Consumers’ heightened interest in what goes into their food is driving a group of big food makers and other consumer- goods companies to introduce a smartphone app that scans products in stores, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The app will allow shoppers to go beyond the label in understanding what’s in the food.

The SmartLabel app was announced last week by the Grocery Manufacturers Association. So far, it includes more than 30 companies, including General Mills Inc., Hershey Co., and PepsiCo Inc. The association said in the Journal that companies are expected to use the technology on 30,000 products by the end of 2017.

Washington leaders have yet to unveil a $1.1 trillion omnibus budget package, and the holiday countdown is on. The Association has contacted leaders in Washington to urge them to permanently adopt the higher threshold and will notify members of the status of Section 179 as soon as the omnibus bill passes.

Planning is well underway for our 2016 Spring Conference at the Hilton in Clearwater, Fla. Our staff is meeting with the hotel and making final arrangement for off-site social activities this week. Online registration opens December 28. More than a third of the Supplier Showcase space is already reserved.

Salford Group, a manufacturer of tillage, seeding, and fertilizer application equipment, announced it is expanding its tillage product line through the acquisition of AerWay advanced aeration products, manufactured by SAF-HOLLAND Canada Ltd.

Blount International, Inc., announced last week it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by affiliates of American Securities LLC and P2 Capital Partners, LLC in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $855 million.

A new year means new regulations under the Affordable Care Act. Attorney and health care thought leader Dan Kuperstein shared this great list of six things he expects in 2016 related to the ACA and employers with Employee Benefit News.

Lessiter Media’s Farm Equipment magazine has won an Editorial Award, or “Eddie,” from Folio magazine. Farm Equipment won first place in the Business-to-Business Series of Articles—Agriculture.

It was not a smooth ride, but a five-year highway funding bill became law last week.

The $305 billion plan, known as Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, or FAST Act, is celebrated for offering assurance and stability after years of short-term funding extensions for highways.

The law calls for spending $205 billion on highways and $48 billion on transit projects through September 2020. It designates $6.5 billion for a national highway freight program, which will allocate money for states based on a formula.

A dozen states intend to increase their minimum wage on the last day of 2015 or the first day of 2016. Increases range from a quarter to a dollar. In some cases, the bumps are part of a series.

The U.S. Department of Labor reports increases in these state

The FAST Act is focused on improving the surfaces upon which we travel, but the bill included a few things beyond roads and bridges of note to the industry.

The law restores a $3 billion cut to the federal crop insurance program, which had been part of last year’s farm bill but was cut in November’s bipartisan budget agreement. The restoration of the funds provides $3 billion over 10 years for the $9 billion-a-year crop insurance program.

The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers has initiated a standards project to develop an identification system for seed cotton modules.

Seed cotton modules often have been identified using custom systems developed by individual gins for their customers, or by a third party supplying tags.

Fisher Barton in Watertown, Wis., has announced the appointment of Jeff Russell as the President of Fisher Barton Blades Inc (FBBI).

Fastline Media Group has announced the launch of BigAg.com, a community website that brings together owners and operators of large commercial farming operations. The site focuses on animals, ag news, equipment, financial/markets, row crop and technology.

With the launch of the site, Fastline is asking farmers to register for online forums and submit field reports.

Polygon Company, a manufacturer of composite tubing, has announced the appointment of Benny F.H. Lee as Regional Director of Sales for Asia Pacific.

Lee’s primary focus will be to expand Polygon’s sales, distribution and marketing efforts in support of

These members represent 165 years of collective participation in the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association. We mark their milestone anniversaries this month by thanking them—and each of you—for your commitment to the shortline industry and the Association that supports it.

“Although our forecast calls for lower results in the year ahead, the outlook represents a level of performance that is considerably better than we have experienced in previous downturns,” said Chairman and CEO Sam Allen. “This shows the continuing success of our efforts to establish a more durable business model and a wider range of revenue sources.”

Analysis of government data found that from the end of the Great Recession through 2014, 1 million Mexicans, including their U.S.-born children, left the U.S. for Mexico, while an estimated 870,000 Mexican nationals came to the U.S. Those numbers reflect the smallest flow of immigrants between the two countries since the 1990s.

Argentina elected Mauricio Macri as its new president November 22. With his leadership will come a major change in farm policy and the release of soybean stocks onto the market.

Reports from several sources contain numbers that confirm the economic slide that has been apparent to members for many months, although buried within the bad news is an occasional note of optimism.

The Association is pulling together data for the 2016 membership directory. The value of the directory depends upon its content, and its content depends on you.

The Association’s primary contact at your company received an email from Tricia Kidd on November 19 that contained a link to review your listing and send us word to change the listing or leave it as is.

If you haven’t yet responded, please dig up that email and take two minutes to confirm your contact information is accurate and your staff names are current.You will need your membership ID and password to get started.

If Tricia needs to send the link again, or if you need help with your member ID and password, send her a request at tkidd@FarmEquip.org.
The deadline to submit directory updates is December 10.

The EPA surprised the ag industry last week when it withdrew approval of Dow AgroScience’s Enlist Duo herbicide.

The agency initially approved the herbicide in 2014, and it was in use in 15 states. In its decision announced November 25, the EPA cited concerns about the herbicide’s potential impact on

The issue of climate change rarely fades from our news cycle, but in recent weeks, the stories have involved a diverse cast of characters.

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) intervened in a lawsuit filed by 21 kids and teens suing to protect the planet.

Democratic presidential hopeful and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) declared “to hell with the fossil fuel industry.” And President Obama went to Paris to meet with other world leaders to negotiate the first-ever global agreement on climate change.

Read more

50 tax bills need to be extended… including Section 179 depreciation and bonus depreciation for farmers.

Some still optimistic that Congress will pass a highway bill in 2015. While the bill no longer contains language that would have allowed states to increase weight limits on interstate highways, completion of the multi-year bill will allow a greater degree of certainty for the industry and assurance to rural communities worried about the condition of their roads and bridges

Do you know someone looking for a career opportunity? Association members are hiring.

Outside Salesman (service ad #99), Design Engineer (service ad #100), Territory Manager (service ad #101)

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack last week wrapped up talks with Chinese government officials aimed at removing barriers to U.S. agricultural trade, according to American Shipper magazine.

The talks were part of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT).

Vilsack said Chinese government leaders said they would move quickly to review the 11 agricultural biotechnology issues pending approval and continue to discuss the possibility of importing more beef.

Dealer Associations fight for multi-year extension of Section 179 and Bonus Depreciation. Obama says he would veto permanent extension without a plethora of tax cuts for individuals.

Oregon Trail Equipment is merging with LandMark Implement Inc.

Cervus Equipment Corp. and Rocky Mountain Dealerships report financial results for the quarter.

I’ve been publications editor at this Association for nearly nine months now. I have much still to learn, but here’s what I know so far: Many member companies are a self-effacing sort. Most of you do not seek the spotlight.

It is an admirable quality, but it can pose a problem when it’s paired with another common trait among members. You also genuinely want to learn from one another. You tell me the articles you most enjoy reading are the ones written about other members.

So, I’m asking you to shift your thinking. Rather than feeling self-conscious about participating in an article, consider it an opportunity to contribute to a shared knowledge base.

Read more

Ag Growth International Inc. announced on Monday it has acquired GJ Vis Enterprises Inc., a Winnipeg-based manufacturer of material handling equipment used in the fertilizer, feed and grain sectors.

The EPA on Monday released final volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2014 through 2016. It also released final volume requirements for biomass-based diesel for 2014 to 2017.

Chip Bowling, President of the National Corn Growers Association, responded to the announcement: “While we are pleased to see the EPA take a step forward and revise its original proposal, the fact remains that any reduction in the statutory amount will have a negative impact on our economy, our energy security, and the environment.” Tables and links

We are pleased to learn this week that AEM has promoted Nick Yaksich, Vice President, Government & Industry Relations, to Senior Vice President, Head of AEM’s Washington, D.C. office.

Regardless of the nature of the business, it appears we have entered a season in which mergers and acquisitions are the name of the game.

Hotel behemoth Marriott International is taking over rival chain Starwood. If you have a lot of Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program points, use them before the deal closes…

With more than 180 lawsuits pending against Swiss business Syngenta, the company has filed its own suit, establishing itself as a plaintiff and shifting blame toward the companies who argue it was negligent when it allowed the biotech corn variety Viptera into supply chains before it was approved in China.

Dexter, a manufacturer of trailer axles, brakes, and hubs and drums for more than 50 years, announced last week it has acquired the assets of Titan International’s brake and actuator business.

Dexter products are made in automated facilities in Indiana, Georgia, Oklahoma, California and Tennessee with distribution…

Titan Tire Corp. and the United Steelworkers union may soon file a joint petition with the International Trade Commission related to off-the-road (OTR) tire imports, according to Tire Business.

Titan President and CEO Morry Taylor said the action would be filed against

Obama signed a two-year budget agreement last week that authorizes the Occupational Safety & Health Administration to increase penalties by as much as 50 to 82%. . .

The Export-Import Bank won a strong shot at reauthorization last week when it became part of the transportation bill passed by the House.

The Ex-Im Bank helps overseas customers of U.S. companies finance purchases with loans and credit guarantees. Its charter expired at the end of June. Supporters of the bank say it keeps U.S. firms on a level playing field against foreign competitors that enjoy similar support from their governments; opponents say it puts taxpayers at risk and allows the government to pick winners and losers.

A handful of readers of this issue of Shortliner are still “prospects” and undecided about membership in the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association.

The Association offers manufacturing members a web page to sell surplus stock. Items for sale must be outside the company’s marketed product lines.

Learn more at FarmEquip.org/Surplus.

While members of this Association gathered in Kansas City at the end of October, the Ag Banker’s Conference also was underway in Kansas City. In an article for Farm Progress, Mike Wilson wrote that bankers who spoke focused on caution and risk management in the context of their farmer-clients facing increased
financial stress.

Deere has entered an agreement with The Climate Corporation, a subsidiary of Monsanto Company, to acquire the Precision Planting LLC equipment business, and it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Association member Monosem.

A manufacturer of agricultural equipment in the Midwest has an opening for a career-oriented person to lead its sales and marketing department.

The position is responsible for increasing domestic sales and establishing international sales. The candidate must have at least five years of experience in a sales management position.

The national agriculture community and the Oklahoma State University community are mourning the loss of Martin Stone, Ph.D.

Stone and his wife Bonnie, both 65, died Oct. 24 when a driver crashed her car into a crowd of people at the Oklahoma State University homecoming parade.

The Company’s Agricultural Division reported net sales of $58.92 million in the third quarter, a slight increase compared to the $58.87 million achieved in 2014. For the first nine months, the division’s net sales were $160.4 million this year compared to $163.3 million in the first nine months of 2014, a decrease of 1.8%.

Railroads have more time to prepare for PTC. As part of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2015 signed into law Oct. 29, railroads have through 2018 to install positive train control (PTC) technology.

Several agricultural groups sought the deadline extension. They argued that the majority of railroads would not have met the 2015 deadline, which would have meant millions of dollars in federal fines for rail companies and likely prompted the companies to discontinue some services. S

Members elected, or re-elected, new product council leaders at Association’s Fall Convention in Kansas City. Among 2016 leaders:

Financial Report:Total operating revenue for the fiscal year saw an increase of 7.4%, while the increase in total expenses was held to 3.5%. These strong numbers allowed the Association to strengthen our reserves for the fifth consecutive year.

Membership Report: The strong balance sheet above is thanks in part to an aggressive campaign over the last three years to recruit new member companies. Even in a slower ag economy, 71 new companies became members in the last year, bringing total membership to 724.

Meetings Report: We continue to see strong participation for both our Fall Convention and Spring Conference. Attendance in Kansas City last month was higher than in Las Vegas in 2014, which had traditionally been one of the best cities to draw attendance.

These members represent 265 years of collective participation in the Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association. We mark their milestone anniversaries this month by thanking them—and each of you—for your commitment to the shortline industry and the Association that supports it.

Ag Growth International Inc. has announced the retirement of CEO Gary Anderson and the appointment of his successor, company President Tim Close.

Anderson will remain in his current role until January 1 and continue as an advisor until March 31. He also will remain on the company’s Board of Directors.

Kinze Manufacturing in Williamsburg, Iowa is planning a corporate aircraft hangar at The Eastern Iowa Airport. A lease-purchase agreement with the Cedar Rapids Airport Commission says Kinze will build a 12,000-square-foot hangar

Hear from members who represent their generation of leadership in the family operation in the next issue of Ag Innovator, which is in the mail now.