“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.

Members with legal questions related to labor-and-personnel issues are entitled to an anonymous and free 30-minute attorney consultation.

To learn more, call (314) 878-2304.

ASABE has released information about several standards, including:

• Publication of ASABE/ISO 12188-2:2012, tractors and machinery for agriculture and forestry—test procedures for positioning and guidance systems in agriculture—Part 2: Testing of satellite-based auto-guidance systems during straight and level trav

Association members in Kansas City for Fall Convention elected four shortline executives to the Board of Directors. New members are:

The Association’s Board of Directors elected its 2016 president at the Fall Convention.

Ric Kirby, President of Kirby Manufacturing in Merced, Calif., will lead the board through the 2016 Fall Convention.

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.

Wayne Barber with DFK Equipment Sales, Inc., in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada, is the eighth president of the Equipment Manufacturers & Distributors Association

Caterpillar delivered quarterly financial news in late October that fell short of expectations. As a result, the company lowered its earnings outlook.

The report said revenue for the quarter fell to $10.96 billion from $13.55 billion a year ago

U.S. authorities have given security researchers permission to study software in automobiles in search of flaws, the Apex Tribune reported.
The decision may have implications for farm equipment. In April, Deere drew criticism when it submitted an argument to the U.S. Copyright Office that suggested farmers who buy its tractors do not own them but rather have an implied license to drive them.

CLAAS of America will expand its dealer footprint in Manitoba with the addition of its newest dealer, genAG Inc. in Winkler.

Digital marketing firm Team SI from Little Rock has launched agup.com for Mississippi Ag and Arkansas Ag.

A former employee of Reddin Farm Equipment in Stratford, Prince Edward Island, Canada, pleaded guilty recently to fraud and theft in a case that involved his taking about $705,000 from the business.

When Republican Matt Bevin surprised pundits and won the governor’s seat in Kentucky last week, he set up the state to become the 26th Right-to-Work state in the union.

After trailing in virtually every poll, Bevin beat Jack Conway (D) on Oct. 3.

The U.S. trade deficit narrowed sharply in September to its lowest level in seven months as exports rebounded. This is a tentative sign that the worst of the drag from a stronger dollar may be over, Reuters reported.

The USDA reported that as of Sunday, 59% of U.S. corn is harvested, which is slightly ahead of the 54% five-year average.

Seventy-seven percent of soybeans are harvested, compared to 68% typically for this time of year; 96% are dropping leaves, matching the normal pace.

Deere has formed a partnership with the Colorado-based DN2K, which stands for Data Into Knowledge. The companies have together formed SageInsights, with Deere owning a majority stake, aiming to optimize use of the data farmers gather through their equipment.

Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc., in Salina, Kan., and SureFire Ag Systems, Inc., of Atwood, Kan., have announced a cooperative marketing agreement regarding Great Plains’ Nutri-Pro line of fertilizer application equipment.

SureFire Ag manufactures and installs fertilizer application systems, which currently mount as an accessory to Great Plains Nutri-Pro bars. With this agreement, Great Plains will continue to design and build Nutri-Pro machines, while SureFire Ag will provide and install customized plumbing application systems for each machine. Both companies feel the agreement capitalizes on their expertise.

After several years of rising row crop prices, a “perfect storm” of economic conditions has emerged that may position the industry for new alliances among the majors and an uptick in acquisitions of smaller manufacturers and specialty lines.

Rabobank Group, a worldwide bank that in the Americas offers expertise and strategic counsel to the farming and agribusiness industry, released a report in September titled “Contraction Today, Consolidation Tomorrow?”

The 2015 Fall Marketing & Distribution Convention is sold out of hotel rooms at the Sheraton Crown Center. See who will be there at m.farmequip.org,

“Nobody in the world understands what’s going in America. . . because every other developed country in the world offers export financing to their manufacturers. The American brand is really damaged by these crazy guys who do things nobody understands.”

“We already have very, very bad tax laws. We can’t repatriate foreign earnings. We have a business-unfriendly government. . . So this is another element that forces manufacturing out of the country.”

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law the nation’s toughest pay equity law, and Americans strongly support it.

The new law mandates equal pay for men and women if they do “substantially similar work,” even if they have different job titles or work at different locations.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 60% of American adults favor such an equal pay requirement, while 26% are opposed.