports of ag equipment fell 14 percent compared with the same time period last year. The total shipped to global markets was $5.1 billion.

The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association will add our name to a letter this week urging Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who heads the new administration’s transition team, to quickly fill the two vacancies at the NLRB with qualified experts.

Labor attorneys Joe Schmitt and David James, who are shareholders at Nilan Johson Lewis and resources to Association members, offer advice on dealing with blocked overtime rules:

Congressional leaders have confirmed what seemed inevitable since the presidential election: The far-reaching trade agreement with 11 other Pacific Rim nations, which President-Elect Donald Trump dubbed “a terrible deal” during his campaign, is dead.

Ag Growth International Inc. has confirmed it closed its previously announced acquisition of Yargus Manufacturing, Inc.

Blount International, Inc. and SMA, Inc., have announced an agreement in which SMA will acquire certain assets of Blount’s TISCO aftermarket parts business.

For nearly eight years under President Barack Obama, labor and employment practitioners have been kept busy by a host of new federal policies. With the election of Donald Trump and a Republican majority in both the Senate and House of Representatives, some of these policies may not last.

Take a look at other initiatives that could change in a Trump administration.

The Western Equipment Dealers Association (WEDA) announced that Larry Hertz has joined the organization as regional vice president for Canada.

The Far West Equipment Dealers Association—FWEDA—recently decided against merging with the Western Equipment Dealers Association.

These member companies are celebrating milestone anniversaries in the Association. Because of them, and each of you, the Association is able to serve as an advocate and respected voice for shortline manufacturers.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) has revised ANSI/ASAE S354.6, Safety for Farmstead Equipment, to include specifications that are not covered by other ASABE safety standards and that are intended to provide a reasonable degree of personal safety during normal operation and servicing of farmstead equipment. The document was revised to include updates to the normative references.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a new version of the Employment Eligibility Verification form known as Form I-9. All U.S. employers must begin using the new Form I-9 after January 22.

Kubota Tractor Corp. has begun construction on a $16 million, 618,000-square-foot expansion of its National Distribution Center in Jefferson, Ga.

Over the past 35 years, the United States shed about 7 million manufacturing jobs. Still manufacturing accounts for more than a third of U.S. economic output, making it the largest sector of the economy. Restoring manufacturing jobs will be difficult.

Ag Growth International Inc. last week announced its financial results for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30. The company also announced an agreement to acquire Yargus Manufacturing.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s final rule restricting the number of employees eligible to be treated as exempt goes into effect Thursday, Dec. 1. It could be rescinded as soon as late January, however, by a new administration or federal courts.

Kongskilde Industries has entered into an agreement to sell its grass and soil activities to CNH Industrial. Kongskilde will keep its industry and grain divisions.

Right-to-work advocates claimed victory in a handful of states last week. Kentucky saw a legislature shift and Missouri elected a pro-business governor. Alabama and South Dakota landed in favor of right-to-work issues. Virginia voters rejected a question that would have added right-to-work to the state constitution.

Star Manufacturing Company and Beall Manufacturing announced in October that Star would acquire certain assets of Beall.

For over a decade, our Association has monitored state legislation that had the potential of affecting our members, and when needed, we have worked for changes on members’ behalf.

That process begins for us each fall as bills are pre-filed for the upcoming session, but the period following elections requires additional effort as we look for changes in the make-up of the various state legislative and executive bodies.

While we never take partisan positions, it is important to note when parties in control change. In this issue of Shortliner, we take a first look at the November 8 results.

The Agricultural Driveline Manufacturers Association recently released a new safety video.

California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada vote to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Medical marijuana initiatives passed in North Dakota, Arkansas, Montana and Florida.

The international agri-business show in Paris in early 2017—SIMA—invites members to attend and again this year waives the price of admission.

“Without question, rolling back President Obama’s one-sided concessions to the Castro regime, a key campaign promise shared with President-elect Trump, will be a top priority for Senator Rubio next year,”