During last month’s National Farm Machinery show, I bumped into a precision ag manager for a large co-op. It didn’t take long to discover he was less than enthusiastic about hearing the major OEM dealers creeping into the agronomy territory, on top of the competition from the likes of the Monsantos of the world. He also wasn’t buying the “PR” that dealers’ on-staff agronomists would be stopping at casual support only.
Upon driving up to the front of the new McFarlanes’ facility in Sauk City, Wis., I double-checked my GPS to make sure we hadn’t made a mistake. Expecting to see an average-sized dealership with some signage and maybe a few machines on display, I instead fixated my eyes on what could’ve been assumed to be an NFL practice facility or indoor theme park had I not known better.
With less equipment being rolled, precision service plan sales could see a shot in the arm. These dealers share their advice for getting them in place.
After years of “giving unapplied service labor away for free when it came to precision technologies” the dealer panel presentation on capturing revenue in service plans for precision was of keen interest for Summit attendees.
Jason Pennycook, precision specialist, Johnson Tractor, Janesville, Wis., has had 3 years of precision service plan experience. Johnson Tractor offers a basic (phone support and training class) and a premium (also including onsite visit). Other individual packages include precision training on-farm, spring planter checkups and yield monitor checkups.
Jason Pennycook, precision specialist at Johnson Tractor (4 stores in Wisconsin and Illinois), says Johnson is still working on the internal management issues, including how service plans are billed, who is responsible and how to get all locations on the same page, as many farmers will use one or more stores. “We’re working on ways to make sure every service manager at every store knows when a farmer is on a service plan so he doesn’t get billed incorrectly.”
Both Adam Gittins and Jason Pennycook say it’s impossible to do too much promotion of the program and the various services that are offered. Mailers and postcards, one-on-one conversations, presentations and placing it on to each and every quote generated are advised.
Finding the next generation of precision farming specialists is a challenge that almost 40% of dealers reported was among their most important issues in the Precision Farming Dealer 2015 Benchmark Study. First, dealers must identify the traits they’re looking for in potential candidates for their fast-paced, rapidly evolving precision farming departments. Then, they face the challenge of actually finding these recruits.
With multiple entry points into this growing segment of precision farming business, 3 dealers share their strategies for creating a sustainable source of revenue.
Choosing a practical entry point into delivery of data management service is a mystery for many farm equipment dealers. Figuring out a method for making it a profitable part of their business is even more of an enigma.
Cultivating a successful precision farming department in a farm equipment dealership is a challenge that is as difficult as it is rewarding. Spinning the precision department off into a standalone business takes that challenge to the next level. Five years ago, Jim Straeter, owner of New Holland Rochester in Indiana, did just that. In a panel at the Precision Farming Dealer Summit, Straeter, along with his Precision Ag Manager, Lanty “Spud” Armstrong, shared their journey toward making precision a profitable standalone business.
Dr. Tom Krill defines precision farming as a management concept that recognizes variability within the soil environment and maximizes economic agricultural production while minimizing environmental impact for a specific location. And to evaluate it’s effectiveness, precision farming must have measurable objectives.
Solid privacy policies can ease tensions between dealers and their customers relating to data management and protect dealers from potential liability cases.
Alongside the benefits of evolving technology and increasingly in-depth data collection, come increased risks that can create tension between dealers and their customers. To allay potential customer concerns, dealers and manufacturers must answer these questions: Who owns the data? Who can access it today and in the future?
A record 10 staffers from Farm Equipment took to the road this winter to interview manufacturers and find the latest, cutting-edge products. With a mix of model improvements and upgrades and new products, the winter farm shows debuted a variety of planting equipment, precision farming technology, hay and forage products, tillage systems and more.
ISOBUS isn't the solution to all compatibility problems. While progress is being made on improving functionality between different ag components and equipment, it's not always plug-and-play.
Some of the biggest challenges dealers face when planning and executing a successful precision ag field day are scheduling around farmers’ busy seasons and differentiating between a field day and customer appreciation day.
The first step to structuring a successful and productive precision farming internship program is to establish what the goals are for both the dealership and the intern.
Dealers discussed the challenges and opportunities for selling used precision equipment and how to transfer the risk from the dealership back to the customer who is trading the equipment.
More farmers than ever are using the Internet to both research and buy their equipment and dealers need to fulfill their customers’ expectations for them online.
Managing precision workflow can also be described as the shouldering of the burden across multiple departments. It's no small matter in a world of pressure, burnout and round-the-clock on-call service during peak times of the year.
Confusion over the current and future role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the ag industry persists and many dealers at this roundtable discussion struggled to see how this technology fits in their product mix.
More farmers than ever are using the Internet to both research and buy their equipment and dealers need to fulfill their customers’ expectations for them online.
A basic axiom of team development is this: Most leaders spend too much time on their problem employees, and too little time on their best. As Stephen Covey, author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, pointed out years ago, developing talent is often critical to success, but since it is not urgent, it never happens. The key word here is time. Let’s discuss two aspects of this four-letter word: thinking time, and talking time.
We’ve heard for years that “information is power” and one needs to look no further than the travel industry to see the effects online commerce has had in the buying and selling of airline tickets and hotel room rentals. Very few people call a travel agent to take care of those things today, whereas 20 years ago, company or independent agents booked nearly all flights and a significant amount of lodging and rental car business.
During last month’s National Farm Machinery show, I bumped into a precision ag manager for a large co-op. It didn’t take long to discover he was less than enthusiastic about hearing the major OEM dealers creeping into the agronomy territory, on top of the competition from the likes of the Monsantos of the world. He also wasn’t buying the “PR” that dealers’ on-staff agronomists would be stopping at casual support only.
A basic axiom of team development is this: Most leaders spend too much time on their problem employees, and too little time on their best. As Stephen Covey, author of Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, pointed out years ago, developing talent is often critical to success, but since it is not urgent, it never happens. The key word here is time. Let’s discuss two aspects of this four-letter word: thinking time, and talking time.
We’ve heard for years that “information is power” and one needs to look no further than the travel industry to see the effects online commerce has had in the buying and selling of airline tickets and hotel room rentals. Very few people call a travel agent to take care of those things today, whereas 20 years ago, company or independent agents booked nearly all flights and a significant amount of lodging and rental car business.
In this episode of On the Record, brought to you by Associated Equipment Distributors, Marc Johnson, principal with Pinion, provides 4 factors that will be important for dealers to watch in 2025 that will impact their business.
Built on 90 years of expertise, Yetter Farm Equipment leads the agriculture industry in designing effective and innovative equipment for residue management, seedbed preparation, precision fertilizer placement, harvest attachments, strip-tillage, and more.
At Machinery Scope, we believe you deserve the best risk management solutions for your investments in heavy equipment. Since 2013, we have been proud to offer extended warranty, appraisals, and inspections. Machinery Scope is a family-owned business built on our experience in farming and equipment dealerships. We understand your business and provide a personalized and professional level of customer service. Machinery Scope has built a strong warranty product with our customers in mind, offering the same professional level of service from the time you get a quote, through the processing of a claim.
Finance Scope is able to provide the best financing opportunities for equipment dealers and customers through a diverse mix of lending companies under one single platform. Our large group of lenders, allows for competitive rates regardless of credit scores. Additionally, dealers and customers have access to the industry’s best expertise surrounding finance and lease structures, for all purposes, within the agricultural and construction industries. We provide all of this into one online platform to provide our customers with the best available tailored finance solution for their equipment.